All we had was our voice

The 1980s and 1990s were decades when mainland pop stars were nothing short of divas. They appeared at every kind of gala, and their tapes were everywhere. Of these, the most famous was Mao Amin, who was as much sought after for her silky smooth voice as her gorgeous onstage presence. So it came as quite a surprise to discover she seems utterly devoid of celebrity pretensions or airs, face to face. She still has the same friends as before she became famous and sees being a pop star as just another job, one that she says she is incredibly lucky to have.

She even credits the tax scandal of 1990, which broke out when she was at the peak of her career, and all but destroyed her reputation, with helping her become more musical.

When she returned to the stage in January 2010, for her first solo concert in a three-decade-long career, she proved her genius is still intact, a sentiment acknowledged by the rapturous applause of the full house.

The success of that concert led to the release of her latest album, Tune of Voice, after an eight-year gap.

"I was ready to stay at home, take care of my kids and be a full-time mother," says the 48-year-old singer, who put her career ambitions on the back burner for marriage and family after releasing the 2003 album, Perfect.

The new album's songs, written by veteran musicians, including San Bao and Lao Zai, capture the defining moments of her life, Mao says.

"I don't know if young audiences will understand the songs because some of the lyrics are poetic. But those who have grown up with me will," she says. "I just present a real me here."

Tune of Voice is packaged along with a remake of her 1986 classic album, Songs from Echo, in memory of the late Taiwan writer, Sanmao.

"During the days of my absence from the music circuit, I liked listening to this album again and again. It speaks to my youth, and I believe those songs have touched people my age."

Mao's early hits not only made her a regular at grand galas, such as the Spring Festival Gala, but also a popular voice of many mainland TV series, such as Yearning (1990), one of the most watched shows in the history of Chinese television.