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| The Freshman Finally Address 20-Year Dating Rumours (Photo: Zaobao) |
Local pop duo The Freshman — made up of Chen Diya (40) and Carrie Yeo (43) — have spent nearly two decades joined at the hip. They rehearse together, tour together, release music together, and even spend their downtime side by side. With that level of teamwork, it’s no surprise the rumour mill has been spinning non-stop since the early 2000s.
And yes, those long-running “Are they together?” whispers have followed them for almost their entire career.
But in a new chat with HeyKaki, the pair finally decided to address the speculation head-on — and they did it in the most The Freshman way possible.
“We’re Not a Couple — Please Stop Marrying Us Off!”
When the interviewer asked if people often mistake them for being romantically involved, both of them immediately chorused: “All the time!”
Carrie didn’t hesitate to clear the air:
“Let us clarify it now — we are actually… not!”
Diya burst into laughter beside her, clearly enjoying the moment.
It was their first proper public response after years of playful dodging. And trust Carrie to add a cheeky punchline:
“I’d faint if I were dating her!”
Cue more laughter.
So What Is Their Relationship Status?
Asked whether they were seeing anyone, Diya went full musical theatre and sang out: “It’s empty!”
Carrie, far more relaxed about the question, shared that she has “dated quite a bit” and is now happily single:
“I got it out of my system — I’m good.”
Diya, meanwhile, admitted she still hopes romance will find her someday:
“These things can’t be rushed. But the good thing is I have Carrie to share so many little things with. So I don’t feel lonely.”
Despite the decades of teasing, their bond is simply a very long, very steady friendship — the kind you don’t see often in the industry anymore.
A 20-Year Friendship That Started With One Spontaneous Offer
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The duo first crossed paths in Project SuperStar 2 back in 2006. Diya went on to win the season, with Carrie right behind her as first runner-up.
But their friendship kickstarted in the most unexpected way.
Carrie, a Malaysian contestant looking for a place to stay, had initially asked fellow singer Tay Kewei if she could crash at her place. There wasn’t space.
Before she could blink, Diya — standing nearby — jumped in with:
“Me, me, me — my house got space!”
And just like that, Carrie ended up moving in… for eight years. The duo have been inseparable ever since.
In 2010, they officially formed The Freshman, and the rest became part of Singapore Mandopop history.
A New Album After Nine Years — Thanks to an Unplanned Creative Breakthrough in Japan
While fans know them for their upbeat harmonies, the last two years saw The Freshman working behind the scenes as part of JJ Lin’s global tour, performing as his backing vocalists.
Now, they’re firmly back to being artists in their own right with a brand-new album, 《在》 — their first full release in nine years.
Speaking to Lianhe Zaobao, they explained why the album took almost a decade to arrive:
they were simply waiting for the “right feeling”.
That creative spark finally hit earlier this year during a trip to Japan.
Instead of rushing a timeline, The Freshman prefer to build their albums around a theme first before producing the songs. Their original theme “didn’t feel right”, so during JJ Lin’s tour stop in Japan, they decided to go a week earlier for inspiration.
One of their stops was the Teshima Art Museum — a place known for its quiet, meditative ambience.
Carrie recalled sitting inside the white, curved space with nothing on her mind. No plans, no noise — just stillness.
And from that stillness, a single word floated in: 在 (“to be / to exist”).
That became the anchor of the album — a project rooted in presence, clarity, and simply being.
And What’s Next for The Freshman?
If their plans go as they hope, they might actually retire together — literally.
The duo joked that they and their circle of single friends have discussed setting up a little retirement village in the future.
Not lovers, but definitely lifelong partners in crime.
Source: ZaoBao