Sarah Chen discusses debut Hakka album 'Blue Hour Bloom'

Sarah Chen, the Hong Kong-born, Shenzhen-raised singer-songwriter, had spent years studying at Berklee College of Music and working multiple jobs — teaching, waiting tables and performing — before she decided to make an album in Hakka, the language of her heritage.

Sarah Chen performs at a press event in Beijing, July 16, 2026. [Photo courtesy of Universal Music China Greater Bay Area]

"I realized I could speak Hakka, but nobody knew," Chen said at a press event in Beijing on July 16. "So, I decided to blend my favorite music styles with Hakka and write down what I've been thinking about in recent years."

The result is "Blue Hour Bloom," Chen's nine-track debut album released in December 2025, which won her the best Hakka singer award at the 37th Golden Melody Awards in June.

The album's title reflects a personal philosophy Chen developed while navigating life after Berklee. Juggling music teaching, restaurant work and stage performances taught her to slow down in a fast-paced world.

"Don't walk too fast," she said. "Listen to the sound of a flower slowly blooming."

The album, a vinyl edition of which is now in development, blends Hakka vocals with R&B, neo-soul, jazz and dream pop. Chen said she hopes Hakka's soft, warm tones speak to young people's anxieties, letting listeners connect with the melodies before discovering the cultural depth of the lyrics.

The event featured a panel discussion with the album's co-producer and music critics, who praised "Blue Hour Bloom" for pushing Hakka music into new territory.

CPJ, the album's co-producer, joined Chen on stage to discuss tracks such as "Eat, Sleep, Wait." He said Chen's fusion of Hakka vocal stylings with R&B and neo-soul stood out on the album.

Despite its laid-back title, "Eat, Sleep, Wait" is not about a giving-up mentality, CPJ said. Inspired by Chen's younger brother, the song carries a philosophy of eating well, resting well and waiting for the right moment to move forward, he said.

CPJ also shared a detail behind "Rain from Heaven": the grandmother's voice that opens the track was recorded by Chen's mother, who imitated her own mother's tone after the family couldn't find any old recordings. Such personal details give the album its emotional depth, the producer said.

The album cover of "Blue Hour Bloom." [Image courtesy of Universal Music China Greater Bay Area]

Music critics Zhai Yi and Sanshi Yisheng praised "Blue Hour Bloom" at the event. Zhai said the album breaks from the traditional framework of Hakka music, incorporating genres such as dream pop and jazz to capture the lifestyle of today's young people.

Sanshi said the album's comfortable rhythms, sophisticated atmosphere and understated style make it fitting for urban life at a time when people are seeking healing.

Chen said she will continue writing music in multiple languages, including Cantonese and Mandarin, and shift from writing about her own experiences to telling others' stories.