November 2007

VJ UTT

By Lennat Mak

Page Prev | 1 | 2 | 3 | Next

With so many projects, do you actually have time for yourself?

It's really hard but I do! One of the producers introduced me to Ultimate Frisbee but the only reason why he's taking me is because there's this girl he has a crush on and he is using me as eye candy. [Laughs] I try to find stuff to do, like hang out with friends. I love the outdoors and I like biking, jogging, hiking, wakeboarding -- anything that takes me out of the house and work is refreshing for me. Considering all the work I have, I seldom have the time. I try to make it happen though.

You mentioned earlier that you tried to branch out to singing. Tell us more about that episode in your career.

It was one of the toughest things I've done! It's the funniest thing. I'm a VJ, I love music and I've been working with music for the last 10 years. But I can't really sing! And I can't really dance! But I do dance and I do sing but I lack two things when it comes to singing and dancing -- I'm tone-deaf and I lack rhythm. I went through a whole process of taking vocal lessons and there was a period that I almost came out with an album.

Almost? What happened?

I was signed on to Polygram at that time. It was during the bridge when Polygram was about to go out of business. I think I lucked out. I see it as a good omen. Maybe it wasn't the path I was supposed to take. But I went through an intensive period of music training and my music teacher taught me to let things go, don't give a freak what people say, and just feel the music. That's what I've been doing since that day till today! When I go out, I just do what I do. I don't know if I am doing it right but I just do it. It's pretty cool.

What's the biggest difference for you when it comes to doing live TV telecast and studio hosting?

I actually started with live telecast when I was with a music company in Thailand, before there were MTV and other music channels, so it's nothing new. When I started with MTV, there were a lot of live shows like Select and Interactive. I love live shows because it keeps you on the ball. I was really quick in terms of reacting and communicating with the audience. It's always cool when you are doing stuff live.

Do you think that all these years of closed-door studio work makes you "tamer" in a way?

In a way it does. But then you have to carry it off well too. You have to carry the show off in such a way that it will be entertaining and informative. It is a different kind of feel. Live is always better, but at the same time, if you are doing pre-programmed shows, you just have to bring different elements to it.

Page Prev | 1 | 2 | 3 | Next