Veteran artist Cloud Wan took on the role of senior mentor for the first time in Media Asia Music’s annual “MUSIC ON CALL” School Tour, guiding junior labelmate Lester Lam across multiple venues in Hong Kong. Joined by seasoned singer Chen Jian’an at the Sha Tin stop, the two-day initiative combined live music, interactive games, and personal storytelling to encourage students—especially those in Form 6 preparing for the rigorous DSE examinations—to chase their dreams and manage academic pressure.
Tour Stops and Student Interaction
The tour kicked off with performances at the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (IVE) in Tuen Mun and St. Louis’ College, before continuing to the IVE campus in Tsing Yi and finishing at Ng Yuk Secondary School in Sha Tin. Cloud Wan set an energetic tone by opening with her hit Half a Minute of Memories, followed by Fear No Heights, a song intended to embolden the young audience to embrace challenges.
Lester Lam, who is widely recognized for composing in English, debuted his first Cantonese single for the label, Less Sweet, and performed the introspective Pure, which encourages listeners to hold onto their childhood innocence. The duo also delivered collaborative covers including I Want to Waste Time with You and Cantopop star Jun Yin Feng’s All That I Want, often stepping off the stage to connect directly with students through handshakes and selfies.
Chen Jian’an’s Games and Life Advice
Chen Jian’an turned the Sha Tin leg into a spirited competition. After performing Searching for Love in the Wrong Universe, he invited students onstage to sing lyrics containing the word “if,” with his team eventually claiming victory. He later sang his new single Andromeda Incident and fulfilled a student’s request for an a cappella version of Missing You, closing with the upbeat Death of a Hopeless Romantic.
Shifting to a reflective tone, Chen Jian’an shared his own origin story. “Everything started for me in the school hall,” he told the crowd. He revealed that he began participating in school singing competitions in Form 2 and Form 3, a journey that has now spanned nearly two decades. “If there is something you deeply want to do, you can start it right now,” he advised. “Stick with what you love and just keep moving forward.” For the stressed Form 6 cohort, he offered grounding tips: listen to music, eat well, get rest, or simply take a deliberate break when studying becomes overwhelming.
New Roles and Shared Responsibility
The tour held special significance for Cloud Wan. “In the past, I was always following senior artists during events,” she explained. “This is my first time taking the lead, and it came with a much stronger sense of responsibility and mission.” Lester Lam echoed the sentiment, saying he was thrilled by the students’ energy and grateful for Cloud Wan’s guidance throughout the process.
A Broader Push for Youth Outreach
The event concluded with all three artists singing Chen Jian’an’s The Day After, a fitting anthem about resilience and forward momentum. Industry observers note that the “MUSIC ON CALL” tour reflects a growing commitment among Hong Kong labels to community-centered outreach, offering students not just entertainment but the emotional support and real-world perspective they need during a critical academic year. The initiative signals that music, when paired with genuine mentorship, can serve as a powerful counterbalance to exam pressure and a catalyst for young people to pursue their passions early.
