John Lee

Tenor

(Not-so) Secret Identity: Vocal Coach / Actor

Music has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember! I was constantly surrounded by all kinds of music; my dad used to (and still does) listen to jazz and big band favourites, while my mom preferred more current pop music. I was made to take piano lessons when I was 6 , and obediently did the whole course all the way to Grade 8.

My eldest brother used to be quite the musical leader of the pack, and he'd involve his siblings in all sorts of musical projects, so much so that by the time I was 11 (with my youngest brother at 6!) we could sing instinctively in 4-part harmony!

I always involved myself in some form of singing or music group whenever I could; choirs in primary, secondary schools, junior college and university, including the Singapore Youth Choir, and the Navy Band during my National Service. The movie, That's Entertainment, was a huge influence in my taste for music from the 40s and 50s. During the same time, The Manhattan Transfer made retro music hip and made me love singing in harmony even more! That genre of music was a major part of our repertoire when I joined the group Invasion of Privacy, which introduced me to gig work, and learning how to handle performing in front of an all-talking, all-eating, non-attentive audience.

I then began arranging vocal harmonies, and became so comfortable with it that I was asked to do arrangements for recording artistes like Tracy Huang, Sandy Lam, Emil Chou (Wakin), Sandii Suzuki and Dick Lee. After being in graphic design fro 15 years, my decision in 2005 to be fully involved in music is a wonderfully exciting change!

I first became aware of Vocaluptuous when I saw the group perform as the opening act for the Italian a cappella group Neri Per Caso in Singapore. I was so impressed with their performance that I immediately called up Simone (our extraordinary leader, without whom this group would not exist today!!) and said that I would simply love to exclusively arrange a song for them! That one song became... quite a few more songs!

Many years ago, a friend asked me what I wanted to do if I were in the entertainment industry. I think she was expecting me to say something like lead actor, or pop star, but she was totally astounded when I replied that I wanted to be a backup singer! I guess it's not a very ambitious wish, but she probably didn't understand that the backup singers get to do all those wonderful, juicy, lush harmonies! And so here I am, finally in the group, arranging AND singing vocalicious harmonies with this brilliant bunch of singers!!

Get inside John's head!

• What are your musical influences?

I’m influenced by all kinds of music... Being an arranger, I have to listen to all genres of music, and it’s always interesting to try to understand them... Bjork’s acappella album is excellent and unusually intricate, although I can’t say that I would play it to relax.  My earliest musical influences were 40’s & 50’s pop jazz standards, and music from the golden age of the Hollywood musical!

• What do you think about the Singapore music scene?

Singapore is so small la, so it’s really hard to nurture a solid music scene. However, there are some really good local song writers. The only thing I find missing with most locally produced music is the element of Singaporean-ness... We’re a young country and it’s hard to find a real identity, but I think musicians should not lose focus on being themselves and not trying to emulate others.

• What do you think about a cappella music in general and in Singapore?

The a cappella rage in Singapore started in the 80’s, but I fear that there’s a danger of it getting passe. I think groups should try and update their styles as much as they can... Not an easy task... The Aka Acappella concert in Jan 2010 was a great showcase of the Singaporean acappella scene!

• How were you introduced to Voc?

When I saw the group do the opening act for Italian acappella group, Neri Per Caso at the Singapore Convention Centre.

• What is your full-time career?

Vocal coach. Formerly a graphic designer. No regrets making the career switch!  Teaching and studying Seth Rigg’s Speech Level Singing method has truly been an enlightening experience!

• How do you balance your full-time career with singing with Voc?

Fortunately, it’s not so difficult shuffling students around... Haha.. And having a flexible schedule gives me more opportunity to take on other interesting projects, such as vocal coaching in the 2009 musical production Victor Victoria with Laura Fygi, and singing backup in Anita Sarawak’s concert band!

• What are your most memorable/embarrassing moments with Vocaluptuous?

Memorable moments: Performing at the Istana; and being flown to Tokyo to sing over 3 days at a Singapore Food Festival.

Embarrassing moment: Singing the wrong note to start off our lushly harmonised 6-part intro to Bunga Sayang at some Awards Gala dinner. Luckily I managed to improvise a quick cover up by stopping the song mid note, and saying, “Thank you. That was a short avant garde interlude. We’d now like to sing for you the full version of Bunga Sayang.”

• What other interests do you have besides singing?

Movies (comedies/musicals), drawings, people watching (so that I can imitate and make fun of their quirks), looking at beautiful and creative things.

• What other hidden talents do you have?

I do illustrations of precocious little girls for fashion magazines.

• What five words best sum up your character?

Jovial, forgetful, reliable, lovely, and punctual (ok... I’m working on the last one la!!!)

• Which part of your body do you like best/worst?

I was a hand model once you know...

• If you could be of the opposite sex for one day, what would you do?

Do what Anna Nicole Smith did, but responsibly.

• What qualities do you find attractive in a partner?

My partner must be independant, have a good sense of humour & wit, be responsible, reliable, loving

• What is your worst dating nightmare?

None... Haha.. I’m always very positive ma... But I do get irritated with people who don’t try to communicate well, and who lack personal grooming! Yucks!

• What is your favourite food?

Chwee Kway, Chicken rice, mee siam and mee rebus from the coffee shop near my home, char kway teow, Chinese home made soups (Yums!!!!!), ayam masak titek, nasi ulam...

• What is your most sinful indulgence?

A few years ago, I bought a bunch of darned expensive clothes, and never wore them... Terrible!

• What do you enjoy reading?

Gossip and entertainment weeklies, thrillers, magical fiction... Now reading “Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Survive” by Jared Diamond.

• If you could do anything in your life without having to worry about money or consequences, what would it be?

Learn to speak 3 other languages fluently, and divide my time living in my giant apartments in large cities.

• What do you like/ dislike about Singapore?

I love Singapore’s landscaping... There are many other things to love about Singapore, but for me the thing that makes it visually unique is how there are trees and LUSH greenery EVERYWHERE!  I think it was LKY’s vision to make it a Garden City, and boy did he succeed!! I love driving and admiring how the plants vary at each road, street and highway.

I dislike Singapore’s modern architecture... And how the buildings always seem to start out promising, but never quite seem to make the mark for complete beauty. There always is an element short of making the structures marvellous.

• If you had one month to live...

I would arrange a lovely funeral, and leave the rest of my fortune (ahem) to someone (or a group of people) whom I can really trust to make a positive difference.