Interview Wang Lee-Hom

2002

Wang Lee-Hom the 24-year-old singer has cult status in South-east Asia. He was in Nepal during April to film a documentary for the Speak Your Mind campaign which he co-hosted with Manisha Koirala. He is an International Youth Ambassador for the campaign and is committed to the rights of the Asian youth. On the musical front, keep a look out for, Like a Gunshot, from the OST of Spiderman.

This articulate superstar took time out of his busy schedule to answer a few questions for WAVE.

How do you define yourself?

I identify myself as an American born Chinese, and as a global person. My Asian side is very important to me.

What made you move back to Asia?

It was fate. I never deliberately intended on developing a career in Asia but it just happened that I kept getting more and more offers. In fact I am looking for a house in Taiwan, and that’s a first. For the last few years I have been flying back and forth.

On the Asian Youth Charter:

I think the children are the future of this world. I believe in education for them. You know it doesn’t even matter where, children of the world are all the same. When they are born, they are like tabula rasa, a blank paper. Society, culture and education shape them.

On working with Manisha Koirala

It was wonderful working with Manisha. She’s taught me a lot. Not only is she a celebrity but she is also very involved politically. Her uncle used to be PM so she knows what’s going on in the poorest side and she also knows what’s going on in the executive side. So to be with her and talk to her was really educational. She’s very smart.

You say music can change the world.

I have to believe, just as I did as a young child, that music can change the world. When we were in Kavre, Manisha and I walked into this room of about fifteen very shy girls. We started asking them questions with the camera and they wouldn’t even look at us. And then, after a while of that we started to sing songs, and they started to sing their songs. A little boy, maybe he was 5 years old, pulled out his drum and all the girls started singing. I started singing in Chinese and everyone clapped along. We drove the car up and put in some CDs, opened up the doors and turned it up really loud. Everyone started dancing together. There were no barriers. Even though I couldn’t understand a word of what they were saying by the end of the day we were friends, very close, so I still believe in the power of music. I think every real musician is sincerely a pacifist in his heart, because he knows the power of music; how simple, primitive and important it is.

Would you go on tour to raise funds for Third World Countries?

There are so many things I’d like to do and a lot of times you have to wait for an opportunity. I’m one person. I cancelled other things to be here, like commercials for Spiderman, for my commitment to social work. The other things I do charity wise are really just personal donations. I also wrote songs for Jane Goodall, the Taiwan earthquake and a song called Frozen Dreams for orphans in Taiwan. Those were all personal things though and don’t have the impact of a huge event like the UNICEF and MTV can.

Greatest musical influences:

Stevie Wonder and Leonard Bernstein, the classical musician. In Jazz my favourite would be Herbie Hancock. I’ll be meeting a couple of musicians here tonight. I heard the song currently on number one, it starts with a guy going ‘ahem’. You know which one it is?

It’s Wari Jamuna. Tell us about your single for the OST of Spiderman.

It’s called Like a Gunshot. I just finished it before coming here. It’s going to air soon.

How did you like Nepal?

It’s been fantastic. I want to come back, and so do two of my colleagues. It was such a great experience but we were mostly working on the documentary. I’m very proud of it. A lot of work went into it so I hope everyone looks out for it. I think it’ll be entertaining and informative. The documentary took us to some interesting places though. We went to the Durbar Square in Patan, Dhulikel. I want to see the Himalayas, do some trekking.

Most memorable incident:

It was meeting this kid called Manoj. He works in the Patan Durbar Square. He runs up to tourists and he speaks very, very good English.He took us around; he knows all the history of all the relics, temples because he’s a guide. He also speaks Japanese, French, Spanish, Chinese, Nepali and Hindi. He’s been working there since he was 5, and has never been to school. We became friends, we spent the whole day together. He’s really quick because he also has street smarts. He could get admitted to the best schools in the world because he is really gifted. I mean this kid would go to Harvard next year, he is so smart!