The process of starting the project from scratch was not cheap. Hazelle told 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 said includes the amount she spent on the music video.
“I never knew making a music video would be so expensive,” she laughed.
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$1.18 million 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,” said 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 is 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 chuckled.
She also told 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 said.