Tanya Chua wants to organise Mandopop's first all-girl music festival.

She mooted the idea on stage during the 23rd Golden Melody Awards - widely recognised as the Chinese equivalent of the Grammy Awards - in Taiwan last month, where she bagged the prestigious Best Female Vocalist accolade for the third time.

To some, it might just be a passing remark. But for the 37-year-old Singaporean singer-songwriter, it has been in the back of her mind for several years.

Chua, who is famous for her husky set of pipes and guitar-playing skills, has even formed a mental image of how her outdoor "Girl Power" gig should look - and sound - like.

"Ideally, it should recapture the spirit of (the iconic 60s festival) Woodstock and Lilith Fair, the all-women music tour started by Sarah McLachlan," she said in an interview with LOUD at The Regent Hotel yesterday.

"Chinese female singer-songwriters have beaten the odds, fought hard and come such a long way... The festival will be a celebration of their confidence and creativity.

"Of course, it's not driven by feminism and we're not talking about braids or flowers too. I just hope it'll be a lovey, fuzzy affair that's all for charity."

The musician, who received an Artistic Excellence Award at the Composers and Authors Society of Singapore (Compass) awards ceremony last Sunday, will be performing at the inaugural The Straits Times Appreciates Readers concert this weekend at Gardens by the Bay, alongside fellow headliners like K-pop gal group 4Minute and US rock band Boys Like Girls.

Chua has witnessed first-hand the rise of female singer-songwriters over the past decade.

"Ten years ago, even if I wanted to, it was impossible to do such an event in Taiwan, as there were very few gals who were writing and singing their originals," she said.

"Now, there are so many of them and I feel it's time to acknowledge their success."

If the festival materialises, expect a star-studded line-up that should include Chua's close friends in the industry, such as local singer Stefanie Sun, Taiwanese diva A-mei and Chinese songbird Na Ying.

However, even though the time might seem right for a gig like this now, Chua revealed that the odds are still stacked against it.

"Logistically, it's very difficult, and while some people appear to be keen, (the) interest is not overwhelming... It's a little frustrating," she admitted.

"Some still feel that an all-women gig has no appeal or commercial value.

"It makes me wonder - in Asian culture, is it still the majority's view that it is not important to celebrate the independence of women?"

It's no surprise that one of Chua's most-admired musicians is a woman.

"When I was a teenager, I was really fascinated with some of Joni Mitchell's songs and I would listen to her records over and over again, in order to figure out the chords and fingering on my guitar," she said.

She advises budding guitarists who are interested in honing their craft to do the same.

"Now, with the Internet and technology, you have so many resources available online. Everything becomes much easier.

"But to really improve, you need to feel the music in your bones."

While Chua was effervescent about her musical passion, she was tight-lipped when the topic shifted to her rumoured relationship with California-based Grammy-winning mastering engineer Gavin Lurssen.

"I'm in a happy state of mind now, very blissful," was all she would say.

This article was first published in The New Paper.