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New teen idol Hom dreams of bringing Chinese music to the world.

Project Eyeball 3/10/00

Rising above the popcorn is artiste Wang Lee Hom, teen idol withdreams of bringing Chinese music to the world. Our reporter reveals the heart of this descendant of the dragon.

NEVERMIND that in Chinese music's teeny-bop hinterland, idol status is rather a result of a winsome smile than serious music. Rising star Wang Lee Hom, with his own fair share of screaming fans, holed himself up in the studio for weeks, concentrating intently on producing the best for his latest album.

For his efforts, the classically trained singer-songwriter-musician emerged with his seventh Mandarin album - a work that includes 11 tracks fused with elements of rap, rock 'n' roll and R&B, written and arranged by him. At a deeper level, the 24-year-old American-born Chinese reckons it's the closest one to his heart yet. Of the album which took a year to produce, he touts: ''If you want to hear my thoughts, my background, something with more meat, it's in here.''

The glimpse into his soul begins with the slow title track, Forever's First Day, which tells of the day a woman gives up everything and flies to be with a man. When they meet, it's the first day of forever. Hence the title. Though the scenario never actually took place, Wang's fantasy might be rooted in the reality of a truncated long-distance relationship with his Taiwanese girlfriend. What is significant about the album is Wang's reflection of his Asian-American identity, best heard in his funky remix of the traditional Chinese gung-ho song, Descendants Of The Dragon.

The Boston native, whose parents migrated to New York from Taiwan, recalls the sentiment not from being pushed around in the playground, but from meeting other Asian-Americans in university, where ''nobody is clear about what Asian-American identity is''. ''There was no solidarity, and that was the saddest thing for me,'' he laments. As with his music, it's a conviction he acts out, by performing at campuses in the US, like a recent gig at Harvard for the Taiwan Student Association. It's his contribution, albeit in a small way.

On a larger scale, the multi-talented star has bigger plans: ''I'd like to help create an internationally recognisable Chinese pop music sound.'' Already he is co-producing the original soundtrack to Stanley Tong's China Strike Force with American rapper Coolio, a movie in which both artistes also star, alongside Aaron Kwok.

So, what's his idea of ''internationally recognisable'' Chinese pop? ''Of course, there are certain cliches like instrumentation, using Chinese instruments like the guzheng, and adapting Chinese chords and scales,'' he reasons. What's more important, however, is a ''Chinese sensibility'', a magic touch that permeates the work of Taiwanese director Ang Lee. ''Growing up in the US, relationships among people are not that xi (refined),'' he elaborates. ''But in Chinese music, a lot of that nobility in love is present.'' Noble are his ambitions indeed. Hopefully, his hard work transcends the realm of short-lived disposable ditties. Are we looking at the Ang Lee of music? Perhaps, if he can get Chinese pop on the world map.

For more details and to watch to Leehom's interview, please go to Project Eyeball.