5 Questions with Future Leaders: Hua Chang Lee

One of the things that is most enjoyable about consulting is the opportunity to meet the emerging generation of leaders in the music business. Hua Chang Lee is one of those people. Already, Hua is running a show this year called Sing For Your Heart, which locals lovingly refer to as “Asian Canadian Idol.” Hua is passionate about bringing new diverse music from around the world to a greater stage.

1. Hua, tell us about your background.

In a nutshell, I’m a huge advocate of music and culture. I grew up in a very diverse community and was exposed to many different ways of living. I was introduced to a wide variety of music in different languages, I initially fell in love with Japanese music but that eventually evolved into Italian, Spanish, French, and so much more.

Musically I started playing the piano when I was about 8, I wasn’t very good at it. I remember having my grade 4 piano exam and I believe I failed it so I was discouraged from taking lessons again. However, since I didn’t have a teacher to give me sheet music anymore I had no choice but to play by ear, I discovered this was a fairly easy thing for me to do. As I got into my early teens I got lazy running up the stairs to listen to the music in my room and then running down to play what I heard, so I started making my own music to play on the piano to save myself the trip. I usually played when my parents weren’t home, so I’m not sure if they even knew I could play by ear until I got older. I eventually picked up the trumpet, the sax, the guitar, singing, and got familiar with a lot of other instruments that were commonly used in pop music.

Academically, I was educated in Philosophy at the University of Waterloo and learned Audio Engineering at Metalworks Institute. Today I write songs, compose, produce, engineer, and run a small project studio.

2. What is Sing For Your Heart …and how did you become involved?

Sing For Your Heart is a lot like World Idol but on a micro scale. All the Asian communities get together here in Toronto and have a singing competition with representatives from each community (There are currently 12 ethnic communities involved). It is sponsored by The Heart & Stroke Foundation of Ontario and is being organized by the Canadian Multicultural Council of Ontario.

The community leaders had actually come up with the idea, they ran the event last year and it was a great first run. I had entered the competition in its first year as a contestant to meet talented young Asians in the community. I was always looking for them, but never could seem to find them. I also wanted to develop a sense of trust and friendship with these singers because as an artist myself, I know how fishy it is for some random person to come up to you and say they wanna help you. So far I’ve had the chance to work with 2 of last years contestants and it was a fantastic experience.

I decided to run the show this year in attempt to bridge industry professionals with our local talent pool. All the A&R guys from the labels are checking out bars, clubs, and festivals for talent, but most of the Asian talents don’t perform at these venues so they generally go unnoticed. There is some amazing talent here, so I’m hoping these kids will get noticed this time around.

3. As a young executive in the music industry, how do you see the music business evolving?

One thing I can tell you though is that the industry is no longer controlled by it’s suppliers (It never really was, but the labels have realized it now), the consumers have prevailed and they always will. I was told by a friend of mine that in New York, people will buy a $2 dollar bottle of tap water (http://tapdny.com/) but they won’t spend a dollar on music. It’s strange because they can get tap water for free as they do music, so what value is being added to justify that purchase? There is something to learn from this, and I will quote from http://tapdny.com/about:

“Founded in June, 2008, Tap’dNY is a local, New York City bottled water company with a unique vision and mission. Sure, we sell water, but our passion is spreading the ideas of thinking locally, supporting NYC, honesty in marketing, and offering socially better solutions.”

Think of the music as the water and the record labels/artists as the bottled water company. In a fairly disconnected world this company is connecting with their consumers on a social level. If the business side of the music industry were to head in any direction, it’d be towards this one.

4. If you had one message for the industry, what is it?

I’ll do the Canadian thing and paraphrase something the Great One once said,

“Skate to where the puck is going, not where its been.” - Wayne Gretzky

5. Much of your career is focused on music diversity. Do you see more general market interest in music diversity? Or, do you believe that we’re headed for a more homogenous culture?

I definitely do see a growing interest in diversity. Just looking back for a moment, when Bruce Lee emerged onto the big screen in the 70’s, it sparked interest in Chinese culture. The 80’s started the technology culture, the 90’s brought anime to kid’s television which started a huge wave of interest in Japanese culture, and now in 2009 with Slumdog Millionaire and it’s song “Jai Ho” the west begins to look east to India for it’s next cultural fix. Music and culture are more powerful than it’s creators imagine it to be, it connects people, and that is why it is my focus.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MEET HUA LEE, YOU CAN REACH HIM HERE.