New kid on block set to make waves

Name: Andy Tang Ho-tin (Tang Chi-ho) Birthday: October 4, 1978 Birthplace: Hong Kong Occupation: Singer What does your stage name, Ho-tin, mean? In Chinese, Ho-tin means limitless and expansive. As my real name is a bit ordinary, my record company wants to give me a unique and meaningful name which is easy to remember. And the stage name tells exactly my character - easy-going and open-minded. How did you become a singer? I was a dancer over the past five years. Because of my professor, I came to know many artistes. There was an opportunity when I danced in Sam Hui Koon- kit's musical where I met my current producer. What was your childhood dream? I dreamt to be a traveller when I was young. I loved the freedom and thought that it would be very exciting and a romantic experience in travelling around the world. What is your ambition? To be a great artiste. I equally love dancing and singing. I will continue my work in showbiz. As I am new to the industry, I want to learn more. I want to be better equipped. I would like to visit other countries and meet artistes from other countries. How long do you expect to be in showbiz? I have not set a timetable for myself. But I think 10 years will be a suitable period for me to get to another stage of my life. What sort of a person are you? Before, I was an emotional person. I was easily influenced by friends and my mood would be even influenced by weather. But I have changed since I became a vegetarian a few years ago. Now I can better control my temper. There are lots of things that I don't know in the world. If I don't keep up with these changes, I will be a loser. I am a quiet person. It is said that the world of showbiz is very complicated. Do you agree? The industry is in confusion. I don't know how to explain it but things change very fast and many things are beyond your control. It is a very insecure environment when it comes to money and friendship. If the audience like you, you can become a superstar in a very short time. But once their taste changes, another person will replace you and you will become a nobody. You described it as a 'miracle' in having your own EP. Why? I am an ordinary person. And the record company has no responsibility to invest on me because there are many other young people in Hong Kong who dream of their own CDs. But I am lucky in that the company signed a contract with me. It is a dream come true for me. What are your strong points? I am a brave boy. I am not shy, a quality needed to be a successful artiste. I can honestly express myself on stage. I have been a dancer for five years, so dancing is also my other strength. What are the things you have yet to learn? There are many performing techniques that I have to learn, such as to control the atmosphere on stage and to sing better. Too bad that Hong Kong does not have an institute to train artistes like those in Japan. You wrote some songs and lyrics in your EP. Did you re ceive any formal training? No. I learned music theory on my own, but I am interested in writing songs and lyrics. Musical notes spontaneously come into my mind and I will jot them down. How has your life changed? Those days life was much simpler. All I thought was how to dance better. I spent most of the time practising dancing and hanging out with friends. Now life is busier and I feel much pressure. Besides practising dancing and singing, I have to take part in promotional events and TV programmes. I get recognised and stared at and some fans will follow me and wait for my autograph and pic tures. I feel like I am being watched all the time. But the relationship between artistes and the paparazzi is interesting. On the one hand, we are happy to read news about us in the papers, but on the other hand, we want to keep our privacy. How do you deal with the pressure? My way is to take it easy. I cannot change anything, therefore what I can do is just to let things happen. Where do you position your self in the fiercely changing market? I see myself as an artiste. I don't want to have a stereotyped image. And I don't want to be seen as purely a teen idol. Instead, I want to show them my real strength. What was your most memo rable experience on stage? I fainted on stage three years ago when I performed in a Japanese cartoon musical. I was sick and it's too hot to dress in a costume. I couldn't breathe and I thought of death at that moment. The experience was terrible. I swore to myself that I would never wear cartoon costumes again. Which artiste do you admire most? I appreciate Sam Hui Koon- kit. He is talented and he is the one to make Cantonese songs popular in the 1970s when English songs were dominating the market. The songs he wrote were harmonious, the lyrics he wrote were lively and reflected the situation of the society. Andy Tang Ho-tin, 21, released his first EP, which consisted of seven songs, recently. The dancer-turned-singer described it as a 'miracle' for the record company to invest a huge sum on an ordinary person like him. At the launching ceremony of his EP, Tang sang, played the organ and electronic guitar. In his EP, he also wrote songs and lyrics. He disliked being only an ordinary teenage idol. He recently starred in a movie directed by Joe Ma Wai-ho, co- starring Wyman Wong Wai-man, Sammy Leung and Anthony Wong Chau-sang.