The cover of Fish Leong's new album, What Love Songs Didn't Tell You, is sure to raise eyebrows, with the singer appearing in black, 25.4 cm high heels, mini-skirt and fire-red short hair. The brilliant diamonds on her neck and finger complete this new look.

"But I am still me and the only difference is that I'm married, which makes me happier and more confident," says the Taiwan-based Malaysian, who was in Beijing recently to promote her new album, her 15th.

However, the changes are far from being merely cosmetic. The new album is not only Leong's first as producer, the songs, too, are not the sad love tunes that won her wide popularity. Her chart toppers, such as Courage and Happy Breakup, earned her the moniker "healer of wounds".

Returning to the music circuit after a yearlong break, Leong readily admits, "It's hard for me to sing the usual love songs because I am married and I have a different perspective on love".

The new album's theme song, What Love Songs Didn't Tell You, is about relationships, while in La La La La, a light-hearted song, the singer reflects on love and fear.

"I am beginning to understand what real happiness is. It's not about what you have but what you let go. Marriage helps you find peace. But it's not the end of the story, and I need to ensure love lasts," she says.

Discovered by veteran singer-producer Jonathan Lee after she won a Taiwan singing competition in 1998, Leong released her debut album, Growing Up Overnight, in 1999. Soon, she was crowned "Queen of Love Songs", for her popular karaoke hits, in Hong Kong, Taiwan and the mainland.

Her 2003 album, The Power of Love, sold more than 1.5 million copies in Asia, and won her numerous Best Female Vocalist awards. Her concerts, such as Love Parade World Tour in 2004 and 2005, and Today is Our Valentine's Day Tour in 2007, were sold out events.

The singer, who tied the knot with Tony Chao after two years of dating, in March 2010, is still all teary-eyed as she recalls their wedding in Boracay Island in the Philippines.

The beach wedding was Chao's surprise for her. "It was much more beautiful and touching than any love songs I had ever performed," she says.

Talking of married life, she says, "You feel secure to know there's a person supporting you by your side, whatever happens."

Having been in this industry for many years, Leong says fame has been accompanied by a lot of pressure. "I found myself becoming narrow-minded and fixated on success and failure. Tony opened up a different world for me," she says.

Looking to the future, Leong says she plans to concentrate more on producing and writing songs. "I sing love songs today not because I want to yell out my pain but to share (love) with people," she says.