Just wanted to remind you all that my new album 'I Love You' hits stores in Taiwan and China TODAY! The album features my cover of the David Tao song "I Love You" as well as 11 other original songs. Please spread the word and buy the album so that I can come and play some live shows for you all! I need your support!
So… I’ve been back in the UK for a couple of weeks now, after my trip to Taiwan to perform at the Hennessy Artistry event in Taipei, so I thought I’d say hi!
Taiwan…WOW, what a place!
Before the trip I’d only been to the Far East once before (on a trip to Hong Kong to see my management team at We-Enhance) and while HK took me a little while to adjust to, there was something immediately familiar and likeable about Taiwan, and Taipei in particular! The people were some of the nicest and most polite I have ever met and the city itself was immaculately clean and A LOT of fun… I can’t wait to come back and hopefully it will be sooner rather than later!
While doing some promo for my album release, I met some amazing people at ICRT FM and also at Hit FM. The DJs and staff welcomed me like an old friend and I had great fun being interviewed and performing acoustically on the various shows. Again, I can’t wait to go back and see everyone on my next visit.
The Hennessy Artistry show was in one word…AWESOME! I’m not going to lie to you, but in the weeks running up to the event, I had really started to feel the pressure and weight of expectation on me (a fact that I’m sure my manager, Hans, would attest to!)
Let me explain… around ten days before jetting out to Taiwan, I was told that I would be performing a duet with the amazingly talented Jolin Tsai… as if that wasn’t pressure enough, I was told that I would have to sing the choruses in Mandarin! So, along with all the other rehearsals I was doing, I set about learning the Mandarin lyrics.
In the end though, as with most things in life that seem daunting, the performance went well and for those of you who were at the show, or have seen the You Tube footage, I think I just about got away with it! Let me know if you thought of it?
It also got me thinking about doing some more duets with Asian artists… perhaps a duet on a version of "I Love You" with David Tao would work, or maybe a new song with Joanna Wang. Maybe even a studio duet with Jolin would be fun! All of these are duets I’d be happy to be a part of!
Since I’ve been back in the UK I’ve been busy in the studio writing new songs and working on a few different things, which hopefully you’ll get to hear in the coming months!
Anyway, I’ve talked for long enough, I just wanted to say again, thanks to everyone I met in Taiwan and I can’t wait to come back and see you all!
Stew had the voice, he had the musical chops plus he had the 'looks' that make many Asian girls- and quite a few boys- buckle at the knees. When showing his photos around the office, what was heard most often was, "Waaaahhhh! He looks like David Beckham." Well, a little. Maybe.
"I Love You" was originally recorded in Mandarin by singer-songwriter David Tao, originally from Taiwan, and one of the most popular names in Chinese popular music. The song was one of those big Pop anthems and David's most popular hit. I wrote some English lyrics for it and Stew was game to give the song a go.
With his Producer David Brant, he recorded the track in the UK and gave it that big Bryan Adams/Bon Jovi-type Stadium Rock sound. He also recorded a ring-tune for Levi's in Asia and even a song about Douglas Whyte, Hong Kong's nine-time consecutive Champion Jockey- the horse racing kind.
This is what breaking in Asia is all about: Giving things "a go" to something which might sound "corny" and even bizarre "back home." It's something many unknown acts have scoffed at- doing what it takes to making it in Asia- and which is probably why they're still stuck in MySpace without a dime to their names. And no gigs for their music.
Some years ago, Michael Learns To Rock, a Danish band not known nearly anywhere else, decided to focus on the Asian market. It was a very smart move and though fobbed off by many in Denmark for being "old-fashioned," the band has, to date, sold over 15 million in record sales.
They've also had sell-out concerts throughout Asia, recorded duets with Asian artists and with "Take Me To Your Heart," another song originally a hit in Mandarin and which I had them record when they came up with an album that was warmed-over Eagles at best, they had a hit which generated over 6 million downloads in less than a month. To date, the many versions of the video for this song have had way over 8 million views in total. Those are huge numbers in any language.
"I Love You" came close to being given to MLTR to record. Their last album released in Asia stiffed and they needed a hit. But, despite their strong fan base, we decided that Asia needed a new "face" and voice. And that face and voice belonged to Stewart Mac.
Last weekend, Stew and his band- Dean [guitar], Jim [Bass] and Andy [drums]- performed at the Hennessy Artistry gig in Taipei, the band's first appearance outside of the UK.
With having to simply turn up for a sound check in the UK, suddenly, they were being asked what they would be wearing for the gig, how they would be required to walk the red carpet...and how Stew would have to sing a duet with Jolin Tsai- in Mandarin.
I still have Stew's email replying to this request: "I am not happy." After gently reminding him how none of us are really "happy" about anything and how some of my favourite bands in the UK like Starsailor, Athlete, Doves etc were struggling today and had either been dropped or had left their record labels, Stew got to work on the duet.
Sure, there were a few other "I am not happy moments," but he got it. He understood that this was not like anything "back home" and here was an opportunity that wasn't gonna knock twice.
When Stew and the boys arrived in Taipei on December 27th, they were "knocked out" by all the fuss. There were met at the airport and whisked to a 5-star hotel in Taipei. There was a large bouquet of flowers welcoming them from their record label in Greater China, Gold Typhoon and the team from the Taiwan office. They met the organizers of the concert and were given crystal souveniers.
On their way to catch a football game at some local sports bar, they saw a giant billboard in downtown Taipei advertising the event- and with their picture on it.
Over the next two days, Stew had non-stop interviews with the media. They took thousands of photos, he did nine hours of promo for each of two days. In February, he becomes MTV Taiwan's New Artist Of The Month.
Rehearsal time was in short supply and the sound quality at the event made up of an audience of over 5,000 was hardly something for audiophiles. But, after US-based DJ Casey Conner performed and worked hard for her money to a somewhat motionless audience, the band took over.
Stewart Mac will be back as the offers are already on the table. He'll be back to perform in Greater China plus other countries in Asia- Singapore, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, India, and, possibly, Japan.
His debut record release on the Gold Typhoon label- formerly EMI- will be first out in Taiwan on February 5. This will coincide with a Valentine's Day promotion built around "I Love You."
A documentary about his musical journey to Asia is in post-production stage. There is an entire online property being built around him. Stew is all set to do very well for himself and We-Enhance will be part of his musical journey.
Making it in Asia really does not mean taking a backward step with one's music. It does not mean rubbish like "selling out." It's not about being blond and having blue eyes and singing soppy ballads.
Asia is changing and there is, for example, a huge Indie Rock scene in a city like Beijing. A great Rock band like Placebo will do somersaults to play Beijing. And they will. Black Eye Peas remain huge throughout Asia. Tickets for Green Day, Muse and the Killers, all playing parts of Asia later this month, are moving fast.
On the other hand, Beyonce recently played in China and, despite what many say was a good concert though with "an abrupt end," apparently, the organizers couldn't give away the tickets. They are said to have taken a huge bath on the deal. It's strange to think Kelly Rowland does far better in China than Beyonce. Then again, Kelly Rowland doesn't need the epic productions of a Beyonce concert. All she needs is a microphone and a Music Minus One track.
Other resounding flops in China over the past few years have been Kylie, Kanye West, Jay-Z and a other big names, especially from the US, who have simply failed to click with local audiences. Why? Horses for courses, ticket pricing, ineffective marketing, not understanding local music fans and simply bringing in the "wrong" International acts for Asia.
Worked strategically and with those who understand the music scene and, more importantly, local music fans and how there is no "typical Asian fan," this region could mean moving an unknown artist's career forward in leaps and bounds. It could mean succeeding where "marquee value names" have stumbled and flopped.
And on that note, if a Rock band, do send me your music, photos etc. You just never now where it might lead. Just ask Stewart Mac. Happy New Year? Yes, and Happy Stew Year....
hello,seward mac.i know you from--I LOVE YOU--,thanks you give me brave when i down.i brust into tears each time when i listen this song.we never give up when we upset.
You got what i mean!Of course,it's another great feeling!and in a way much better.I think you should have confidence in yourself !Looking foward to your new songs!By the way,your website is good!Hah
Hi, I'm a singer-songwriter based in the UK and plan to spend quite a bit of time in Asia over the next few months.
In fact, on December 30, 2009, I did my first gig in Taipei at the Hennessy Artistry show and even sang a duet with Jolin Tsai- partly in Mandarin!
There are plans for me to come to Hong Kong, Singapore, China, Taiwan etc over the next few month for shows.
My first album in Asia is being launched by Gold Typhoon and the first single from it is my version of the David Tao song, "I Love You."
Look forward to hearing from you guys and also meeting you in person real soon.
