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Wakin Chau fulfills dream of singing on the roof
Channel NewsAsia - Tuesday, January 6
Hong Kong singer Wakin Chau will be holding a "concert on the rooftop", realizing his ten-year dream. The evergreen singer tells Xin.sg, his moments of "downs-and-outs" in his twenty-year career.
Xin.sg: You're in town this time round to promote your concert?
Chau: Yes, it'll be on 7 Feb, 2009. I'll be here in Singapore, holding my concert - a rooftop concert.
Xin.sg: Rooftop concert? That's a special concept. How did it come about?
Chau: I've had wanted to have a "rooftop concert" ten years ago. At that time, the four-sided stage was in trend. And I was thinking, since it is four-sided, we can design it be like a building, five storey high; at the rooftop, there'll be clothes hanging to dry, some old furniture and bonsais; a place where you can see the blue sky and white clouds. At that time it was not possible; but it is now.
Xin.sg: Your concert is also called "One Wakin World Tour" concert. Does "One" have any significance here?
Chau: In 2000, there was the "Wakin 20" concert, signifying my 20th year in the industry. So what happens after twenty years? Is it going to be "Wakin 22" or "Wakin 25" and so on? We thought, why not have a fresh beginning? That is why we called this concert "One Wakin".
Reminiscing the past
Xin.sg: Your concert's tagline left a deep impression on me: "There is Wakin Chau in a phase of everyone's life." You sound very confident!
Chau: I think there is; there should be, perhaps not for everyone though. In this line, there are many resources to tap on; but these may also become curses for those who have been in the industry for many years. There are many people who release one or two albums and get pass the curse; but in five years, they start getting melancholic. What kind of music should I produce next? How do I maintain my current popularity? Accidentally, my luck has been quite good and I managed to get pass these curses. At my twentieth year, I feel much at peace that I can really enjoy singing; enjoy my career and my work.
Xin.sg: Some songs are marked imprints of times and are representative of a certain period of time. You have many good songs on your records. Which is your favorite phase?
Chau: I recognize the years between 1990 and 2000 as the peak of the music industry; records sold very well. We were also proud to be records-makers. We have our own views and opinions which we can express on album covers, in our songs, in the lyrics and chords. It is a pity that the music industry is in a bad shape. I can't face the music.
Xin.sg: You mentioned that you met many friends and received much help in those twenty years. It's inevitable to meet with bottlenecks in careers. Have you ever met with challenges or difficulties?
Chau: Yes there is. And it is quite serious. I mentioned that there was an overhaul in the music industry and I was badly hit by it because I was very focused on album productions. I love being in the recording studios making music. But I realized record companies cannot support and sustain this, and I was overwhelmed by new music genres; I was at a lost. To put it in cheesy terms, when you feel thwarted, the emotions serve as adrenaline rush and they push you to learn new things. I did this exactly. I hid in the recording studio writing songs. My greatest improvements actually happened during my period of "rest".
Xin.sg: The economy is not doing well now; it is especially cruel for singers. What do you think is the challenge and difficulty for singers in this situation?
Chau: Well, actually we really need to respect this occupation. This job requires you to be performing even when you're still half-asleep. You may not perform your best but people still like you. This is not the way. When you're on stage, you cannot afford to be tired. You need to rehearse and practice. All singers should remember this if they are intending to go a long way.
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