When Malaysian singer Gary Chaw met the media earlier this month, he chatted endlessly about his kids' taste in music and his latest album Super Junior.
A while back, Gary could go by a day without talking. He suffers from bipolar disorder.
“I could stop talking for a day. I hid under my blanket. Now when I think back, it’s all a blur," said Gary, who only opened up recently after being diagnosed three years ago.
“I refused to accept that I had bipolar.I sought a second and third opinion before I finally came to terms with my condition."
The medication helped to keep his condition, but there were side effects.
"When you have bipolar, you have huge mood swings. Having mood swings gave me the inspiration to create songs. Taking the medication kept my moods under control, but it curbed my creativity."
"I couldn’t laugh if I wanted to. I couldn’t cry even if I wanted to," said Gary, who has been off the meds for a year since his condition has stabilised.
His wife Wu Su Ling bore the brunt of Gary's outbursts.
"She questioned why I was so emotional. I blamed her for not being understanding," said Gary. “You may know someone who acts out. I used to think it’s possible to control those erratic behaviours. But it isn’t."
The Taiwanese fashion blogger Su Ling stood by him, kept his condition under wraps and nursed him back to health. He also explained his condition to his children,Joe, 10 and Grace, eight.
To express his utmost gratitude, Gary penned a song 'All I Need' for his wife. The emotional ballad is compiled in his new album, Super Junior.
All the songs on Super Junior were chosen after a stringent quality control test.
The inspector, Gary son's Joe. After Gary wrote a melody, Joe would be the first to listen to the tune. The song only got passed on to the lyricists after Joe gave the green light.
Gary said: “If Joe likes the songs, we’ll go ahead. If a little kid can accept, chances are that the masses will take to the song too. Kids don’t like, at least I hope Joe isn't lying to his father."
Listen to Super Junior on KKBOX.