Shiga Lin

Shiga Taguchi, better known as Shiga Lin Sze-nga (born 29 June 1988), is a Hong Kong Cantopop singer and actress. As a singer, she is known for songs including "I'm Still Loving You" and "The End" (2012, ). As an actress, she is known for her performances in the film Lan Kwai Fong (2011) and television drama Life After Death (2020).

Life and career 1988–2010: Early life

Shiga Lin was born on 29 June 1988 in Hong Kong as the only child in her family. While her parents are from Hong Kong, her mother had acquired naturalised Japanese citizenship after studying and living in Japan. As a result, Lin became a Japanese citizen by birthright. Her family resided in Kowloon Tong where her father worked as a businessman, and her mother served as a translator at the Canadian Consulate General. During her childhood, Lin witnessed her parents' unhappy marriage, which left lasting scars. She later recalled that she often experienced solitude and longed for "the warmth feeling of a complete family". She attended King George V International School. Lin became interested in singing early and named Christina Aguilera and Sammi Cheng as her inspirations. As a child, Lin participated in ETV's English-spoken educational programmes.

At the age of 16, Lin moved to Hong Kong Island with her mother after her parents' divorce and eventually lost contact with her father.

2010–2016: Career beginnings and early works

In July 2010, Lin made her official debut as a singer with the release of her debut song "Earl Grey" . She signed with the record label Warner Music Hong Kong. Initially projecting a bright image, Lin soon embraced a bolder and more sexually provocative persona through her first film role in Lan Kwai Fong (2011). Set in the famous Hong Kong nightlife district, the theme explored the topic of sex, love, and temptation. Although hesitant at first due to the daring subject matter, she saw it as a good acting opportunity. The film received decent box office results, and Lin received a "Best New Actress" nomination at the 31st Hong Kong Film Awards. Lin also sang the film's theme song "I’m Still Loving You", for which she penned its English lyrics. The song became popular and was listed among "Top Ten Best-selling Digital Songs" at the 2012 IFPI Hong Kong Record Sales Awards.

Lin followed up with the second film installment, Lan Kwai Fong 2 (2012), which shared a similar theme. On the music front, she released her single "The End" (, 2012) which has arguably became her most well-known hit to date. Lin shared her personal story in the song, writing a love letter in English to an ex-boyfriend that was later translated into Cantonese by a lyricist as the official lyrics. Lin told in an interview it took singing the song about "a hundred times" before she could finally "let go of that relationship". It was honoured "Top Ten Chinese Golden Medley" at the 35th RTHK's Top Ten Chinese Songs Music Awards and "Best New Song" at 2012 Metro Radio Music Awards. Lin then released "Movin' On" (, 2012) as her next single, signaling a transition from the old love, and in her own words, to "get on with my life". That same year, however, she was embroiled in a photo scandal in which kissing images between a 16-year-old Lin and her then-boyfriend were exposed. Continued to be plagued with other negative press, Lin endured a "bad girl" image for some time in the public's eye.

In the following years, Lin appeared in several films but struggles to find success in her acting career. On the music front, her song "Once Said" was recognized as one of the "Top Ten Best Songs" at 2013 Ultimate Song Chart Awards. During the same year, she formed the female band Dear John with fellow Warner Music Hong Kong artists Janice Vidal, Jill Vidal, and JUDE as a spin-off of the male band Dear Jane. However, due to Lin's departure from Warner Music Hong Kong a year later, the group was short-lived and only released three singles.

2017–present: Life after Death

In 2017, a contractual infringement dispute arose between Warner Music Hong Kong and her management agency StarzPeople. Consequently, Lin briefly switched to HMV Music before ultimately signing with The Voice Entertainment in December 2018. In 2019, her single "Walk Alone" was among the "Top Ten Most Streamed Songs" of the year on the Joox music streaming platform. At The Voice, Lin's public image began to take a positive turn as she participated in television programmes at its parents company, television network TVB, showing a previously unseen side of her personality. In 2020, she landed her first major television drama role in Life After Death (2020), portraying an obstetrician with an estranged relationship with her older sister, played by Priscilla Wong. Her performance was warmly received. Lin also lent her voice to the drama's opening theme song “Little Lies” (, 2020), which was recognized among Top 3 best television theme songs of the year at the 53rd TVB Anniversary Awards.

In 2021, Lin's starring role in the musical micro-film A Hundred Miles Song, where she portrayed a murderer, earned her a Bronze Acting Award from the Hong Kong MicroFilm Association. The film also received a nomination at the 2021 Rising Sun International Film Festival. Lin continued having several other supporting roles in TV dramas including Line Walker: Bull Fight (2020), Murder Diary (2021), Barrack O'Karma 1968 (2022), In the Storm (2022), and Forensic Heroes V (2022).

Personal life

Lin and fellow singer-actor Pakho Chau formed a lasting friendship and collaborated on multiple music and film projects. Additionally, she developed a close bond with Priscilla Wong and Yoyo Chen after working together on the TV series Life After Death (2020). Lin met actor Carlos Chan on the set of TVB's variety show 12 Summers (2019); they married in April 2023 and had a daughter, Camila, in July 2024.

Discography

Moment (2010) Movin' On (2012) Once Said (2014) iTunes Session (2014) 大了一歲 (One Year Older) (2015) Another Me (2017)

List of songs recorded by Shiga Lin Song Performer(s) Writer(s)/Producer(s) Album Year "All Spare" Wyman WongChan Fai-young iTunes Session 2014 "Always With Me" Alex LauHayes Yeung Non-album single 2022 "AM/PM" featuring Pakho Chau Terry ChuiChan Wing-himLeslie ChiangRandy ChowNick WongEdward Chan Non-album single 2014 "A.T.L" Chow Yiu-faiEdward ChanCharles Lee Moment 2010 "Chill To My Heart" Albert LeungRonald Ng iTunes Session 2014 "Don't Forget" Chan Wing-himFergus ChowSyu Man Once Said 2014 "Earl Grey" Chow Yiu-faiKhalil FongEdward ChanCharles Lee Moment 2010 "I Don't Wanna Be Lonely" Vicky FungJoseph Wei Moment 2010 "I'm Still Loving You" Shiga LinRobin Ch'iTerry ChuiEdward Chan Movin' On 2012 "K.O.L." Chan Wing-himJUDEGareth Chan Non-album single 2016 "Let Me Go" Riley PongRobin Ch'iTerry ChuiNick Wong Another Me 2017 "Little Lies" Cheung Mei-yinAlan CheungHerman ToJoseph Wei Non-album single 2020 "Love Is So Beautiful" Thomas ChowGoro Wong Moment 2010 "Lovesick" Chan Wing-himLarry Wong Non-album single 2016 "Mercury Retrogade" Wyman WongLarry WongSyu Man 大了一歲 (One Year Older) 2015 "Old Corner" Chow LamRobin Ch'iTerry Chui Another Me 2017 "Owe You Nothing" Albert LeungChan Wai-kinAdrian Chan Itunes Session 2014 "Point Blank" JUDE featuring Riley PongJUDETerry ChuiRobin Ch'iNick Wong Released on YouTube 2020 "Recovery" Terry ChuiAlbert LeungChow LamHoi YutYik Tze-zeon Non-album single 2021 "Relief" Riley PongLarry WongSyu Man Non-album single 2019 "Run" Leung Pak-kinEndy Chow Movin' On 2012 "Time For Love" Chan Wing-himJoseph Wei Movin' On 2012 "Walk Alone" Cheung Mei-yinAlan CheungHerman ToJoseph Wei Non-album single 2019 "When You're Gone" Avril LavigneButch Walker Itunes Session 2014 2012 Lan Kwai Fong 2 Summer Lui 2013 Kiki Cameo The Best Plan is No Plan Flower 2014 Delete My Love "delete to" Romantic 2015 Nga-si Chan Siu-dip 2016 2017 Love Off the Cuff Veronica Cameo Yip Wan-yi 2020 The Infernal Walker Sin-yeung 2021 Maria Micro-Film

Television series

Web series Year Title Role Notes 2021–present Sisters' Talk Co-host

Awards and nominations

33rd RTHK's Top Ten Chinese Songs Music Awards Promising Newcomers Herself 2010 Metro Radio Music Awards Best New Female Artists Herself

2011 Metro Radio Music Awards Most Popular Female Singers Herself 31st Hong Kong Film Awards Best New Actress Lan Kwai Fong

2012 Metro Radio Music Awards Best New Media Song

Best New Media Songs

36th RTHK's Top Ten Chinese Songs Music Awards Top Ten Chinese Golden Melody 2013 Ultimate Song Chart Awards Best Top Ten Songs 2013 IFPI Hong Kong Record Sales Awards Top Ten Digital Best-selling songs "The End"

Most Popular Female Singer Herself

Golden Melody Awards

Mandarin Original Songs

Popular Idol

Breakthrough Singer

Best New Media Song

37th RTHK's Top Ten Chinese Songs Music Awards Top Ten Chinese Golden Melody 2014 IFPI Hong Kong Record Sales Awards Top Ten Digital Best-selling songs

New Media Song "Be Good"

New Media Singer

2015 Metro Radio Music Awards Best Female Singers 2016 2016 Metro Radio Music Awards Best Songs "Old Street Corner" 2019 2019 Jade Solid Gold Music Awards Gold Song Awards "Walk Alone"

"Little Lies"

"The Things We Do For Love" 53rd TVB Anniversary Awards Best Television Themesong "Little Lies" (Top 3)

Hong Kong Micro-Film Awards Best Actress

Shiga Love & Hope Unplugged Live (2012) Shiga vs. Shiga Live (2016)

Footnotes