MÈRE INSPO - Tay Kexin
says, “I had never envisioned myself becoming a mother.”
From Center Stage to Motherhood: Tay Kexin's Unveiling Transformation
Introducing Tay Kexin, the co-founder of Sparkle Live Music and a versatile singer-songwriter who has graced both the solo stage and the harmonious realm of MICappella. Throughout her career, Kexin has continuously pushed the boundaries of her craft, composing original works and delivering electrifying live performances.
Her musical journey commenced in 2013 with the release of her debut EP, a collection of songs radiating positivity and celebrating fresh beginnings. Yet, life is unfolding an exciting new chapter for Kexin as she embarks on a profound transformation.
Once an ardent advocate of fitness and health, she now finds herself at week 27 of her pregnancy, standing at the doorstep of her third trimester. The question that naturally arises is, how will Kexin embrace this new phase of her life and step into the world of motherhood?
In this exclusive conversation with Lovemère, we dive into Kexin's personal journey, aspirations, and the thrilling changes that motherhood promises to bring.
1. Hi Kexin, congratulations on your pregnancy. So tell me, how did you discover you are pregnant?
It was a whirlwind month after my wedding in April! I went on my honeymoon in Japan, then flew straight to Taiwan to join my band for a tour. When I returned, I visited Kuala Lumpur to spend time with my mother-in-law's side of the family.
A couple of days after returning, I was hit with nausea, stomach discomfort, and an unsettling urge to vomit. It felt like food poisoning. So I self-medicated and reached for some charcoal pills as a quick remedy.
But after five days, the nausea wasn't going away, and that's when I started to think, 'Something's up.' A friend suggested, 'Maybe you should check if you're pregnant.' I thought, 'Why not?'
So, I took a pregnancy test on a Monday morning when my husband was at work. I was shocked and lost for words when I saw a positive result. I wish I had revealed the pregnancy to him face to face!
2. Have there been special cravings that you have experienced?
I didn't have any specific cravings, but there were many foods I didn't want to eat or couldn't tolerate. Before becoming pregnant, I maintained a very healthy diet, eating mindfully. However, once I became pregnant, I started eating anything I could get my hands on because I just wanted to feel better and escape the discomfort.
I used to be a coffee lover, but I had to give it up because it became too strong for me during pregnancy. Anything overly strong, even the smell, would make me feel nauseous. My sense of smell became incredibly sensitive. I even stopped my husband from wearing strong perfume because it felt suffocating and overpowering.
During my first three months, I found comfort in junk food, which is quite unusual for me. Things like instant noodles, which are not healthy at all. There was even a phase where I indulged in bubble tea every day – not the best choice. My sugar cravings were off the charts.
Kexin in Holiday Triangle Bra.
3. Throughout your pregnancy journey, what's been the most unexpected or surprising realisation you've had?
What surprises me the most is how I've come to accept and embrace this new chapter in my life.
I had never envisioned myself becoming a mother. I've always considered myself a free-spirited individual who values independence and prioritizes my career above all else. I never saw myself as someone with strong maternal instincts, so I was completely unprepared for pregnancy.
Currently, I'm 27 weeks into my pregnancy, and I've managed to find inner peace, embrace the journey, and even feel happy about it.
Kexin in Dorset Active Nursing Bra.
4. Are you currently working out? What is your favourite way to stay fit?
I'm so glad you asked me this question now, because just a few weeks ago, I was completely inactive and not doing anything. It was only in my second trimester that I found the energy to start doing things again.
During those four or five months when I wasn't doing anything, I felt miserable and nauseous. On top of that, I wasn't sure what activities were safe for me during pregnancy. I even tried lifting weights, and my family members got worried. There's a lot of fear surrounding exercise during pregnancy.
A few weeks ago, when I began to feel more energetic, I decided to hire a Personal Trainer. He's helping me now, but we're not doing anything too intense. He asked me about my goals, and I told him that my main goal is functional fitness. I just want to be strong for my baby. I've also started doing Pilates and Yoga. Occasionally, I go swimming, and I take short walks, although my calves have been quite sore lately.
I'm not sure how my energy will be during the third trimester, so for now, I'm just cherishing this newfound energy.
5. We love your duet "Morning Kiss" with your husband. How do you come up with creatives for songwriting?
I always knew my husband can sing! We did a cover song during Covid and to our surprise, the response was pretty good!
It was then I knew that our next song together has to be something meaningful. So I decided to write a song for our wedding.
The entire process was challenging because I had to dig deep and write from the heart. I'm accustomed to writing songs on a deadline for my own band, and sometimes I collaborate or outsource the lyric-writing portion. However, this song needed to come solely from me.
Let's begin with the melody -
I usually churn out melody lines like machine and pick out the best parts. But for this song, I wanted to be inspired from within. So I had to put myself in a creative space and allow the lines to come naturally.
The next challenge was writing the lyrics -
To stimulate my creativity and tap into my subconscious, I used a technique called free writing, where you write whatever comes to your mind every morning, without caring whether they make sense.
For the actual lyrical content, my friend Belinda taught me a hack, she asked me to first write a letter to my husband. Then from the passages, to select poetic sentences or words and rephrase them into lyrics. I also drew inspiration from my husband’s proposal vows.
This entire process took over a year, as I allowed space and time for inspiration to strike.
You can listen to Morning Kiss here.
Kexin in Brooklyn Triangle Bra.
6. Are there particular songs or music genres that you've found comforting or uplifting for yourself during this pregnancy journey?
I have been listening to a lot of Disney songs during this pregnancy because I’m a huge Disney fan! I also love Disney instrumentals and it puts me in a real good mood. Music increases the serotonin and endorphin levels!
I recently bought a pair of belly speakers and played our song “Morning Kiss” to our baby girl on repeat. I hope she recognise our voices and feels safe and comforted when she’s out of my belly.
7. What advice do you have for other expectant mothers who are dealing with the physical and emotional challenges of pregnancy?
Pregnancy is different for everybody. I wouldn’t dare to give any advise because what I’m going through may be different from others’ experiences.
I went though some really dark times during my first trimester but it got much better in my 2nd trimester. I was able to travel, perform and I consider myself lucky. I do know of people who continues to have tough pregnancies so please don’t ever feel bad about yourself!
I know it can get frustrating and lonely. It’s hard. But you’re not alone. We all have our difficult moments. Hang in there mama cos you’re stronger than you think!
behind the scenes
Photography by The Perfect Statement
Makeuo & Hair by Ann Lin from Athens Studio
Syled by Lovemère