British-Chinese artiste James Yang is one proud daddy. On social media, he shares photos of his daughter and himself on outings or at home.Sometimes, he even throws in a dad joke.
This is a man who has fully embraced his new status as a father and husband.
The candid singer has nothing to hide, contrary to a Taiwanese news expose of his secret family last year.
"You know the saying “Good Things Come in Threes.” The original plans were to hold my album press conference and announce my marriage and baby," says James over the phone from Taipei.
"But somebody decided to tell paparazzi about my wife and baby. The announcement came out in before the press event. The way the media wrote it was as if we were trying to hide something like it was a dirty thing. But I've never tried to hide it. It’s a great thing, it's a celebration to have a wife and kid."
The singer-songwriter released his latest album Lost and Found in December last year, four years since his first album Stay.
"I've been busy, even it might not seem so from the outside," says James in his crisp English accent. He's been acting, writing songs, recording the album and setting up a family.
Away from the limelight, James felt it was necessary to recalibrate his singing career.
He says: "I thought maybe music isn’t for me. It was hard, it was tiring. Then I realised people were trying to control me. It wasn't that I don't suit being an artist. I don't suit being that kind of artist, idol work."
"Previously I was stuffed into a box. After coming out of the box, I didn’t know what to do. I had to think about what was right for me. That’s why this album is called Lost and Found. I lost my direction and now I’ve found it."
Now James feels he can be himself, a musician who creates. He has put together the album Lost and Foundmade out of self-penned creations in English and Mandarin.
A labour of love, James drew on his life experiences for the album. He wrote a track for his wife, called Translation. Backed by a simple acoustic guitar, his raspy vocals sing of the realities of a romantic relationship.
“My wife and I come from very different backgrounds. Men and women are already very different. Sometimes there’s a lost in translation kind of feeling. Sometimes you just completely don’t understand each other. That’s very frustrating," explains James.
"But no matter what, these all really small things. The important thing is that we love each other. That's what frustration is about."
A songwriter thrives by being a sensitive soul, there's a downside too.James is a self-professed worrywart, and he hopes his daughter doesn't take after the pessimistic trait.
"I would share my grandfather's advice. He would tell me to keep walking on.There will be ups and downs in life. But don't worry about it. I worry about everything, even small things. I hope she won't be like her father."
Listen to Lost & Found on KKBOX.