Coco Lee - Brief Article - Interview

If 1999 was the year of the Latin crossover, then the recording industry hopes the Hong Kong-born, San Francisco-bred songstress Coco Lee has the goods to spearhead the 2000 Asian invasion. Overseas, the twenty three-year-old unlikely funk-soul sister has released seven Chinese-language albums and two English. Her U.S. debut, Just No Other Way (550/Sony), is coming out this month.

ANITA SARKO: Even though you were born in Hong Kong and have enjoyed huge success as a recording artist in Asia, you actually grew up in San Francisco. How did your career happen?

COCO LEE: It started when my friends and I made a tape of me singing at a karaoke booth in Fisherman's Wharf. My best friend played it in her father's restaurant, and people asked to buy the tape. That's when it entered my mind to be a singer. After high school, I entered the biggest singing contest in Hong Kong while my family was on vacation there. Ten thousand people try out for it every year. I made it to second place.

AS: Didn't you also have a big break when you sang on a game show on Taiwan TV?

CL: Yes. People were like, "Wow, who is this girl?" because I had very colorful clothes and I was vibrant. Usually Asian artists are very proper. They called me "The California Sunshine Girl." Afterwards, all the TV stations started asking for Coco.

AS: When I heard your voice, I was shocked because you sound like Mariah Carey singing Whitney Houston arrangements. Usually Asian female singers sound more bubblegum.

CL: I incorporate a lot of Western singing styles: R&B and soul In Asia, people usually like something that they can sing to in karaoke. R&B is so hard to sing, they can't follow it. My record company took a risk--they told me the way I sang was very un-commercial. But it turns out people love it because it's so different.

AS: You usually write your own songs, but you didn't on Just No Other Way.

CL: I had all these great songwriters, so I didn't have to write! I was executive producer, which means I chose the songs.

AS: I loved the song you did with Frankie Knuckles: "Do You Want My Love?" its a terrific dance track.

CL: That's my mom's favorite, too.

AS: So who's your Valentine?

CL: I'm still waiting for my prince on the white horse.

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