I found myself sitting with Lin Ching Hsia.
It was at a party held to honor the cinematic achievements of Tsui Hark and Nanson Shi’s Film Workshop - the sort of occasion where, if you randomly threw a dart, it’d hit a household name. So it wasn’t so cool to behave like a bright-eyed fan boy, let alone an awestruck one.
Yet this was not some garden-variety movie star before me. This was Lin Ching Hsia. Her delicate beauty once crossed oceans and traversed mountains to touch me in small town Tawau - where I kissed and touched her lips every night and dreamed of happily ever after. I guess you could say she was my first love.
I was eight.
The problem with being eight is that you soon grow into a hairy lecherous man. Thus in subsequent years I also fell in love with other women - some beautiful and others beautiful inside – but it was never quite as pure and unadulterated as those voodoo nights when Ching Hsia rested her head on my shoulder and we slumbered to the sighs of the Sulu Sea lapping against the shores of Kalimantan.
“Thank you for being there”, I finally said.
“No, thank you. You are kind.” She smiled gently, as befitting a goddess.
Naturally, Lin Ching Hsia is no longer the elf-like beauty of my childhood. But she is no less beautiful now than all those decades ago. She is heavier, womanly, and reminds me of mother before scars of an unhappy marriage took the shine from her eyes. We chatted briefly about nothing in particular. It was awkward. She was civil but somewhat wary. I politely took my leave after a few minutes – mindful of the maxim that it is usually better not to know your heroes too well – and went outside for a smoke.
It was chilly out. Hong Kong spread out before me – energetic, ruthless and intoxicating – a city I have always admired. Since I left it in the 90s, there’d been many occasions to return, and this time, it was for the film festival. James Lee’s new movie ‘Call If You Need Me’ was in competition there - as was Yasmin Ahmad’s ‘Talentime’. I am lead actor in the former and wrote most of the music featured in the latter. There were also many friends to see. Thus I got myself an invite from kind Jacob Wong and found myself back in the cauldron. Back to where it all started.
Hong Kong can be a cruel place where cynicism seeps insidiously like mildew. It is even more so in show business, where industry sharks armed with chocolate talk stand shoulder to shoulder with young hopefuls jostling for the next big break. Even when I was there in my 20s, I never saw myself fitting into the business of trading dignity for fortune. So I left. Yet, as I stood smoking by the entrance of the W Hotel, the road was taking me back to what I had once run from. It was a weird feeling - scary, yet exciting, and oddly inevitable. It felt like I’d been there before.
So it was I spent the week meeting film industry folks. Some know my work and were intrigued with the possibility of collaborating. Others didn’t and didn’t care if they ever saw me again. I went to premieres, ate in cool restaurants, met with friends, drank at parties and even attended a casting session for a French film. It had been fun of course. But none quite matched up to my brief encounter with Lin Ching Hsia. As I write this, I am still awed by the fact that it took 30 years for me to meet her. Lucky bastard. Most people never get to meet their first love at all.
Mellowed by nicotine, I brushed past John Woo and Eric Tsang as I went back inside. The party had run its course and was breaking up now. In the distance, Andrew Lau was talking to Tsui Hark and a journalist from Screen International. A group of friends and film festival regulars took photographs of themselves by the stage. Lorna Tee bounced up and gave me a hug. Shinho Lee beamed a massive smile and waved. I looked around. But Lin Ching Hsia was nowhere to be found. Perhaps I should have waded doggedly through the awkwardness earlier and chatted with her for as long as I could.
Too late now.
30 minutes later, I found myself in a group speeding towards Tsim Sha Tsui for supper with the imperial Nanson Shi. Word had it that Lin Ching Hsia would be there too. But I did not stay long enough to find out. Like a coward, I escaped at the last minute by the entrance of the restaurant and hailed a taxi to Lan Kwai Fong instead. I didn’t mean to be rude of course. It was just time to get off the train - even if it was an exciting and fortunate train. After two tiring tours, one acting gig, one soundtrack album and two film scores within a short space of six months, I guess it was time to get off for a breather. Besides, I couldn’t possibly keep Ching Hsia waiting any longer.
Neon dreams flashed across the rearview mirror as I sped along the darkened coast in my taxi. I felt good. There was voodoo in solitude. Radio played Cantopop as the city receded like a mist. I rolled down the window and took out another cigarette. Ching Hsia’s hair danced playfully in the wind. Our eyes met momentarily. Finally she turned and nestled her head in my arms. Her perfume was salty and familiar. I’ve known it since I was a child. It was mother’s fragrance from a lifetime ago. Before I grew up and drifted away.
Ching Hsia smells like the sea.
- ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS -
- TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHS - [Click To Enlarge]
KOREA BAND. [L To R: Melina William, Justin Lim & Jimmy Tan] I played a few live TV spots in Korea in August 2008. These included KBS ‘Love Letter’ and EBS ‘Space’. Rather than bringing a full band, I brought a stripped down line-up consisting of Melina William and Justin Lim. Jimmy plays drums for Tempered Mental - Melina’s progressive rock band. I got them a spot at the Busan Rock Festival a week before my Korea tour and Jimmy stayed on to help out. We had a blast. 
KANG SANEH. The legendary Korean folk rock singer Kang Saneh was my guest artist on the EBS show. We’d known each other for about a year and had gotten drunk together many times in the interim. He is a hugely charismatic man and a fantastic songwriter as well as a free spirit. This photograph was taken a few days after the EBS show. We weren’t sober. You can hear his music and see his videos on Youtube. They’re really good. Just search his name.
TOKYO ASIA MUSIC MARKET. TAMM is Japan’s biggest music industry trade show. In the month of October every year, the organizers invite a handful of acts from the rest of Asia to showcase their work and I was invited last year. Other invitees in 2008 were from Thailand, China, Taiwan and Korea. The show took place in an amazingly cool venue in Tokyo by the name of Daikanyma Unit. It’s probably got the best sound system I’ve ever played through.
AFTER PARTY. The after party at TAMM was great. All the acts got over their pre-show nerves and relaxed into a pile of gooey fun. The prize for the zaniest bunch must go to the Thais - made up of a couple of winners from the Thai Idols contest and their wonderfully camp entourage. Here, I got tired of taking photos of everyone and took one of myself instead. It’s a little blur - but sometimes things are better that way - especially when you got eye bags like what I got here.
CHINA. [L To R: Tang Hafeng, Tang Yihu & Tian Yuan] China was represented at TAMM by cult electronica / folk artist and actor Tian Yuan. We’d met at the 2006 Tokyo International Film Festival. She is talented, bubbly and fun. Yihu is the filmmaker who designed the visual display for her TAMM show and Hafeng is his sister. Hafeng lives in Tokyo. We’d also met at the 2006 Tokyo International Film Festival, where she worked as an interpreter. Talk about small world.
TEMPERED MENTAL. [L To R: Jimmy Tan, Jack Lian & Melina William] A big trade show gig is no place to play acoustic and solo. So I brought along prog rock outfit Tempered Mental as my backing band [with my usual bassist Hayakawa Takeharu completing the 5 piece]. It was a lot of work re-arranging my songs and rehearsing the band. But it worked a treat in the end. Perhaps we’ll work together again in the future. This photo of the rock trio was taken at the TAMM after party.
CROCODILE. A few days after the gig at TAMM, we played at the famous Crocodile Club in Harajuku. As the gig coincided with the Tokyo International Film Festival, a few film industry friends from all over the Asia turned up. Kato Masaya dropped in to take photographs at soundcheck. Lorna Tee was supposed to come too but missed her flight in Hong Kong. We programmed Tempered Mental to play their own set after mine. They did a great job and sold a lot of CDs.
SOLO. My first set at Crocodile was a solo and stripped down set made up of songs I haven’t played for a few years. There is nothing like playing solo. I recommend it to all musicians. It’s pretty scary at first - but once you’ve conquered the nerves, it is the most addictive thing in the world. For musicians who trade on intimacy, there is no better way to play. For others who like their sound livelier, there is no better way to build tone and presence. Anyway, there is something magical about a lone voice and guitar that I will never tire. It’s rooted in something primal. Something communal and shared. Well, either that or I’m talking out of my arse. Perhaps I’m rationalizing away my dislike for rehearsing bands. Still, my dream gig is to play solo in a stadium. I’ll probably never get to do it. But it sure doesn’t hurt to dream.
TALENTIME. I completed the music for Yasmin Ahmad’s film ‘Talentime’ soon after I got back from Japan in October 2008. As the most important bits of the film’s principal songs [voice, piano and guitar] were recorded even before shooting began months ago, what remained for me to do was merely lushing them up in appropriate places now that editing had been completed and the film had taken its final shape. Still, it was already clear that music was one of the strongest elements in the film, so I’d also began talking to Universal Music about releasing a soundtrack record. This photograph was taken during my one and only visit to the shoot location in Ipoh. The pretty little girl featured here is Amelia Thripura, who played Melur’s little sister in the film. Behind her is Ciku Tan, Yasmin’s real life husband.
BANGKOK. Having completed the music and audio post production for Talentime, I then flew with my regular collaborator Nick Lee to Siam Lab in Bangkok for final audio mix in Dolby Digital. Our trip coincided with the closure of the city’s airport on account of political protest. By the time this photograph was taken, we’d been ripened by working 18 hour days for more than a week and uncertain as to when we’d be able to get home. Believe it or not, this was my first time to Bangkok.
CALL IF YOU NEED ME. [L To R: Sunny Pang, Me & Chua Thien See] I got back from Bangkok just in time to play lead in James Lee’s new film ‘Call If You Need Me’. This film represents a fairly big stylistic departure for one of Malaysia’s top indie filmmakers. Amongst the 40-strong cast of actors are Loh Bok Lai, Albert Hue, Sunny Pang and Chua Thien See. Without sounding self-serving, I think this is James’s best film to date. Catch it if you can. More information HERE.
TALENTIME ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK. A few weeks after ‘Call If You Need Me’ wrapped, Universal Music agreed to the release of an original soundtrack album for ‘Talentime’ provided that I produced and included in the album Malay version of the three principal English songs in the movie. Given that I was due to leave for the Hong Kong International Film Festival in just under 3 weeks, it was always going to be a close call. But I accepted the deal anyway and managed to beat the deadline by one hour eventually. At the time of writing, the album is about a week away from release. Please BUY when it comes out.
SIRENS. I love taking photographs of people I meet while on the road. I’m not good at it or anything - but sometimes I do get lucky and stumble into photography that’s pretty decent. I love this one, for example - taken at the Hong Kong International Film Festival. The expressions of the subject and composition has something that is indescribably sensual. Hell, it may even be the best photograph I have ever fluked. May there be many thousands more.
Pete Pete Pete. Such a weird little sad story from you this time. Good read though - as always. Enjoyed the photos. Thanks!
I love Bridget Lin too!! AHHHHHH.
I know exactly how u feel dude.
Good piece.
Love Lin Ching Hsia. Love you. Thanks for the stories!
Funny sad piece. Good read Pete Teo.
God damnit. The man writes well too. What doesn’t the guy do?
Just joking..
Don’t scold.
The guy doesn’t comb his hair. Or suck at his job. Or not make people cry listening to I Go.
So you see, the guy isn’t that perfect.
p/s: My first love was my best friend at age 10. We’ve been best friends ever since. I are lucky.
Love the photographs. You should write a novel Pete Teo.
u r amazing mr.pete. thanks for the stories. please don’t let hong kong take u away from us. good luck!
awww,,,it reads almost like a soft porn. kekekekek I’m not complaining. But it’s a nice see not verbose getting more verbose.
Hey Pete
Long time no hear lah. Well, heard you when I watched the Talentime movie, but then again that’s not the same. Wah, you got to meet your first love - how awesome is that, huh?
Miss you lah. Now you’re super famous and all, perhaps a bit too busy for mere mortals like us, huh? When you come back, let’s do tequila shots like the good ol days, k?
Hugs
I originally posted something about meeting Brigitte at the Dubai Film Fest last December ( the blurry photo I took with her), and waxed poetic about it, but because I mistyped the anti-spam ID, I lost the whole post. I\’m depressed.
I screamed (in my heart) like a fangirl when I saw Brigitte Lin last December when I saw her in Dubai that when I asked someone to take a photo for me with her (dad was there too), I forgot to enable flash, and photo came up in a blur.
The blurry photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/82727030@N00/3122372836/
I wanted to weep.
At least she popped up in the background when I took photo with Tsui Hark later.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/edmundyeo/3147079208/
I was joyful again.
Mr. Pete Teo. I love all your songs in Talentime. Thx.
I want to be the bastard child of Lin CHing Hsi and Pete Teo!
But seriously… Good read Pete.
Hi Pete Teo –
Loved your contributions to TALENTIME — one of 13 films I’ve seen to date at the Hong Kong International Film Festival.
Also am a fellow fan of the great Brigitte Lin Ching-Hsia (and have been rather upset that I couldn’t see any of her films screening at this year’s HKIFF — two because they were screened on weekday afternoons when I had to work, and one because it was sold out before I could get a ticket!).
Have to say that I’ve often worried about what would happen if I ever were to spy her in the flesh. Frankly, I think I might have a heart attack and die on the spot! Or, at the very least, turn into a tongue-tied or stuttering idiot.
So I congratulate you on being able to meet her (briefly) and get a compliment from her even while also understanding why you prefer to treasure that moment and memory and not risk sullying it with a longer encounter!
Hope you had a wonderful time in Hong Kong. And in the words of ABBA: Thank you for the music. And do keep on composing and creating.
i saw out at cap square yesterday
wanted to say hello but too shy
you da best pete!
Love your work!
Keep it up and make us proud.
congratulations on winning silver at HKIFF. I love the music in Talentime and your acting in James Lee film. Hope to see you at TIFF this year.
I love Bridget.
I love Pete too.
Pete love Bridget.
Does that mean Pete loves me?
*faints*
Ah I just ran into Sunny pang and met James too. Sunny and I were actors in the film “lucky 7″ together. I can’t wait to see “call me if you need me” now!
Hey Pete
You should have taken a photo with her at that point but well, no one can possibly think right when they r around their first love or Lin Ching Hsia for that matter
Again, congrats for your win in HK !
We missed you here badly !!! Great to see you blogging again!
Always good to hear from your side
Cheers!
“…trading dignity for fortune.”
So true and aptly put, Pete.
Hope you’ll never have to do that.
Good luck.
i was kinda like you…
you were there.. and i was too shy to walk over to say hi.. (then i regretted it for the longest time.. hahaha)
at least u have more guts.. to talk to her..
ur damn lucky man to meet your first love
loved all ur songs… and when u sing.
when’s ur next album… ?
anny,
you should have said hello to Pete la. he quite funny irl. though he looks moody, he’s a bloody pussy cat. haha!!
*dodge*
raincat,
i would be too shy and not a peep would come out of my mouth.. hahaha.. i would be a disgrace to myself. Even though my friend was practically dragging me towards him. He must be think what these two loonies are doing.. hahaha..
mebbe next time..
if i sum up enough courage or kick my myself again 2 times.
I love ur songs. I knew u wrote them even before i read the credits. The songs in Talentime.
I am looking forward to buying the soundtrack.
Ur a great Talent from Tawau. : )
You write beautifully Pete. I don’t know whether to love you or hate you. Must be amazing to be so gifted in so many things.
I think I’ve decided to hate you…
Yuk. I’m going to jump off a building now.
Ha.
Just teasing ya.
You are admirable. I hope we meet someday.
Lin Ching Hsia??? What happen to Teresa Teng? Ha.
i am a hairy lecherous man
Hate to admit it, but I am a hairy lecherous man too.
the first time i watched telentime, i heard the music was soo awesome n i wonder whos the composer.. turns out to be u!!!! yeah !!!! love ur work~ pls come up with new album pete teo.. miss ur music~ come back to msia then i buy u pizza.. hehe~
great!! way to p.
proud of ya!!
I think what you do is awesome. Artistry on your own terms. Talented. Resourceful. Brilliant. An example to us all. Respect sir.
Thanks for the kind words guys. I owe you all beer for saying such nice things. Sorry I’ve been quiet for a while. Anyway, I’m working on a few things which I’ll unveil in a few months. Keep your ears peeled. Meanwhile, take care and don’t go snuffing glue…
I hear on the grave vine you’ll be doing something cool this April. Don’t forget to call.
Love the Talentime songs dude. Great work!!!
Love your music. Keep on rocking Pete.
Luv ya work P! Keep it up!!
You write beautifully. Any plans for a novel? I’ll buy it. Haha. Seriously. You are one talented dude. I am so jealous.
Pete at his bitter sweet best. Great read!
To the best singer songwriter in Malaysia ever. Cheers Pete for all the great tunes. And the stories. And the big big heart. If this country is worth anything, they should make you a Tun.
You’d probably turn it down. Silly man.
I love Lin Ching Hsia too. I wish to meet her!!!! Hahaha! Are you always this lucky?
thank you for the music, mr. teo.
When are you finally getting round to releasing the next record dude? Can’t wait to see how you’ll evolve. Hurry hurry!
I love your writing. It must be good to be able to express yourself with so much elegance. Please write a book at some stage of your amazing journey.
thank you for being here.
Mr. Teo. I have to said that I have not heard you until recently. But I think now you are very talented and inspiration to me. I wish you the best of luck. Please keep making music your way and doing things your way. I am so sick of all these boring people in Malaysia doing boring things but call themselves artist. You are the real artist. Thanks.
Fantastic information,This is the first time i heard about this. keep it up this good works.
Thanks,
Micheal
Хороший блог
Люблю почитывать каждый день (ну и в другое время тоже :)).
Действительно интересно написано, но мне кажется, что все-таки автор что-то не договаривает
Круто, хотя не мешало бы чуть подетальней написать, а то есть несколько непонятных моментов
Интересно, а есть тут кто-то, кто не совсем согласен с автором ?
НЕ в тему немного, но радует, что автор к блогу не просто тупо взял какую то тему для Вордпресс, а сделал что то свое и вкладывает в это дело душу.
Not sure how I found your blog, but I read a piece where you met up again with a musician who’d had an accident - the ‘Broken Terminator’ response, in Tokyo. But I couldn’t find it again when I revisited. Anyway, you really capture a moment. Great reading. TQ.