Jacky Fan, known to fans as the third-place finalist of the popular reality competition King Maker VI, officially debuted as a solo artist on February 13, marking his arrival with the release of the single “Tears All Hail.” The accompanying music video, which premiered two days later, invites fans—affectionately called “Fan Tuan”—to explore the emotional landscape of Fan’s journey from a street performer to a professional singer.
The debut track, “Tears All Hail,” is a highly personal culmination of Fan’s artistic aspirations and features a stellar lineup of industry collaborators. Fan himself composed the music, while celebrated lyricist Oscar penned the words. Crucially, the song was arranged and produced by King Maker VI mentor Tsui Ho, who secured the participation of two legendary Hong Kong musicians: guitar maestro Jason Kui and renowned bassist Chan Siu-kei.
Fan expressed deep excitement over the collaborative effort, noting that working with Oscar had been a goal since his time on the talent show. “It was a dream come true,” Fan stated. “When I heard the producer, Tsui Ho, had secured Jason Kui on guitar and Kei-jai [Chan Siu-kei] on bass, I was ecstatic. They are both musicians I greatly admire, and it’s a tremendous honor.”
The emotional focus of the song is directly linked to Fan’s public persona. Known on King Maker VI for his frequent displays of emotion, Fan earned the nickname “King of Tears.” He explained that the song title reflects this vulnerability, aiming to normalize the message that “it is okay for men to cry openly.”
From Busking to Breakthrough: Capturing Struggle on Film
The music video serves as a chronicle of Fan’s struggle before fame, depicting scenes of him busking on the streets and performing in small venues to make ends meet. He revealed that despite drawing on highly personal and challenging memories for the shoot, replicating real tears proved difficult.
Initially, Fan expected that recalling the hardships of his past would naturally generate the necessary emotion. However, he hit a creative wall until the director played “A Story Written on A4 Paper,” a song Fan composed during the King Maker competition. This moment unlocked his emotions.
“Hearing that song broke the dam,” Fan recalled. “It brought back memories of being selected for the top 99, all the moments I shared with the other contestants, and everyone’s relentless push to chase their dreams.” The flood of recollections allowed Fan to cry genuinely on camera, successfully capturing the raw emotion central to the song’s theme.
Looking ahead, Fan is not slowing down. He views the “Tears All Hail” MV as a poignant yet enjoyable review of the past four years, but his gaze is set firmly on his future in the music industry.
Fan shared ambitious goals for his inaugural year on the solo stage. His plan involves releasing one new musical work per quarter, aiming for four significant releases in total. “We already have a clear direction for some of the upcoming projects,” he confirmed. “I am determined to rally support and collaborate with more industry veterans and strong artists, hoping to unlock further achievements in my career.” His methodical, quarterly release schedule suggests a thoughtful and focused approach to building a sustainable presence in the highly competitive music world.
