Fong sees intimate hotel performance as light duty as he tours Asia promoting new record

Crooner Khalil Fong has been on the go this year since launching his eighth studio album, 15, in April. After a sold-out concert at the Exhibition and Convention Centre, Fong's tour took him onto Beijing and will take him to Shanghai and Taiwan in the coming months.

'I think it's been five or six years since my last real vacation,' Fong mused backstage at a private mini concert at the W Hotel on Monday night. 'I'm not counting the two months I took off early this year because of a lung condition.'

Thanks to loyalty programme perks, some Starwood guests had the opportunity to hear a nine-song, semi-acoustic set by the singer-songwriter, who seemed well-recovered and in good spirits.

'I'm looking forward to this performance, it's pretty relaxing to play to an audience of 150, especially compared to the 10,000-strong crowd I see at arena shows,' Fong said right before heading to the stage. 'I've based the set mostly on my album, 15, which [harks back] to the age I was when I started listening to Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix and other guitar masters; it's very blues-rock based.

'Depending on the crowd, I might throw in a cover to liven things up, but mostly I hope those in the crowd who aren't familiar with my music will be open to its discovery.'