Niki Chow
Model-turned-actress-turned-singer Niki Chow has spent most of her brief career struggling against criticisms of her acting and singing skills. But the always-optimistic 29-year-old has just released her third album, and tells Johannes Pong how in the Hong Kong entertainment business, talent doesn’t really matter—just sincerity. And some good marketing.
This is my first record in two years. I took time off to spend more time acting during the past two years. I need to make money, and it’s hard to make money through singing alone.
I was 16 when a talent scout asked me to appear in a commercial on the MTR. The pay was $20,000. I was studying so that was a lot of money. I said yes without asking any other questions.
I thought, “Wow, it’s so easy to make money in show business! What if I make one commercial every day? Then I would make millions in a year.” Of course, now that I’m in the business I realize I can’t even get one commercial a month.
I can’t do hip-hop. I actually tried. Somehow it just doesn’t work for me.
And I don’t sing well. But I am enthusiastic. I was worried about that when I first started, but then I thought maybe eventually they’d think I have the heart to do it and give me a chance.
How did I get started? One day, I sang a song for a movie I was in. And then a talent scout came by and said, “You’re not totally horrible, why not release a record?”
They said I shouldn’t expect to become a singer with my face and my singing abilities. Of course, maybe I haven’t passed the final test to become a really popular singer yet. I don’t sing well, but at least it’s not that bad.