Lee Hom's Concert in Malaysia

Pop singer, actor and now superhero? WANG LEE HOM took Asia by surprise when he appeared on stage with metallic blue hair, a (tight) leather outfit and a hot-looking dragon guitar during his concert in Taipei last year. Calling himself Music-Man, he performed all his popular hits from albums like Heroes of Earth , Change Me and Heart Beat .

If you weren’t in Taipei, fear not, as Lee H… Music-Man is planning a one-night only concert in Kuala Lumpur! To give fans a sneak peek of what’s in store, the star recently flew in for a mini showcase where he wowed fans (and us!). hot also sat down with the boyish singer who shared with us insights on his not-so-secret identity, having ten children and why he only dates older women.

Tell us more about your character, Music-Man.

I thought if I could be a superhero, then I’d be Music-Man. I created this character to give people a fresh look and sound. My weapon of choice would be a dragon guitar. I named it Bahamut as it is really cool and it gives Music-Man a nice element. And my mission would be to save the world through music.

What is it like to stage a concert in Malaysia compared to other places?

Whenever I stage a concert in Malaysia, it feels like I’m attending a concert myself. I can’t bring myself to leave the stage. It is such an unforgettable experience for me as Malaysian music lovers are so passionate about music. They always sing the loudest and know all the lyrics to every song.

Lee Hom, tell us what makes your heart beat?

Music makes my heart beat. Being alive and, most definitely, live performances. It is strange how I’ve staged so many concerts in my life, yet before each show, as I stand behind the curtain and try to keep calm, my heart just keeps beating faster and faster. So I will take ten minutes – not move, not talk – to stay calm. It’s a mysterious and wonderful experience to perform a live concert.

Is there someone special in your life that makes your heart beat faster?

I’ve been on set filming a period movie with Jackie Chan and there really weren’t many girls to be seen. The only female around was the horse! I don’t think that’s my priority now. I have 10 adopted children from Laos and we’re going to Sierra Leone to see what help we can offer.

Do you think idols like yourself and Angelina Jolie are setting examples to fans when it comes to adoption matters?

I think it is a good thing. Basically I’m lucky to be in this position where you can reach out to people and share my life’s experiences. Like you said, celebrities like Angelina Jolie is setting a good example; adoption is the way to go. I think we all should sponsor children and invest in their education.

You mentioned you’re filming a new movie. Could you tell us more about it?

It’s very action-oriented and totally different from my university student character in Lust, Caution . My character’s got quite a temper but I have a very nice costume and the artistic direction is very beautiful. For the past two months, I’ve been undergoing martial arts training in China; I’ve learnt a lot from Jackie. He started making movies when he was only six years old and he’s pioneered many amazing movies.

Do you think your looks might be too Eurasian for a period piece?

I used to think that way too but after filming this movie, I realised that I actually looked very much like an ancient Chinese. It’s set in the Qin Dynasty and I had my hair shaved so I’ve got no hairline now [pulls back his hair to show us].

You say you look like an ancient Chinese and you’ve been in the music industry for so long. Do you feel ancient?

I am ancient. I have an old soul. [Pauses] I’m going to get myself in trouble for saying this but I was going to say that I’ve never dated a girl that’s younger than me. I’ve always been more mature and I think maturity comes with travelling all around the world and living in a suitcase. It has become a lifestyle that I’ve gotten used to.

You have referred to two of your latest albums as ‘chinked out’ music. Could you tell us more?

When I was in New York, everyone thinks if you’re Asian, you’re Jackie Chan [laughs]. People don’t know the difference between a Malaysian Chinese or Vietnamese; to them, everyone looks the same! They also think that if you are Chinese, you’re automatically good in Maths! I was actually good in Maths. But it was not until I came to Asia that I was aware of the fact that Asia is much more affluent in their culture.

How is that so?

Even though we watch Hollywood movies, we also watch Korean and Japanese movies. When I was in New York, I realised that there was not one radio station that was playing Chinese songs! The first movie that crossed that barrier was Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon so I realised there’s a lack of exposure. That was the reason why the word ‘chink’ came about with my music. They [Westerners] don’t understand our culture in Asia and I plan to reinvent that word and use it to educate them.

How do you intend to use your music to educate people around the world?

One of my goals as a musician is to promote my music to people around the world. I hope they’ll listen to Chinese pop music for the first time and like it, as well as understand our way of life. As an example, I like listening to Italian opera but I don’t understand what it means. Fifty years ago, we never thought we would get an African-American president but now we have Obama and actors like Will Smith so anything’s possible, even for Chinese actors and musicians to step up their game. I want to be part of that movement to make the change.

Listen to Lee Hom’s 'Heart Beat' which is in stores now!