Reporter: What is your favourite food in Taiwan?
Jeric: 蛤仔面綫
Reporter: What do you like about Taiwan?
Jeric: The people. I think people here are uber-friendly. Pretty girls and handsome boys everywhere! Eye-candy city!
Reporter: How long have you been making music?
Jeric: Since I was 14, that’s about, wow, 10 years. (laughs)
Reporter: Who are your major music influence?
Jeric: Influence? I think I am a fan to people & music I like. Gospel, Keane, Matchbox 20, Maroon 5, John Mayor, Emil Chau, Jay Zhou, A-Mei, is food allowed? (laughs)
Reporter: Minor influence?
Jeric: Too many to list! Basically, I’m very much into gospel music, soul, blues, r&b and rock. And chocolates. (laughs)
Reporter: You write, compose & sing. Where do you get your inspirations from?
Jeric: Mostly experiences. I’ve got a dramatic life despite my appearances. (laughs) I want to be a role model for those in broken, troubled families, that despite a terrible background or environment, they have no excuse to give up. I didn’t.
Reporter: Do you mind sharing what those experiences are?
Jeric: Yes, I do. Perhaps when I get more comfortable.
Reporter: Alright. How would you describe your music to your listeners?
Jeric: Coupled with my vocals, I’m trying to achieve sexiness in music. It’s British Rock, some soul, gospel. Pop. Stories & word-play, to commnicate and stir moods.
To the Chinese in Asia, I would say, think Jay Zhou meets Matchbox 20. To the West, I suppose I’m a new genre, since I’m Chinese from Singapore, got some tunes in me. You know, mixed cultures, exposed heavily to music from both ends of the world. It’s interesting because I’m Chinese by blood, yet so culturally different from the rest – beauty of the world.
As for my vocals, I’m a tenor. I’m singing in Chinese, and am still picking it up, my voice & timbre can be mistaken for Jay Zhou. However, experienced ears can tell the subtle differences. My low-mid ends styles are different. Back in the days when there was no Jay, people thought I sounded like Emil! I personally describe my voice to be a concoction of Michael Buble, Jay Zhou, Emil Chau & Eason Chen.
If we look at it musically, or if I sang in gibberish, it’s a British Rock and R&B voice, tenor.
Reporter: What do your listeners think?
Jeric: Hmm. As for descriptions, there are mixed reviews. Some think it sounds like Jay, while others think I sound like Maroon 5, or some British rock band. It really depends on what music my listeners hear or heard. Ultimately, whatever it tastes like, I am glad they think it tastes good – and that’s of utmost importance, that motivates me. What else matters if the food you make tastes stale? … how fresh it looks?
Reporter: It seems like your music & voice is frequently compared with Jay Zhou, is it a problem to you?
Jeric: At first it was, everywhere I went or sent my demo to, I was compared with him, but who else is there to compare to? I personally would compare myself with him! (laughs) In the Chinese scene of course.
Then again, I do think my voice DOES sound LIKE his, but there is a difference in styles. Listen carefully to my low-mid ends. Think 蛤仔麵線 and 大腸麵線 … they taste similar, but there is a difference surely!
… besides, he’s also one of my influences and I really like his stuffs, I’m a fan! Hopefully, he’d like my stuffs too! What matters is that listeners recognize that I am trying to create a new sound from all my influences. I believe I’m bound to fail if I’m not special or if I imitate anyone.
Like 蛤仔麵線 and 大腸麵線, who’s following who? No one knows. And even if we knew, it’s not important. What is important, is whether it tastes good. It wouldn’t matter if 蛤仔麵線 tastes like 大腸麵線, it just does. But if either 麵線 tastes bad, no one would eat it after they tried! We can always study who started 蛤仔麵線 or 大腸麵線, and discuss how they are similar, yada yada, later.
Music, like food, always tastes like this and that, what really matters – is if it’s good.
Reporter: Wow, did you rehearse all that?
Jeric: Yes, in my sleep. (both parties laughs)
Reporter: So finally, what are your goals in the music scene?
Jeric: Creating and finding my sound, style, my recipe. Of course, to create a sumptuous meal for my listeners! Music that tastes good too!
Reporter: It’s always about food huh?
Jeric: It’s all bout the food. (smiles)
:
http://www.jimmyspageantpage.com/mr-teen-singapore.html
http://www.mistersingapore.org/
2002: Luke Cheong—Bishan
2. Faizal De Silva—Jurong
3. Braden Hon—Sengkang
4. Shane Morias—Bedok
5. Wenwei Huang—Braddell Heights
SEMI-FINALISTS:
Sylvester Lim—Choa Chu Kang
Sean Christopher Nai—Marine Parade
Justin Lim Besson—Punggol
Andy Mok—Tampines
Jeric Tan—Toa Payoh){kind=link}
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