Play List: Maria Chen, Actress

What I’m listening to: I’m open to everything from Indian music to K-pop. Recently, I have been enjoying Gin Wigmore, Birdy, Ellie Goulding and Lorde.

What I’m reading: at the moment, Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching. I will also reread my favourite book as a teen, J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye.

What I’m watching: I watch everything from Game of Thrones to Big Rich Texas. I enjoy Orphan Black and Hello Ladies. I love talk-show hosts such as David Letterman, the two Jimmies and Ellen DeGeneres. I watch anything by Christopher Nolan, David Fincher, Robert Rodriguez, the Wachowskis and Tim Burton.

What artists I’m following: I’m intrigued by Yayoi Kusama, her art, her life, perspective and, well, psychiatric problems.

Where I’m surfing: I’m a Googler, and I can live on Facebook and YouTube. I also love watching Japanese TV dramas and variety shows online. I think I was Japanese in a previous life.

(As told to P. Ramakrishnan)

A quick chat with one of my fav people in Hong Kong, the lovely television actress Maria Chen.

Play List: Mia Kang: Quick chat with Asian supermodel in Hong Kong: 2015

Jewelry: Kasane
Photography: Boris Burgess

What I’m listening to: I’m still obsessed with All About That Bass by Meghan Trainor. Positive vibes, a soulful voice, and a healthy, supportive message. Being half Korean, I also love K-pop – 2NE1are my favourites. I have classical music on my iPod – it engages the mind.

What I’m reading: I’m interested in North Korea and have read some fantastic books based on first-hand experiences and stories from defectors. Dear Leader by Jang Jin-sung and Escape From Camp 13 by Blaine Harden are both mind-blowing.

What I’m watching: I love Game of Thrones, Mad Men, Boardwalk Empire, 30 Rock and QI, but my go-to TV show at any time of the day is, of course, Friends. The humour never gets old. I also love trashy reality TV: The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and Keeping Up With the Kardashians. Don’t judge me.

What artists I’m following: I’d love to work with photographer Wing Shya. I worked with make-up artist Wendy Rowe – she’s inspirational and breathtaking. I love makeup and how it can transform someone into almost anything. Olivier Yoan also inspires me – he is a Hong Kong/China-based French photographer.

Where I’m surfing: 9gag.com is great for laughs, Boredpanda.com has hilarious videos of cats doing funny cat things, but Telegraph.co.uk is my homepage – having a master’s in finance and financial law, I like being up to date with economic news and current affairs. There’s more to life than cats and Kardashians.

(As told to P. Ramakrishnan)
Published in South China Morning Post

Q&A with my fav Hong Kong model of all-time; Mia Kang. Gorgeous much?!

Play List: James Wong: Actor and model from UK hits Hong Kong

Click to enlarge and read

Quick Q&A with Hong Kong TV actor James Wong. Funny kid - with an amazing following on instagram.

Celebrity Style: Interview with Hong Kong's Designer to the Stars Barney Cheng

My chat with Hong Kong designer Barney Cheng out in latest issue of Galaxy magazine. 

Pics by William Dunkley.

Galaxy Magazine cover shoot: 2015: Hong Kong supermodel stuns in Cover Shoot with Andy Cheung

Thrilled that the latest issue of Galaxy magazine has received such a great response. Great to be back at work and get the positive feedback!

Kudos to the incredible team, led by photographer Olivier Yoan (who, after Olaf Mueller, has shot more covers for the mag than any other).

Karen Yiu, the magical make-up artist, did the looks yet again. As the archives will show, we've done maximum number of shoots together. Seifert Cheung tagged along to do hair. Bhisan Rai styled [i.e. did wardrobe and accessories] for the mag once again. Rai has the patience of a saint and just the nicest fella to work with.   

Tasha Ling oversaw the entire shoot as Art Drirtor! I usually don't head to location if she's there, as I know the entire process is in safe, well-manicured hands. But I did tag along for this one as I got a chance to spend the day with gorgeous Rosemary Vandenbrouke; part of the holy Hong Kong supermodel click, that barely includes seven gorgeous people! 

Iconic Hong Kong model Rosemary Vandenbrouke was a dream to work with [our third shoot over the past decade] - and its been a dream of mine for aaaages to get that girl on the cover. And she rocked it out! Usually, we line up all the shots and cherry pick the best shot for cover - there were several options during this shoot. 

As a fellow model pointed out [think it was Mia...], if you're going to be shot with Rosemary, you've got to step it up as she'll take over the picture. In an image, you'll remember her and no one else... so it was a tall task for co-model Andy Cheung [at Lotus models] to pose and preen with Rosey-posey!

I love this shoot. Do I say that after every shoot? Er... maybe! But I 'seriously' love this shoot!!

Playlist: Jun Tyler: Model turned musician--or was that vice versa?-- sets the record straight.

What I’m listening to: all kinds of genres. I love classical music, including Bach, Chopin and Ravel. I also love jazz artists such as Chick Corea, Keith Jarrett and Roberto Fonseca. But I also listen to rock and heavy metal such as Metallica.

What I’m reading: I should be reading more, but I have the concentration span of a six year old. I do read the papers every day. I enjoyed reading Bruce Lee’s Tao of Jeet Kune Do. The Jazz Piano Book by Mark Levine is a great book to learn from. I never bothered when it sat on the piano stool 10 years ago, but now I can finally appreciate it.

What I’m watching: I enjoy British comedies and stand-up, Mock the Week in particular. I’m not very good at keeping up with the latest “it” shows. Recently I saw Gone Girl and thought it was mind-blowing.

What artists I’m following: nobody too crazy, but I think Roberto Fonseca is a great artist – a great pianist and a great live performer.

Where I’m surfing: I’m listening to a lot of music on Spotify. As I’m always searching for knowledge and inspiration, I’m always on Google and Wikipedia. Plus I’m watching a lot of boxing on YouTube.

(As told to P. Ramakrishnan)

A quick Q&A with Jun Tyler.

Pianist and model. 

Cover Shoot

I can't wait for the world to see the latest cover shoot in Galaxy magazine. Got a mag dream of mine come true esp as I really loved my cast and crew in it.