A Fine Prologue for Singer-songwriter Calista Wu

by Christina Chou I am 15 minutes late to our meeting because LA traffic and passive driving do not mix. I see her across the room and she waves at me, mid-sip from her Chocolate Latte. Halfway through my breathless apology, Calista waves it off and orders me the same drink. "They have the best coffee here," she beams at me. She’s cool and smart-- conversation flows easily. What I like most about Calista is that though she is fully aware about Asian American issues and all the pressures that come with being an Asian American female in the entertainment industry, she remains undaunted. She speaks about her life very simply with words that cut deep into the relatable grooves of our childhood passions. Her language is full of hope; her words are wise but relatable. I am mildly jealous of her calm attitude towards struggle: it’s as if life has a single goal, a light at the end that will surely come. That end goal is a dream deferred that will one day burst into fruition. Upon meeting Calista Wu, I am struck by the magnitude of her person. Where does such a petite woman get such immense power with which she not only sings, but also lives her life? We reclined in comfortably tattered armchairs in the industrial yet quaint coffee warehouse tucked away in Pasadena, California and this passionate, driven, young Taiwanese American woman humbly shared her journey of talent, self discovery, and her upcoming CD release. Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Calista grew up in a household that was nurturing of her musical talents. She began keyboard/piano lessons at the age of three, and then branched into the violin, clarinet, guitar, drums, and voice lessons. "[I] was a melodramatic kid, I felt like practicing piano was the bane of my existence, but now, I love it. When it stopped being a chore and started to become a vessel for creative expression, I fell in love with it. And I’m so glad that I can play because it’s so much easier to write songs and perform when you have that foundation." When asked about the venues she has sung at, it is impressive and diverse, ranging from University commencements to large conferences. Her style is contemporary, R&B smooth, but behind the voice are big ideas, a purposeful decision and a rich history. Her life story is perhaps relatable to some Asian Americans: "I worked hard throughout high school and college and did as much as I could to establish myself into a safe and logical career choice." As a Berkeley graduate, Calista was a young, bright businesswoman working long hours at a well-known company. Her work was paying off and she was up for a promotion that would guarantee her success. "Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for practical career choices... you can do so much with that. You can help change society with your finances and influence, but if you know what you’re getting into with the entertainment industry, if you have a solid sense of your identity, and if you just know you have to try because it’s your destiny, then I would tell you to consider stepping out and trying entertainment." It is at that point where she made a pivotal decision to go to Africa. "I am so passionate about orphans and justice," she takes a deep breath and we dive into her memories of Africa, visiting orphanages, serving at charities and church conferences. "After that, I realized the world was so much bigger, that there were things I was created for, that I needed to slow down and listen to this voice in my life that never stopped speaking to me..." Calista continues, "I knew when I was little that I wanted to be a singer, I wanted to be a lawyer." After a 2 year hiatus of traveling, speaking and working at conferences, Calista began to take strides towards her music career with the support of friends and her family. Her new CD "The Prologue" is scheduled to release on June 16th, 2009. (http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=87883178738) She laughs when I call her a celebrity, "People sometimes contact me and say they get nervous talking to me, but all I have is a website up with some pictures... does that make me a celebrity? I guess anyone can be one now." As for Asian Americans in the industry, she is excited to see who is coming next. In her mind, there seems to be no doubt that there will be more talent on the horizon and she welcomes it. "I am Asian American. It’s part of my identity, but it’s not the whole story," she says. "No matter what, whether or not someone is Asian American, I think it’s all about being excellent in what you do." As an upcoming Taiwanese American artist, Calista Wu draws from a deep wellspring of talent and passion. With a well-rounded, talented freshman album to be released, Calista Wu is equipped with a bold and humble attitude that is refreshing and points well to future success. Best of luck, Calista, from TaiwaneseAmerican.org! * * * Visit Calista's website at: http://www.calistawu.com Listen to Calista on MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/calistawu If you're in LA on Tuesday, June 16th, 2009, check out her CD Release party: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=87883178738 Self-proclaimed coffee addict and actually a safe, adept driver, Christina Chou is a recent graduate from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in Economics and Political Science and the ITASA Midwest Conference 2009 Co-Director. She is currently interning at an Asian American media production company in Los Angeles and it is straight trippin'. Her photography can be found at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/seechou/sets

In Tune with Singer-songwriter Diana Li

by Ho Chie Tsai I've been following Diana Li for some time now since a fellow leader in the Los Angeles Taiwanese American community clued me in to this talented singer-songwriter. After watching her perform on multiple YouTube clips, I instantly became a fan and have since invited her to perform at San Francisco's Taiwanese American Cultural Festival for two consecutive years. Without a doubt, she is always a hit, stopping crowds in their tracks. I'm sure they, too, are captivated by this young performer whose robust and penetrating voice resonates beautifully between the towering downtown buildings. I've caught up with Diana several times in the past year and have asked her to share some of her background story. So here we are, with an exclusive interview with Diana Li. On first impression, Diana is like any other young professional you would meet. By day, she works, but on a weekly basis, she performs a regular evening restaurant gig at Gemmell's Restaurant and is a frequent performer at local coffee shops. "I’m a girl a few years deep into her corporate life, with a few non-corporate activities sprinkled around on the side to provide some personal fulfillment and variety! I’m a 'woman of action' type. I like to get things done and be productive in all facets, including music." And, as I've gotten to know Diana over the past couple of years, I've discovered that she does know how to balance work, music, and spontaneous inspiration. I've caught her working late at night, recording songs to share with her YouTube audience. Now, that's dedication to be admired. Currently, Diana resides in Orange County in Aliso Viejo. "I’ve been here a couple years, and previously have lived in LA for school as well as work. I'm originally from the central coast of California." I'm more interested in her musical background and foundation. After all, many Taiwanese American kids are encouraged to play the piano or violin when they're young. I'm curious to know if she shares the same experience. Interestingly though, she's had a unique background and interest in music. "Like many Asian American kids, I did take private piano lessons from the ages of 5 to 17. And unlike many kids, I did do theater, musical theater, and choirs as well to develop the singing part. I only took a few private voice lessons, but nothing compares to the thorough piano training. My roots go back to listening to Broadway and theater type music. Prior to that I even learned to sing some songs in Chinese and Japanese as a child. As the years went by, I’ve listened to all sorts of music from pop to R&B to hip hop... but my acoustic pieces sound closest to the Broadway style I mentioned. I have a soft, emotional touch when it comes to music." Emotional touch, indeed. One only needs to listen to a few of the YouTube videos that she's posted to see what kinds of positive responses her viewers have given. One video, featuring "I Dreamed a Dream" from Les Miserables, has drawn over 100,000 viewers. Another subtle thing her viewers might pick up on is that some of her creative compilation pieces likely aren't available on printed sheet music. Sure enough, Diana is able to play many songs by ear. "I have a pretty quick ear for music, so when I hear something I usually internalize it right away and can pick out the chords and arrange the song myself. If I’m drawn to the music, it's all the easier. After that it's practice and patience - that good formula works for everything." I've watched Diana perform live twice now, and I'm looking forward to her upcoming show this weekend. There's something amazing about watching someone do the thing they love. Diana clearly loves music and sings at any opportunity to do so. "I do love performing and feeling the high of sharing music with the audience, but honestly sometimes the best moments are the intimate ones I have with small audiences. But I wouldn't sing so much in public if I didn't truly enjoy it. I’ve loved seeing the reactions of the guests at Gemmell's Restaurant that I sing at. And children's reactions are priceless!" The excitement in her tone is contagious. I think to myself, there are young people who will be inspired by her voice and love for music. Diana has a bright future ahead of her, and I enjoy how she balances her work and passion. As I wonder what she has in store for the future, she offers a glimpse of what's to come. "I continue to strive for balance with my job and my music, and hope that someday I can possibly teach music full time to combine the two professions and/or just do music on the side. I’m flexible. My CD 'Dream & Do' should be coming out very shortly... so look out for that! Performance-wise, I do keep them frequent and updated on my websites!" Secretly, I hope she realizes that she has all the talent needed to succeed in a full-time musical career. I ask her if she has any final words for the audience of TaiwaneseAmerican.org, in particular if she has any advice for people who are thinking about pursuing the arts. "I say that as long as you know what you are in for and don't mind making the sacrifices necessary to succeeding in this path, then it's for you." I smile, because I know she has the formula for life just right. She adds one more thing, which makes me smile a little bit bigger. "Just a big thank you for all your support and attention and hope that you like listening as much as I like sharing!" Thanks Diana! We look forward to seeing your musical career as it continues to rise! * * * Check out Diana's links: http://www.myspace.com/dianali http://www.youtube.com/shiowchi If you're in the LA area on Friday, June 12th, 2009, come listen to her perform at Hollywood's Cinespace with Christine Ofrecio. http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=110575813008

Chris Lin's Mandy and Pandy Say "Ni Hao Ma?"

I recently had the opportunity to catch up with Chris Lin, a 2nd generation Taiwanese American who grew up near Ann Arbor, Michigan, who in recent years created the cartoon characters Mandy and Pandy as a means to teach Mandarin to children. Since publishing the books, the entrepreneurial endeavor has taken a life of its own as Chinese animation production powerhouse CCTV Animation and North American production company PorchLight Entertainment have entered a co-development agreement to develop and produce a preschool TV series. We take a moment with creator and company CEO Chris Lin to find out the story behind his motivation for Mandy and Pandy, as well as what's in store for the future! H: Hi Chris! Thanks for taking the time to join us today! C: Hi HoChie, thanks for making the time for me... its been a while since the good ol' TAF (Taiwanese American Foundation Summer Conference) days together! H: Indeed it has! As most of the audience for TaiwaneseAmerican.org are fellow 2nd generation Taiwanese Americans, I'm sure many are curious about your background. Where did you grow up and what was it like being one of the few Taiwanese Americans in your community? C: Yes, I was one of a few Asians growing up in Troy, Michigan, so I felt a little left out as a minority. It wasn't until I made friends at TAF that I felt comfortable with my self identity. There is more diversity now in Troy and Ann Arbor, but I still want Asians to have more of a mainstream presence in America so that Mandy can live without limitations. H: Tell us more about Mandy. I heard that the inspiration for your character Mandy is actually inspired by your daughter. C: Mandy is my daughter adopted from China. When I took her to Chinese school, I felt compelled to teach her Chinese as I have been a student for 10 years. I looked all over the place - teachers, Borders, Barnes and Noble - and could not find any appropriate books... So I made them, with the help of Ingrid, my illustrator, Julie, my translator, and Wendy, my investor (and Mom). Mandy is the inspiration behind the stories, and she loves the books! H: That's great! Just out of curiosity, what is your educational background? C: I received an Economics BA and a Marketing MBA from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business... GO BLUE! H: And where did your career start and what sorts of experiences have you had professionally? C: My career was on the fast track in automotive marketing, at one point I was the Marketing Director for Ford in China. When the market did not materialize in the late 90s for Ford, I diversified my experience by consulting at Deloitte. My wife, Kristi, and I had adopted Mandy from China, so there was an expectation for me to travel less... I was not keen on a normal 9-5 in a cube job, so I founded Mandy and Pandy. H: Did you ever think you would be doing a project such as this? C: I had no idea I would ever be working in this new edutainment field and publishing business. H: It's interesting how we sometimes end up doing something we never planned on earlier in our lives. So, how "risky" has it been for you? And what have you learned from this process? C: All small businesses have risk - financial, personal, and business. I have learned that I have a high propensity for risk and with this project the rewards - personal, financial, societal - will outweigh the costs. If young Taiwanese entrepreneurs are thinking about going into business, they need to consider the costs and know what their limit for risk is. How much pain can you take and when are you willing to quit, if at all. H: That's definitely a wise assessment to make. What sorts of trials and tribulations have you encountered along the way? C: The key business challenge is with personnel - how do you find the right skill set, for the right price, willing to make a commitment to a small start up. The first two years, we went through a lot of people, but as we replace them, we move up in terms of quality, experience, and commitment. Now we have our A-team. The quicker you grow, the more legitimate you become. H: So, it sounds like there have been some exciting developments over the past year. What can you tell us about? C: Well, first, we completed the business plan, which takes an exciting concept and monetizes it to assert that you have a winning business equation. Our CFO, John Clarke, has 10 years experience as a CFO. Secondly, we hired a Sales VP, Byron Parnell, with 30 years experience in the book business that knows everyone; he can sell the $%!& out of these books! Ask for Mandy and Pandy Books at local Borders and Barnes and Noble stores among others. And finally, we partnered with Porchlight Entertainment and CCTV (China) to co-develop an animated TV series called SNAP! Let's Go!. This will teach kids in China English, and kids in other parts of the world Chinese. See our website to see how cool this Chinese Anime artwork is! H: What are your dreams for this company and where do you hope Mandy and Pandy will go? C: I would like to achieve our goal of teaching kids Chinese in a fun and easy way by popularizing Chinese among children. If parents can see that learning Chinese is of strategic importance, and kids can have fun learning it and seeing that it is cool! That is my goal. The gravy comes when these kids grow up and want to really learn Chinese. They will build communication with their peers in China, develop cooperation and trust, and foster a friendship between the two countries. My dream... World Peace! H: What's your daughter's response to this whole thing? Is she enjoying how the characters are growing more popular? C: I presented the books at Mandy's day care recently. I was a bit nervous because she was not sure that she wanted me to share the books with her classmates. I did anyway... As she saw how interested her classmates were, she began to get enthusiastically supportive and read the books with me. She was proud of her Daddy. As I wrapped up and gave away bookmarks and finger puppets, she came up to me, gave me a hug, and said - "Daddy, I love you!" Her mom keeps her out of the limelight at Borders signing events, etc., but Mandy, on rare occasion, enjoys coming to work to do small Mandy and Pandy art projects with her staff. H: That's wonderful! Have you done any marketing for this in Taiwan too? Or in the Taiwanese American community? C: I have relatives in Taiwan, but none are connected to the book industry. Next year, when we are done with our 12th book and when SNAP goes into production, we will start to sell the rights to Taiwan and other countries. We are starting our marketing into the Taiwanese American community, my original home base, with the request to sign up for Mandy and Pandy FACEBOOK fan group and page. We now have a small marketing team and are ready for new ideas, so please invite your readers to join us and get involved. H: Will do! We'll include links at the bottom of our printed interview. So, what advice would you give to Taiwanese American youth or college students out there in our audience? C: Learn Chinese, and travel to China. H: Now here's a very important question: What's your favorite Taiwanese food? C: Sho bhah zhan, and oua-zhen at the night market in Taipei. H: Yum! Love that stuff! So, Chris, thanks again for your time today! I wish you the best of luck promoting Mandy and Pandy, and I look forward to seeing them on American mainstream TV soon! * * * Check out the website: mandyandpandy.com Join the Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=42874143360 Order a Mandy and Pandy book: http://mandyandpandy.com/store.cfm