Kristina Lao is “searching the world for the perfect words” as an independent artist and now finds her infused country-folk-pop self in Vancouver. The move and further pursuit of musical artistry comes after a half-decade of singing and songwriting over the pond in London. Before any musical training she was a competitive athlete as a kid and studied International Business. Kristina can be found playing gigs in and around Vancouver and is a much welcomed and refreshing addition to the music scene.
Can you define yourself as an artist?
In how many words? Oh no, I’ve already started using them up. Ok, here we go: I am a nerdy, wordy songwriter who hails Paul Simon, Joni Mitchell, Tracy Chapman and Regina Spektor. I write folk/pop songs with a country lilt. I use imagery. I don’t write a lot of depressing, ‘woe is me’ songs, because I’d much rather put a smile on people’s faces than have them crying at me. I don’t know what to do when someone cries. Do you pat them on the back? Is that condescending? People also tell me that I have a whole lot of words in my songs. So do rap artists. THEY don’t get sh*t for it.
Where are you from and where have you been?
I was born in Hong Kong, and spent my childhood there. My Ma is Canadian, so this has been my family home since they moved back here a long time ago, even though I’ve not lived here until this year. I’ve been to lots of places. They’re all filled with people and different types of toilets. You guys have markedly shallow toilet bowls. Just saying.
Is your sport and business background the past or does it complement you today?
My sporting background gave me great discipline and focus, and my business degree taught me how to argue with people and bemoan the administrative bureaucracy in medium-sized organizations – a skill that has served me well at dinner parties (not that I’m invited to any… oh, maybe that’s why).
How did you know you wanted to study music theory and theatre?
I watched Sister Act when I was young(er), and fell in love with singing. I tried it, and I sucked. HERE’S where the sporting background comes in: I don’t like to suck at things, so I got three jobs, paid my way into a terrible singing school, suffered extreme stage fright for five years, and continued to practice and find new, better private teachers until could open my eyes on stage. I then studied music at Hong Kong University because I thought it was a challenge (see the trend here?). In terms of musical theatre, I watched ‘Anything Goes’ at a Theatre in Brighton, UK, and decided that Musical Theatre was the Olympics of singing, and so I decided to apply to a theatre school in London, because it seemed like the hardest thing to do. Because WHY NOT?
Aside from technical skills, what is the greatest thing you learned from your musical training?
The greatest thing I learned was how to celebrate and hone my strengths, instead of getting upset over my weaknesses. The second greatest thing I learned was that even if you’re dancing for three hours a day and active for eight, you WILL put on weight if you consistently eat microwave meals.
What made you move to Vancouver out of everywhere else in the world?
My family is here. I’d spent time in London, and a long time away from them. I wanted to come and learn about my other home, and get ensconced in the scene here. Plus, you guys have AWESOME water. Thank you for that. My hair is SUPER SHINY.
Favourite things to do in Vancouver?
I love my Kung Fu classes at SFU. I also love hanging out with the various musicians I’ve met, checking out gigs, open mic nights and fringe theatre. Apparently a few girlfriends want to take me hiking. I think it’s because they need a good laugh.
Favourite Vancouver music hangouts?
I love to champion the venues that are good to their artists, and support new talent: The Backstage Lounge (did you know that ALL their profits go to the theatre? How EPIC is THAT?!), Guilt & Co, Trees Organic Café (cake AND music? Can’t go wrong!). OOH and I JUST discovered Sofar Vancouver – GREAT concept. Ya’ll are welcome to tweet me YOUR recommendations – I’m always up for going to good venues.
Greatest musical influences?
Paul Simon, Joni Mitchell, Tracy Chapman, Regina Spektor and Stephen Sondheim (you want wordy? HE IS WORDY).
What was the concept behind your EP “Mice”?
Mice was a project I worked on with my friend Lee Sparey at Grooveyard Music. The songs are introspective and question what so many of us consider the ‘norm’. I am not apologetic about my indecisiveness (except when I’m at a restaurant and everybody knows what they want but me). I think that in articulating the beauty in our chaos, maybe those who listen (including myself) can start to find either comfort in their own current state, or pose their own questions of existence (whatever they may be).
What are you currently working on?
I’m currently gigging around Vancouver, and am setting up a monthly singer-songwriter night with my friend Cassie DaSilva (a talented singer-songwriter here), to showcase some of the awesome talent I’ve discovered. So many venues put on covers bands, and I think it’s time for more aspiring singer songwriters to be celebrated in Vancouver. There are so many great support systems in place here, and so many people have been wonderful to me since I arrived two months ago. I’d like to contribute to that community by working with venues and get more people out to listen to these driven, talented artists. The first show will be on Wednesday, August 26th at The Backstage Lounge – I hope you can all come! We’ll be getting active on Instagram and Twitter soon, so feel free to follow @indievancity for updates. If you do come, I will give you a hug. And maybe a piece of cake. MAYBE.
Advice for an aspiring singer and songwriter?
- Know why you’re doing it, down to your very core. Read Rainer Maria Rilke’s “Letters to a Young Poet” Chapter One. Ask yourself that question.
- One of my musical mentors once told me “It’s not about how talented you are in this game. It’s about how long you can STAY in it”. That refers back to my first note. If you know WHY you’re doing it, you have a life raft.
- Please, PLEASE, write songs that make us think. Otherwise, we’re going to end up in a real-life Idiocracy (great movie, if you haven’t seen it. Mike Judge. GOLD).
Follow Kristina Lao’s musical journey in Vancouver Twitter and check out the EP “Mice” on iTunes.
Photo credit: Kristina Lao Music
Interview by Amar Mirchandani @amarmirch
