November 2007

VJ UTT

By Lennat Mak

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Have you come to terms with you being always tagged as "MTV VJ Utt"?

Definitely! I've embraced the fact that I am MTV VJ Utt. MTV is the medium that has created my fan base in the region and many opportunities for me.

You have been in the industry for more than a decade and new VJs always seem to list you as an influence. What do you think of your role as this big brother figure to the rest of the family?

The very first time I started with MTV, it was the whole batch of Mike Kasem, Sonia Couling, Sarah Sechan and Donita Rose. When I first started, I felt that there was no airs from everyone. It was a really, really cool time. It was the golden years with the golden VJs. The VJs were all hot, man! It felt really good to be in their presence, with the fact that I didn't know if I would make the cut but I was embraced anyway when I was doing the casting. They made things very easy and pleasant. I always look back to that experience and tell myself that if I were to become an MTV VJ, I would continue the same experience with other VJ hopefuls and new VJs. That's what MTV is all about. All the impressions that I did have of MTV were all fulfilled. That's what I want to carry on. It's kind of like carrying on the torch! It sounds cheesy but honestly, I just want everyone to have a feel of what MTV is all about.

It's amazing how everyone has such a good impression of you and you are actually one of the longest standing VJs around. What do you think is your staying power when VJs seem to come and go all the time?

First of all, it's you. If at anytime I feel that I am not enjoying what I am doing or I shouldn't do what I'm doing anymore, I'll be the first to know. What I'm doing on the airwaves will eventually translate to the audience. If I'm fighting against showing the fact that I'm not enjoying this, the audience will eventually pick up on that. That will be the first sign that I should move on. But I haven't felt that yet! I don't know if I'm ever going to feel that but as long as I don't feel it, I think that's one of the biggest reasons why I enjoy what I am doing.

And another reason is that I like to connect with people. I can take the train, see some scary dudes or a bunch of screaming girls, and I can still connect and talk to them. I think it's all about connection. You are representing them and you are one with them. I still enjoy communicating and being real with people. That's probably the biggest reason why I'm with MTV and still enjoying what I'm doing.

How do you think MTV Asia has evolved through the years?

I'm like the perfect person to ask this! [Laughs] The music scene has evolved and changed significantly through the years due to new technology, CD sales and you have more alternatives. You have more choices out there now. Whereas when I first started, you didn't have as many channels. But now, you have a lot more ways to watch music videos and listen to music. But with that, you notice that it's (become) more diverse. The channel has constantly re-invented itself and found new ways to communicate with the audience, who are more fickle now. That's what we are doing now. We are going back to basics. There was a period where it was all studio-based. We are definitely interacting more now.

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