With a career spanning over three decades, Kit Chan stands as one of Singapore’s most influential cultural figures.

From her unforgettable debut at the 1998 National Day Parade with the iconic song ‘Home’ to her starring roles in landmark productions like The Forbidden City: Portrait of an Empress, she has helped shape the national imagination through music and theatre. In recent years, she took on the role of a lifetime as Kwa Geok Choo in LKY: The Musical—an intimate, powerful portrayal of one of Singapore’s most iconic women.

As a changemaker, what drives you at your core?

The desire to express my feelings and thoughts and the need to make a connection. Amid that lie a lot of contradictory wants as well—like the want to be private and alone. I am a walking paradox.

What is the one achievement to date you are proudest of, and why?

Professionally, it must be the song ‘Home’ because it has transcended from being a popular song to becoming something of a national identity—uniting fellow Singaporeans whether in joy or in grief. This song has been such a gift to me and I’m so proud of this legacy. On a personal level, I consider my greatest achievement to be the fact that I have remained true to myself despite having been in the limelight for more than three decades.

How have you overcome the most significant challenges you have encountered in your journey?

There have been many challenges and I rely and draw on so many different resources to overcome them, like trusted colleagues, close friends, supportive family, time and skills I learn along the way. But perhaps the biggest resources are faith and love. In my experience, no matter how busy you are, you must never neglect the cultivation of love and faith in your life.

Why is it important for you to contribute to Singapore’s cultural landscape and how do art and performance play a role in it?

I grew up as a teenager in the ’80s, when there was so much discussion about Singapore being a cultural desert. That frightened me because it sounded unsustainable for a nation, especially one that is young and trying to find its own identity and way in the world.

In the past, being overtly practical and elitist in our culture made it more difficult for people to step forward and try to contribute. It is much better these days. Mindsets are shifting and Singaporeans are more willing to take an alternative path. Success is also defined in more diverse ways now.

In a nutshell, art and performance are crucial to the building of a nation. It is beyond material or even critical success. It is existential, in a way. If we don’t tell our own story, who else will?

Looking forward, what is one change you want to see in the music industry?

We must remain open-minded and willing to try everything, including mastering a new language or learning a new skill. This will always be an important and relevant mindset that a small island state like ours should adopt. While it is heartening to see local audiences embracing local music and artists more readily, our music industry must continue to expand into the region and beyond. The world is a big place, and while we may choose to live and work here, we must not become inward-looking.