Zhang Dong Liang, Nicholas Teo (Taiwan Based Malaysian Singer)

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Author: teropong | August 13, 2007 - 8:13 am

Malaysian artiste Nicholas Teo, who has made good in Taiwan, admits that Lady Luck has been smiling on him.

WINNING a talent competition may mean you are a good singer, but sometimes you just need a little bit of luck to push you closer towards stardom.

Take Taiwan-based Malaysian singer Nicholas Teo (better known as Zhang Dong Liang), for example. He may have won the Astro Talent Quest competition in 2002, but by his own account, it took a little luck and a lot of hard work to achieved fame.

“Luck plays a part (in your career), too. I think I’ve been quite fortunate because I’ve met many people who helped me a lot along the way, managing my career and making the records.

“Sometimes, even if you look good or can sing well, it would be futile if you don’t get that one big break,” Teo said during an interview recently.

Compared to many artistes, Teo’s has catapulted him to the forefront of the Taiwanese music industry.

After winning the Astro Talent Quest, he signed on with Music Street (which later merged with Warner) and released his debut LP, 1st Choice, in 2004. The 26-year-old has not looked back since.

In 2003, Teo was voted the most promising new artiste at the 3rd Golden Melody Awards, as well as best new talent at the TVB8 Awards. He also took home the most popular newcomer trophy at the Fifth Global Chinese Music Awards and won best new act at the Singapore Hit Awards in 2005.

He now has three albums under his belt, with the latest – Prince – selling like hotcakes since it was released a few months ago. He has also done a fair bit of acting, starring in Taiwanese drama, Smiling Pasta, as well as Malaysian feature film, The 3rd Generation.

The Kuching-born lad had always wanted to be a singer, even though the Malaysian-Chinese music industry was in the doldrums when he started.

“I’ve always dreamt of becoming a professional singer even when I was still in school. However, the environment in Malaysia back then meant that even if you liked to sing, it didn’t mean you could become a singer,” he explained. “These days it’s easier (to enter the music industry), because there are more and more local artistes making good.”

Of course, it also helps that the lad is quite the heartthrob. And though he grudgingly admitted that image plays a part in his meteoric rise, he also reckoned that it’s all part and parcel of being an artiste these days.

“These days, singing is no longer just about singing, the whole package is very important. However, although some artistes may think that image and packaging are more important, I’ve always tried to make sure the music is also done well,” said the singer who was also personally involved in the production of Prince.

Although he may seem like quite the veteran singer now, Teo is still learning about being an artiste.

“I never expected to be very popular in the first place, I just wanted to try my best at the time so I would not have to worry about the future. Even now, I’m still learning (about being an artiste).

“I’m definitely more natural when on stage now, and have become used to a lot of things. I also feel more secure than I did in the beginning, because now I have loyal fans, and a good relationship with my record label as well.”

To his credit, he doesn’t seem to let his current popularity faze him. “I’m still just an ordinary guy. I still go out and watch movies in shorts and go out with my friends all the time.

“I’ve never really cared about being recognised on the street, and I don’t mind the occasional fan approaching me as long as they don’t ask me to do anything unreasonable.”

# Nicholas Teo’s latest album, Prince, is now available in a special CD + DVD edition that includes two bonus songs as well as a DVD of Teo’s music videos. The album is distributed by Warner Music Malaysia.

source : Mass Media

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