Eason Chan on hair, musical influences,

He may have been in the music industry for four years, but Hong Kong power-packed singer Eason Chan is still considered relatively "unknown" to some around the region.

But his talent is only waiting to be discovered. And to start the ball rolling, Eason's latest Mandarin album Blessed Wedding is currently out in the stores and last we heard, the album is selling like the proverbial hotcake while tracks are soaring up the local pop charts. The 25-year-old is certainly a fresh-faced newbie worth looking out for.

Touted to be a Heavenly King heir apparent, with five Cantonese and three Mandarin albums under his belt, Eason chats about his music, influences, and his good friend and role model Jacky Cheung.

You're sporting a new image and a new hairdo. Is this look more true to your personality?
This new "lion-haired" look you see now is very easy to maintain. My hair has been damaged from all the bleaching and blowing. I don't really take care of my hair, actually. But yes, this new image is more "me". The hairstyle I had before was a straight and decent-looking one. I'm actually quite wild, outgoing and spontaneous, so I think this new look I'm sporting is definitely more Eason.

You've already established a career in Hong Kong. What are your hopes for your new Mandarin album Blessed Wedding?
Frankly speaking, I was very surprised to have this chance to do another Mandarin album as my first two Mandarin albums didn't do that well. I did not have much confidence when I was promoting Blessed in Taiwan, but I was very motivated by the Taiwan crew's attitude, that as long as I've done my best, it doesn't really matter if the album sells well. I'm very happy that things are picking up in Taiwan. At least they know who Eason Chan is now, and what kind of songs he sings. It's a good beginning.

How would you make your own wedding a blessed one too?
I don't think I'll be getting married in the near future as my career has just started taking flight. But when I do intend to tie the knot, it will probably be a quiet and simple affair. In that way, I don't have to spend too much money on the wedding dinner! If I invite everyone, that'll be too costly! I'll definitely invite my close friends to share my happiness, and that's about it.

There seems to be a different style between your Mandarin and Cantonese albums. Is there any reason to that?
I think it's due to the fact that I record my Cantonese albums in Hong Kong and the Mandarin ones in Taiwan, and they're produced under separate record labels. It's also probably because of the difference in market tastes.

Maybe it's partly my fault as I started my career singing ballads cos I grew up listening to Alan Tam and Jacky Cheung's music. But when I went to England a while ago, I was exposed to more kinds of music like jazz, rock, blues and R&B. When I came back, I wanted to try out something different in my Cantonese songs, which was quite well-received. Though I am still singing pop, the style is more upbeat. But I also sang orchestrated music that is more grand. I've also done the other extreme with more dance, rock and techno music.

Actually, I'm a "supermarket singer". I have various singing styles. It is up to you to choose which one that you prefer. I guess, in Hong Kong, I've more freedom in my music style so I can experiment more. But in Taiwan, my ballads are more popular. They like the quieter and wholesome Eason, but they don't know that I have a wild streak too. Guess you can call me a schizophrenic!

You've just completed a successful concert in Hong Kong. What's your next project
I've just accepted a role for a film. It'll be a drama and it's going to be a great challenge for me as I'll be playing the lead role. That's about all that I can say until the movie company has released the news officially. I'm looking forward to it as I think I'll be able to gain a lot of experience and exposure from it.

You look like the kind who exercises frequently. Do you go to the gym regularly?
I used to play a lot of sports when I was in boarding school in England. We played lots of rugby and cricket. I prefer outdoor sports. I hate going to the gym.

The only exercise I'm getting now is from my tennis sessions with Jacky Cheung. We call ourselves Net pals! Jacky has now taken a more laid-back approach towards his career, so he has more leisure time. He'll give me a buzz now and then to play tennis. And since we stay quite close to each other, we do have the opportunity to play tennis rather often.

Isn't Jacky Cheung your idol?
Definitely! I still ask him for his autographs! There was once I asked Jacky to autograph about 30 CDs at one go! I liked him from the very beginning. He has certainly influenced me a great deal. I'm glad that we're friends now. He'd come to me and tell me that I can approach him anytime if I have any problems. But sometimes, it feels weird to ask for his help. After all, he's a mega star!

Will you collaborate with Jacky for an album in future?
I definitely would love to. While preparing for my last concert, I thought it would be great if I could sing a song or two with Jacky. So I gave him a call, but he told me that he was tied up with charity events to raise funds for the Taiwan quake victims. But he told me that he'd try to make it if he has the time. Jacky gave me a pleasant surprise when he showed up at my concert! The crowd went wild when Jacky appeared on stage halfway through my singing, and started singing with me. I was so happy!

Oh, do you want to know something about Jacky?
He simply loves pinching the people he meets!

Source: E!Online¡@¡@Text: Joey Hsu¡@¡@Date: November 1999