Cavin Soh Discusses Fan Encounters and MengFM’s China Tour Ahead of The Leftovers Premiere
Singaporean singer-actor Cavin Soh discovered the passage of time on tour this year when a fan at a VIP photo session told him he was born in 2011—the exact age of Soh’s own son. AsiaOne reported that the revelation happened during the first China tour of MengFM, the band formerly known as Dreamz FM, where the 55-year-old performer and his bandmates Jim Lim, 51, and Ric Liu, 53, played to packed smaller venues in Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, and Nanjing.
Formed originally in 1997 under the Chinese name Meng Fei Chuan, the trio achieved early success in China with their debut album, which featured the enduring track “Baby Come Back.” After suspending activities in 2003, the group reunited in 2020 under the name MengFM due to copyright issues following their departure from their original label, eventually releasing the single “Tears” in 2021. Their recent return to mainland audiences materialized after an organizer reached out to Soh via an Instagram direct message. Rather than playing massive arenas, the band opted for venues with a maximum capacity of 2,000 people to maintain an intimate atmosphere.
Band Chooses Small Venues for Closer Fan Engagement
The band members deliberately declined organizer offers to scale up to larger venues, fearing they could not fill them and preferring tighter connections with the crowd. “We totally love the intimate setting,” Soh told AsiaOne, noting that crowds of 50,000 to 70,000 leave performers looking too small.
The reception in China proved intensely emotional for Soh, who admitted that he cried after every show because he felt sad to leave the stage. During a performance in Hangzhou, where winter temperatures plummeted to two degrees Celsius, fans queued for over eight hours and stood through concerts lasting two and a half to three hours, remaining on their feet for up to 14 hours total to catch the show and participate in post-concert photo sessions. Soh recalled thinking he had lost his voice during one concert because he could not hear himself singing, only to realize that the roaring crowd was simply singing every word alongside the band.
Anniversary Concert and Drama Premiere Timelines Announced
Soh shared details about the tour on October 29 during a press conference for his upcoming television drama, The Leftovers. The series features an ensemble cast including Li Nanxing, Jesseca Liu, Zhang Zetong, Cheryl Chou, James Seah, Jeremy Chan, Desmond Tan, Zoe Tay, Xiang Yun, and Chen Liping.
Looking ahead to next year, MengFM is scheduled to mark its 30th anniversary with a concert at the Esplanade in Singapore. Meanwhile, The Leftovers season one will premiere on Mewatch Prime and Netflix on November 9, followed by a free-to-air broadcast on Mewatch and Channel 8 starting November 16, airing weekdays at 9 pm. Production plans indicate that seasons two and three are slated to premiere in 2027.