The workload and the pressure had become unbearable.

Then, at the height of his career, Wang quietly left to get married in Canada and ended up staying for six years.

'I simply needed a rest, to take refuge. There was a point when I was afraid to be in a studio or on a plane,' he recalls.

'I was flown from here and there, from Hong Kong to Taiwan to Singapore to Malaysia . . . I didn't have time to reflect on what I was doing. I'd become a machine.

'When work takes over your life, it's like walking with the weight of the world on your shoulder. You lose your autonomy. You are not who you are, but who other people want you to be.' Now 37, the singer-songwriter made a resounding comeback three months ago. With a new record company and slick image, Wang looks ready to battle the stage again.

'I lived a quiet life in Vancouver and that revived my spirits. I went fishing on weekends, observing people at the cafes, playing the guitar and writing songs whenever I liked,' he says.

'A six-year holiday is just enough for me to prepare for the future. Physically and mentally, I'm ready for challenges.' In Hong Kong's ever-changing show business, not many singers and actors can afford to take a break for six years. But Wang says he does not regret his decision.

'I used to shut up like a clam. I just kept working and hoped my contract would end soon. But that's not living. That's surviving.

'I do wish I'd ended the first half of my career more properly though, rather than leaving just like that.' Wang admits he is a little overwhelmed by all the attention from the music press and fans. 'I did worry for a while if audiences still wanted me. But I came back because I love music too much. So it wasn't a big struggle,' he says.

'If you're passionate about something, you just go for it. I won't be discouraged if a small group of people think my music is outdated.' And gone are the days of scruffy jeans and a leather jacket. Wang's new clean-cut image is evident in magazines, on posters and television.

Some are surprised to see traces of a relaxed smile on his face. But all these changes should not be taken at face value.

'It's no longer a big sacrifice for me to wear suits. I've become a more peaceful person in the past six years. I've thought over a lot of things and realised that if I make people happy, my record company, or my sponsor, with a little gesture, why not? 'I'm able to smile from my heart now because I feel good about myself. At this stage of my life, I'm content and happy. It's not part of an image or something. I guarantee you it's a natural smile,' he laughs softly.

'It's just a gradual change when one gets older. This time, I'm here to give, to make up for my supporters.' Growing up in To Kwa Wan, Wang's success story might sound like a fairy tale but he has taken a long and winding path to get where he is today.

Wang's parents separated when he was a teenager. As both were working in Taiwan, they sent him to a boarding school in Hong Kong. Wang feels those years of independence developed his quiet, self-centred personality.

'I never had any family members to count on and I was a loner in school,' he says. 'I just didn't fit in any of the gangs. And when others were heading home for holidays, all I had with me was music.' When he turned 20, he moved to Taiwan and joined the army.

'No one understands why,' he says. 'But I had held so many jobs after graduation. I had worked as a stuntman, in a factory, in restaurants, so why not the army? At least I could earn some steady income.' Wang continued his life in exile for another three years. His first break came in 1986 when a producer spotted him singing in a pub in Taiwan.

The two of them intended to make only 10,000 copies of A Game, A Dream.

But when the title track was announced as the new number one, it had to be reprinted again and again to meet demand. It ended up selling several hundred thousand copies.

The following year, Wang returned to Hong Kong with Do I Really Have Nothing? It was an instant favourite among local DJs and sold more than half a million copies.

As a result, Wang made pop music history with his sad tunes and melancholic croon. His songs took pole position in music charts across Asia before any of Hong Kong's four big kings.

He has released more than 30 Cantonese and Mandarin albums, selling more than 25 million.

'I had to make four albums a year, three months for each. I wrote almost all of the songs and lyrics. I produced and directed the music videos, too. It's crazy. I won't do that again,' he says. 'I didn't get any extra money for it. People must have hated me for doing all their work.' And Wang's achievements do not end with his singing career. Currently, he is torn between different acting offers.

TVB and director Wong Jing are both fighting for him to star in medical dramas.

But Wang says that he will only agree to projects if the characters suit him.

For the time being, music takes priority. His greatest hits album, Giving, has just been released and is climbing the sales chart.

And in between public appearances and promotions, he is busy preparing for a charity solo concert at the Hong Kong Coliseum next month. He is also back in the studio recording some new materials.

Wang admits he was cautious about singing mid-tempo songs before but has now changed his mind.

'I had too many prejudices then. That's why I had to be involved in every stage of production to avoid doing things I don't like. I was too self-centred,' he says.

'I've been away for too long and I don't know how the market has become. So I'm working with different songwriters and producers for my new album. I won't jump to do a dance hit. But I'd like to try more music genres.

'After what I've been through, I'm adopting a new philosophy. I've learned to loosen up and let others help me to get the best out of my abilities. I don't want to make the same mistake twice.' Dave Wang In Concert, Giving For The Children. February 23, Hong Kong Coliseum. Tickets ($400, $200, $100) available at Urbtix now. Booking hotline: 2734 9009. For more information call 2835 6546