Congratulations, Emil, on yet another milestone - winning the 1995 Channel V / Billboard Asian Artistic Excellency Award!

EMIL CHAU
CHINESE POP'S NO. 1 SINGER-SONGWRITER

In just under a decade, Emil Chau has brought 18 albums to No. 1 on the Chinese music market sales charts.  Over the past three years, he's sold out 52 concerts in Mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia.  He's been showered with awards in five separate music markets, and in the process become one of the most recognizable faces - and voices - in the Chinese world.

But fame, fortune and sales are not why Emil Chau is in this business.  He's in it for the music.

Emil sings from his hear.  That's because unlike most of his contemporaries, he writes, sings and plays the very songs he has brought to the top of the charts in countries and territories across East Asia.

No smoke and mirrors.  No nonsense.  Just music.

With his heartfelt lyrics, catchy melodies, and down-to-earth persona, Emil has broken the grip that pop idols have long exerted on the Chinese popular music market.

Relying on his songwriting and musicianship rather than a steady supply of cover songs and flashy stage shows, Emil has earned the love of music fans throughout the Chinese world and proved himself to be one of the region's top talents.

BEHIND HIS GOLDEN VOICE LIES AND ACCOMPLISHED SONGWRITER AND MUSICIAN

Q.  What motivates you to make music?
A.  It's in my blood.  I remember when I was very small, my family said I would react strongly to the songs on the radio.  When I was in junior high school, we had to choose one extra-curricular activity, and although I was into basketball for a while, I was also chosen for the choir.  I had more fun in choir.  Whenever I heard those boys and girls' voices coming together in harmony, I felt so much energy, I just felt high.  I was much better than basketball.  So I just stuck with the singing.

Q.  What makes your live concerts different from the typical Chinese show?
A.  Most other shows have lots of dancers, lots of machines, lights, explosions … but we just sit down, sing a song, then we talk for a while, then sing more songs … I don't know why suddenly people enjoy a guy just singing and talking without any dancers or other distractions.  I think the market has been over-saturated with big, Las Vegas-style show for the past ten years. 

Q.  You've seen success in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Mainland China, Singapore, Malaysia … how do you explain this international appeal?
A.  We still have a definition of this appeal ­ it's still in the Chinese community.  Take Malaysia for instance ­ I don't think a native Malaysian will understand my songs as well as a Chinese person would.  If I sing in English, it may be a little bit easier to broaden my appeal outside of the Chinese world.  But that's not what I want right now.  If I really want to break out of the Chinese community, I’ll do it with Chinese music.  I'm 35 now.  I can't go back and learn the jazz piano.  I’ll never be able to write a jazz song better than a native jazz musician.  But on the other hand, if I focus on Chinese music, no one else is in a better position to do it than me.  This is the only way to break the barrier.  And I think Westerners will really respect this sound, certainly more than someone who can sing English songs "just like them."

Q.  From which artists do you derive the most pleasure the most pleasure and inspiration?
A.  Simon and Garfunkel and the Beatles.  I really enjoy the basic guitar sound.  For me, the Beatles are the definition of popular music? the wine, the life, the energy, the directness.  Cui Jian from Mainland China is another person I respect.

Q.  Why do people call you the "Killer of Heavenly Kings?"
A. It came from a Hong Kong magazine.  They were talking about my second Cantonese album, which was selling very well at the time.  Hong Kong already has the four "Heavenly Kings" ? the four top-selling artists whose positions had been unthreatened for years.  But during that period, my album sold better than the Heavenly Kings.

Q.  But why didn't they just call you the next Heavenly King?
A.  II think the only answer is that I'm different from them.  For one thing, I don't dance; but I do play the guitar ­ and none the Heavenly Kings play any instruments.  I don't think Elvis could dance, neither could Paul McCartney, or John Lennon. And these are my idols.  Most other singers from Hong Kong aspire to be the next Heavenly King.  But that's not my stile.

Q.  Of all the aspects of your music career ? producing, performing, composing, recording ? which do you like the best?
A.  The writing has given me the most pleasure.  When I finish writing a song, it makes me feel alive.  It makes me realize I'm still in the current.

Q.  Could you ever imagine yourself just singing cover songs?
A.  I could do it, but I wouldn't be happy.  I think my voice is still the main reason for success in this industry, but I' m still not a very technically proficient singer.  The writing still dominates and it's the reason I started my career.

Q.  What's your next step?
A.  We're going out for lots of concerts this year.  We'll have concerts in Guangzhou, and for the first time, we'll be performing in the Chinese communities of New Zealand, Australia, America and Canada.  I have 14 band members, and each one is the best from Taiwan.  We've been working together for a long time, and they're willing to sacrifice their time to do the rehearsals.  We really put our hearts out and give everything to our audience.

Q.  You've already had enormous success in the music world.  What keeps you going?
A.  I look at it as a responsibility.  I can tell I'm one of the best in Taiwan, and if I'm already one of the best in Taiwan, I am also one of the best in Mainland China.  And that's a very big responsibility for me.  One thing I have been trying to do is change my style a little bit.  I'm 35 now, and I need to face another new stage.  I know I could continue doing the same style for five more albums and still make money, but I feel that I have the responsibility to experiment and do something new.  I already have a big audience supporting me, and I think if I don't do it, no one else will.

Q.  What sort of new styles would you like to incorporate into your music?
A.  I'm thinking about blending Mainland Chinese music and Taiwan popular styles together.  But I don't really look at it from the melody or the kind of musical instruments we're using; that's not important.  That's just like the clothing on a person's body ­ it's just the outside.  What's really important is the life.  Many conservative Chinese hide their feelings inside their heart.  They don't let it out easily.  But I really want to put some spirit into my songs.