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Posted: 08 May 2006 1226 hrs Channel News Asia, Singapore
Hot Taiwanese-American pop star more than just a pretty face
BANGKOK : With his fusion of hip-hop and Chinese opera, Wang Leehom has become one of Asia’s biggest music stars, taking center stage as co-host of the MTV Asia Awards.
Leehom, an American-born Taiwanese hip-hop artist and heartthrob to millions of young people all over Asia, co-hosted the Saturday ceremony in Bangkok with Kelly Rowland of rythm and blues sensation Destiny’s Child.
He also clinched the award for Favorite Artist Taiwan with his eclectic mix of hip-hop and ethnic Chinese music from Yunnan, Tibet, Xinjiang and Mongolia, a style he calls "chinked out".
"I’m really honored to get that award," he told AFP the day after his first stint as an awards show host. "I’m so happy to see so many Thai fans."
Although Leehom, 29, is relatively new on Thailand’s music scene, the Rochester, New York, native has been a huge pop icon in Taiwan since his explosive debut in 1998 with the album "Revolution".
That year, Leehom -- who was born Alexander Leehom and changed his first name to Wang when he started performing -- won top honors at the Golden Melody Awards, Taiwan’s version of the Grammys, and he has been nominated again this year.
Since the start of his career in 1996, Leehom has released nine other albums that have sold millions in Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, South Korea and Thailand. He also has a strong following in Asian communities in the United States and Canada.
During his 10-year run, Leehom has proved he’s not just another pretty face who can sing and dance. He plays several instruments, including violin and piano, and speaks English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese and French.
To top it off, he also composes and produces all his albums and has his own recording company, Homeboy Music Studios Inc.
"I feel so fortunate to be able to have a career and do what I love to do most, which is make music and share it with other people," Leehom said with a boyish grin."That in and of itself is a blessing for me."
His latest album, "Heroes of Earth," was released in January and offers a fusion of hip-hop beats and ancient Chinese opera.
"What I love about my chinked-out style is that it lets me mix hip-hop with ancient traditions," he explained."That’s really exciting because no one’s ever done that before."
In addition to making music, Leehom has dedicated himself to charity work by lending his talents to benefit a wide range of causes, from wildlife preservation, anti-drug campaigns and disaster relief to human rights.
"The charity work is at the crux of being a musician," Leehom said. "Being a public figure, you’ve got to sway the spotlight."
With his fame gaining steam in Asia and in Asian communities worldwide, he could position himself to break into the mainstream Western music scene with English-language albums. He does have one to his credit, but has no plans for more.
"I love making Chinese music," he said. "It’s so refreshing and new, and there’s so much potential, so much unchartered territory. It gives me a lot of inspiration."
Another source of inspiration is his dedicated fanbase. In addition to holding CD signings and appearing at events like the MTV Asia Awards, Leehom said he reads messages on fan websites every day to keep connected with them.
"I feel really close to them even if I’m not seeing them in person, but I still think there’s no substitute for seeing them in person," he said.
"Over time, people get to know me more as a person. I’m in it for the long haul. So I hope over the years, we can get to know each other better," he said. - AFP /dt
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