Recent HOT TOPIC: Justin Lo

[Berri]

An original New Yorker (which I didn't know), Justin has really climbed to the top. As a talented musician as well as a composer, his high intonations makes his singing quality superb and perhaps unique.
Justin certainly does not look his age (maybe it's those caps!) and he certainly wasn't mentally prepared for this overwhelming fame.

This article is a dedication to his life so far as a celebrity.

Overnight sensation
star ecentral March 10 2006

The press conference room was unusually packed with inquisitive journalists and adoring fans. Everyone wanted to see Hong Kong’s latest singing sensation, Justin Lo. For the past several months he has become a hot topic on message boards, print and electronic media, that can’t stop singing praises of his talent and achievements.

And indeed, his accomplishments have been nothing short of incredible. His self-titled album sold 15,000 copies on the first day of its release in Hong Kong. Lo composed more than half the songs on the album.

At this year’s Jade Solid Gold Top 10 Award, he walked away with the best male newcomer award. Come March 26, the talented 29-year-old singer/songwriter/ producer will be staging his debut concert at Hong Kong Coliseum, making him the first artiste to do so after just one album. Tickets for the concert sold out within 10 minutes after ticketing counters opened, prompting organisers to hold two more shows in April.

Wearing a grey jacket over white shirt with blue jeans and cap, Lo is surprisingly diminutive in size. He is surprised at the big turnout and appeared a little embarrassed by the attention.

The New York-born Hong Kong-based Lo was working as a web designer at Yahoo! in California until he got bored and decided to move back to Hong Kong to write music. Lo’s love for music started when he was a young boy.



In Hong Kong, he began doing freelance design work while sending demo tapes to record companies. In 2003, his uncle Ted Lo, a music arranger and producer, introduced him to popular composer and producer Mark Lui, who then signed him up. He went on to produce for new Hong Kong singer Janice’s Day & Night and composed for Leo Ku, Leon Lai, Kelly Chen and Andy Hui, among others.

Bad publicity

Last year, his a cappella performance during Ku’s Jade Solid Gold concert caught the attention of Gold Label Music Ltd managing director Paco Wong who wasted no time in signing him as a singer. Since then his life has been nothing short of a rollercoaster ride.

His newfound celebrity status has made him attention-worthy by the paparazzi. And like his musical achievements, the rumours surrounding him are also remarkable to say the least.

He has been called gay, his penchant for wearing a cap is said to be due to an M-shaped hairline and the incident that probably takes the cake has to be the one where the paparazzi were said to have rummaged through his garbage and found a condom. That same night, actress Gia Lin was said to have spent the night at his place, prompting the media to claim that they were lovers.



When told that many people knew him as a result of the rumours, Lo expressed his disappointment saying that it shouldn’t be so.

“I’m a musician and the focus should be on my music. But the number of SMSes I received when the rumours broke out exceeded the congratulatory messages I received after I was named best newcomer,” says the soft-spoken young man.

Is he fed up of the paparazzi culture?

“No and neither am I disappointed in the media because it is a price I have to pay to be in this industry. While I gained the opportunity to do music, I understand that I have lost my freedom in the process.

“Actually, I’m quite nice to the paparazzi. I’ll even treat them to dinner. It’s useless for me to scold or beat them up because they will still write about me. So why not be nice to your enemy? Besides, we have to always look at things from a positive perspective. And these negative reports have in fact inspired me. My next album (slated for release at the end of the month) will address some of these issues.”

In spite of the bad publicity, Lo, whose goal is to be an a recognized producer in Asia in five years, acknowledges that he has been lucky.

“I treasure what I have been given and I constantly remind myself how blessed I am. I believe my success is due to 80% luck, 10% hard work and 10% talent.”