Newcomer Vidal fast to learn the industry ropes
Canto-pop newcomer Janice Vidal, aka Wei Lan, has been quick to learn that there's more to being a singer than pumping out tunes.
The 23-year-old, who released her debut album, Day & Light, last month, said her brief time in the music scene had taught her what the industry expected of her.
'There's a lot of politics,' she said. 'That aspect I totally hate. But it's something you have to get used to because it's part of being a singer.'
Her first album, produced by Mark Lui Chung-tak and Justin Lo, is a collection of Leon Lai covers. The CD has topped the local selling charts since its release. The singer, with help from producers Lui, Chan Fai-yeung and Ronald Ng Lok-shing, is now recording her second album, due for release next month.
Before East Asia Records offered to sign her three years ago, she was a member of the Vidals, with her
twin sister Jill. They regularly played venues such as Liquid and Pink Mau Mau. After her sister left to go backpacking across Asia in 2000, Vidal continued her career.
Her lucky break came when Lui spotted her in the studio singing backing vocals for Lai.
In the past couple of years, Vidal has been taking dancing lessons, as well as learning Cantonese and Putonghua and has maintained a strict fitness regime. 'I go to dance classes and the gym, and avoid eating too much junk food,' she said. 'But I sometimes sneak in a bar of chocolate.'
Vidal, who left school at the age of 16, said she's always wanted to be a singer.
Her Filipino-Spanish father, a professional guitarist, made sure she heard plenty of motown, soul, funk and bands such as Earth, Wind and Fire and Pink Floyd, when she was still young.
'I've been exposed to music since I was in the womb,' Vidal said. 'My mother says I used to kick in rhythm. Music is what I've always wanted to do.'
