The process of starting the project from scratch was not cheap. Hazelle tells 8days.sg that she initially envisioned the project to “cost about S$20K”.
The song was co-written with songwriter Shin (许庆锐) and co-produced with local music producer JC (龙家成) and total costs ultimately came up to “about S$40k”, which Hazelle says includes the amount she spent on the music video.
“I never knew making a music video would be so expensive,” she laughs.
Thankfully, she was able to get Coke on board, and the company ended up sponsoring a part of the project cost.
If you haven’t heard, Hazelle recently bought her first home, a S$1.18mil two-bedroom condo. Between paying for her house and her CNY project, was she worried about her finances?
“My bank balance was indeed down to a new low, but I wasn’t really scared,” says Hazelle. “I can always make back the money in other ways. However, once time and youth is gone, they’ll never return. I would rather use them wisely when I still can!”
For those wondering, she doesn’t stand to profit much from the song.
“I’m guessing for every thousand plays you maybe get a dollar or something? But unless I’m Jay Chou, radio profits are negligible, just like YouTube music video plays. The shelf life of CNY songs are so short. They basically stop [being relevant] after the festive period. I would have to play this song to the next Year of the Dragon in 2036 to make a good amount,” she chuckles.
She also tells us that it’s “not possible” to recoup the money she had invested.
“Maybe [it would be possible] next time when I have more works under my name… but for now, I was already prepared for the money to go out and not come back,” she says.