Music man Li stays in tune

How and when did you start your showbiz career? First, I started acting in some TV commercials and hosting a TV show in 1993. I remember the first music show I hosted was Zap Rap on TVB Pearl. What was your childhood ambition? I wanted to be a marine biologist when I was a kid, because I loved the sea in which I thought there were massive mysteries to be explored. How did you become a VJ and DJ? I had been a VJ before I started broadcasting. Very early on after Zap Rap for TVB Pearl, I hosted a music programme called Miller Music Castle for Star TV's Chinese channel. With my abundant music knowledge, from then on I was asked to host mostly music shows. That's how I became a VJ. As regards becoming a DJ, after I acted in the movie Twelve Something in 1994, Ocean Chan Oi-kei, an experienced radio presenter, gave me a chance to be a DJ at Metro Broadcast. That's how I started my DJ career. What is your working sched ule like at the moment? I host two live music programmes - The More The Merrier between 10 am and noon from Monday to Friday and 104 FM Select International Charts between 11 am and 1 pm every Saturday - on FM Select 104. About three times a week, I go into the studio to shoot two music programmes, including a music show - Mandarin Music on Demand - for TVBI Channel 8 (a channel broadcast to Asia, Europe, Australia, North and South America) and a show - Music 3D - for TVB Jade. In addition, I will also be hosting a music awards presentation ceremony for TVBI Channel 8 at TVB City on September 3. How would you describe your image? I guess it depends what you define as image. I try to be myself and not think of it as an image. I suppose being a healthy, positive, intelligent and well-informed host is what I often try to be. Apart from being a host, would you like becoming a sing er? Yes, I would want to. But I don't think I would make a career out of it at present. I remember when I was a VJ at Channel [V], we [the VJs] once released an album of group songs, trios, duets and solos. It was really a fun and eye-opening experience. Who are your best friends in showbiz? Do you have a role model whom you admire and respect? I never categorise my friends into best friends or not. However, there are some artists whom I have known for a long time and work with often, such as Jordan Chan Siu-chun and Aaron Kwok Fu-shing. I don't have a specific role model. I admire people who work hard at their careers, are not afraid of taking risks and are willing to try different things to fulfil themselves. You studied theatre at uni versity. Did you ever regret not becoming an actor after gradu ation? Not really. In fact, I did get a chance to do some acting in a few movies and musicals that you might not notice. I hope there are lots of opportunities ahead for me to do more. I don't think the two fields [movie and musicals] are mutu ally exclusive; it just so happens that hosting TV shows has provided me with more work for the time being. What did you learn from be ing a host? What are the differ ences between a VJ and a DJ? I improved my communication skills after being a host - both communicating with guests and communicating ideas or feelings to the audience. The major difference between VJs and DJs is the nature of medium. Being a VJ or TV host is more a visual presentation, one can make use of one's body language as well as vocal abilities, whereas a DJ relies on voice and vocal performance, but one tends to be able to be more flexible with the programme and have more control. What has been your biggest achievement so far? Having the chance to work in a wide variety of different areas in the entertainment industry, such as VJ, DJ, TV host and actor, was my biggest achievement so far. What are your views on Hong Kong's music scene? I think Hong Kong people should open up a little more and try to accept other means of expression and different kinds of music. Somehow, I sense that especially the students are shy or afraid to be filmed when they attend certain concerts. You can see that students always cover their faces with their hands or something while the camera is shooting them because they are afraid of being recognised. Actually, I don't think they have to behave like that. Attending music concerts to support their idols is not a sin, that is no reason to be afraid. Of course, students should put study as their priority. How can your fans contact you? I can be contacted by surfing over to Metro Broadcast's home page at http://www.metroradio.com.hk How do you overcome being tongue-tied in front of the cam era on a live show? Honestly, I have been tongue- tied a few times on live shows. I was very embarrassed. Nevertheless, I am no longer nervous because I am confident about tackling it. When it happens, I often make jokes and laugh or even do some gestures to turn the audience's attention into another direction. Anyway, the key to overcoming being tongue-tied is to stay calm and natural. What qualities should your ideal girlfriend have? She should be pleasant and have a sense of humour. I should feel happy, warm and harmonious and enjoy every moment when we are together. What do you usually do in your leisure time? I work out or go swimming. When I am free at home, I like listening to music, reading and watching TV. The programmes I like most include The David Letterman Show, ER, The X-Files, Ally McBeal and Friends. I am also taking Japanese classes as I hope to develop my career in Japan in the near future. If there was a next life, what would you want to be? I would want to be a kid again to be far away from this complicated and superficial world. What was the most unforget table event in your life? The most unforgettable event in my life was the first time I hosted Hit Radio's music awards presentation ceremony at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre in 1995 and I was recognised on the streets a few times. I felt proud and happy when people recognised me. Do you have a success for mula? Never be afraid to take risks and try your best to do everything better. When would you like to get married? Would you retire from showbiz after marriage? Actually, I think men should make their career their priority. As I am still young and energetic, I am far away from marriage and retirement. However, when I retire I would prefer to do something behind the scenes. What is your advice to Hong Kong's youths? Believe in yourself. Try to stay honest and be true to others and yourself. Master every chance to improve yourself. Life should not have regrets. Television host Derek Li Ho-lam may look like a American-born Chinese, but he was born in Hong Kong. After finishing Form Three at St Paul's Co-educational College in 1983, he went to the United States to attend Taft High School. After that he studied theatre at Northwestern University in Chicago. Now, Li is not only a host for TVB, but is also a disc jockey at Metro Broadcast. With his humorous personality, talkative Li is becoming more and more popular. The 31-year-old became a prominent TV host-cum-DJ after appearing in several TV commercials and working with a range of broadcasters. Name: Derek Li Ho-lam Birthday: May 29, 1968 Birthplace: Hong Kong Occupation: DJ and TV host