SINGER-SONGWRITER David Tao Zee isn't one to mince words - especially about the slumping entertainment market. Whereas most show-business types blame the decline on downloads and piracy, Tao cites an inferior product, greed and narrow vision. 'All they see is how they can make more money and quickly get a foothold on the mainland,' he says.
The Taiwanese musician was in Hong Kong to promote his three concerts at the Coliseum next month, which are part of his Love Can tour. Dressed casually in jeans, sneakers and T-shirt, Tao is anything but relaxed about the money-grabbing attitude of some of the industry's major players. 'They think about new ways to make money and run, but they're not thinking about what's going to happen long term.'
The Chinese music business is headed for disaster unless it puts more emphasis on quality, he says.
The 36-year-old, who grew up in Los Angeles, wants to advance the notion of 'heart and soul' to Asian audiences. 'If you look at western culture and black music, there's a lot of emphasis on soul. In the States, we'll say, 'Put your soul into it, put your heart into it',' says Tao. 'Chinese and other Asians will put their brains into it, but not much else.'
Tao's concert tour, which began in Shanghai last year, builds on themes raised during 2004's Soul Power tour, which revolved around faith and belief. 'It's not just love between a woman and a man, but passion about something - having a dream. That's also a kind of love,' he says of his current tour.
'Sometimes, when you want to achieve a goal, that obsession is what motivates you and makes things happen. That's what it's all about.'