A new sound blooms in Hakka with Sarah Chen

Raised in a multilingual environment, Chen grew up immersed in Hakka culture through her mother. By creating music in Hakka — her mother's native tongue — Chen has unexpectedly reconnected with her childhood memories, allowing her to express her inner emotions more authentically.

The album's title reflects that journey. After graduating from college, Chen balanced several roles — music teacher, restaurant operator and performer — while learning, as she puts it, to slow down in a fast-moving world.

The metaphor of the flower, blooming at its own unhurried pace, became the album's guiding principle. "Don't walk so fast," she says. "Listen to the sound of a flower opening."

Written primarily in Hakka, the album also weaves together Cantonese, Mandarin and English. Its songs capture everyday moments, emotional struggles and observations from the different cities she has called home, turning ordinary experiences into deeply personal music.

Speaking of the Golden Melody Awards win, Chen says, "It still feels surreal." Her first words on stage were a simple declaration in Hakka: "Hello everyone, I am Hakka girl Sarah Chen."

It was, she says, a tribute to her mother, who had always spoken the language at home, and to the unique Hakka culture.

As for what's next, Chen says she will continue writing in multiple languages — Mandarin, Cantonese, English, and Hakka — but with a different focus.

"I want to stop singing about myself," she says. "I want to start singing about other people."