Kaila Yu
With
beauty, talent, and an intense desire to reach her career goals Kaila
Yu, the Taiwanese native, has in a relatively short time managed to
create quite a buzz in not only the music world, but modeling and
acting worlds as while. As far as up-and-comers go she's
clearly ahead of the pack scoring features in Rolling Stones Magazine
and on NBC's Inside Edition, and topping Myspace.com, Soundclick.com
and Cdbaby.com charts. Kaila Yu is a young woman with a
mission and a tenious drive to reach and complete her very high goals
in life and so far she's doing just that. These are just a
few reasons why Kaila Yu is this month's IndieMusicLounge.Com Spotlight
Artist. For more information about Kaila visit her website
or on myspace. Here's the Interview:
Q.
First off I'd like to thank you for allowing me to interview you. My
first question as always, for those that are not familiar with you, who
is Kaila Yu?
A. I'm a pop singer/songwriter living in Los Angeles,
trying to make music that makes people feel good, forget about their
problems and have fun!
Q. I'd quickly like to jump into your background to further set the
stage about you and let our readers inside your world so to speak
before I move on to the questions about your music career specifically.
You were born in Taiwan and moved to California early on in your life.
How was it early on for you adjusting to American culture as a child
and how do you think your Asian roots affected you throughout your life
thus far?
A. I moved to America so early in my childhood that I
don’t remember having to adjust to the American culture, I
was 3 when I moved here. I think the my Asian roots have definitely
influenced my development as an individual in the United States, my
parents strict upbringing of me definitely affected my formative years
in high school and growing up.
Q. While I was reading through your material I saw that you from very
early on were sort of maybe through fate put in a number of performance
and musical type of extra-curricular activities. What were these
various activities and what part, if any, do you think they play in who
you are today, both on stage and off.
A. I actually wasn’t "put" into performance
situations, from a very early age, I loved to perform for audiences and
I would always push to get to perform. I was always putting on shows
for my family and singing and dancing, so my mom responded by putting
me in singing shows and traditional Chinese dance shows.
Q. Now fast forward a few years. To junior high and high school. It's
to my understanding that the now model/actress/musician Kaila Yu once
was shy? So shy that you were almost voted shiest girl in your class?
How could this be?
A. I'm a pretty strong person (too strong, strong to a
fault) Even in the shy years of my youth, where I felt like I had no
voice, I felt a strong desire to show the world what I had to say one
day. I didn’t really know how to overcome being shy when I
was younger, but I did know that I hated being that way. As soon as I
grew older I literally forced myself to come out of my shell by sheer
force and these days most people wouldn’t call me shy... I
can be reserved at times, but I’m a totally different person
than who I was in high school.
Q. What would you say was the turning point for you as far as losing
the shyness and gaining the confidence to pursue your entertainment
industry goals?
A. There wasn’t really a turning point? It was
a specific goal that took many years to achieve.
Q. Not only a beauty, you also I see are somewhat of a scholar. At one
point in your life you were skipped an entire grade, and you've
attended both UCSD and UCLA. Surprisingly though, you seemingly didn't
have any intentions to go to school for music or acting. What was it
that you started out taking and why was this?
A. Wow you really did your research, Im impressed!
Although I am proud of my degree and glad that I went through the
process, at the time, I didn’t really care if I graduated
from college. It is only because my mom forced me to graduate from
college, threatened to disown me and hate me for life if I
didn’t, that I graduated. I am very thankful that she made me
go, it taught me about discipline and scheduling.
Q. So many people that pursue this career course (being the
entertainment field) tend to overlook secondary schooling, but even
with your earlier modeling successes you stuck it out. How influential
to you was obtaining your education and what advice would you give to
those with dreams of stardom and facing the choice of going to college?
A. I think that if college is going to hurt your chances
of succeeding, i.e you have to go on tour and you have to drop out of
school, definitely pursue the opportunities that are presenting
themselves. However, if you have the time, I would definitely advise to
finish college, it hasn’t directly helped my entertainment
career, but I learned a lot of important life lessons during college.
Q. On to your career life. You started out by building your own website
actually learning html yourself and becoming an Import Model, gracing
the pages of Playboy Magazine as well as several other well known
magazine covers and print modeling. Which I understand lead to acting
opportunities through both commercials and film (including a small spot
in the movie Fast and The Furious). Was this all in the plan for you or
was there a higher architect to Kaila Yu's success?
A. I always had a picture of where I wanted to be and now
I make it a priority to set specific goals every month, monthly, 6
month, 12 month, 2 year, 5 year, etc goals. You cant make it where you
want to go without having very precise and detailed goals.
Q. Now touching on the subject of some of your more "risky" type photo
shoots such as posing for Playboy which obviously involved nudity, why
is it that you chose to channel down this side of the modeling world,
do you have any regrets a few years removed from doing so and do you
see this as a possible hindrance to your musical pursuits?
A. I definitely have no regrets, I personally believe
that people are overly sensitive to this issue, the female body is
beautiful and should be celebrated, not hidden and should not be seen
as something to be ashamed of. As long as my music is solid and of
quality, I don’t believe that this will be a hindrance.
However, if the music isn’t up to par, this will definitely
be an excuse for people to pull me down, so its very important that I
concentrate even more on making my music better than ever before. It is
definitely a learning experience.
Q. Also touching on your modeling career, what does it mean to you as
an Asian woman to be given the opportunity to do such a wide spectrum
of work and to become as popular as you have with it? I mean there are
Ebay auctions with your modeling merchandise included in them!
A. I am definitely glad that I live in a generation where
Asians are finally getting an opportunity to have a face in the
American Media. I hope that what I achieve helps the younger generation
believe that anything is possible.
Q.
I ask you this for the reason being that I know that aside from your
own pursuits you are very clearly working to help other Asian
performers step up into the limelight. What are some of the current
events/activities that you are involved in designed to further the
world's notice of Asian talent? And why is it so important to you that
the world at large get to know these artists/models/actors?
A. I am very involved in the Asian community and have
always supported and collaborated with Asian artists. For example, this
Sunday we are doing a show, an annual show called "talk of the block"
at http://www.futurerockstarsofamerica.com/ It is a group of up and
coming Asian artists doing things grassroots and bringing visibility to
each other. It is important for the world to see that talent and
creativity comes in all colors, shapes, and sizes.
Q. Now to switch gears a bit onto your music career. You in a very
short time have risen to the top of just about every internet music
site that I can think of related to music over just the past 3-4 years.
From Soundclick.com, Myspace.com, to Cdbaby.com how is this, what do
you think you bring to the table that's garnered this much attention to
you musically as once with your modeling career?
A. I think its sheer hard work and passion that brings me
my success, I'm no different from any artist but I do have a lot of
drive and ambition. Also, I treat music as my art but also as a
business, which is so important these days.
Q. You've also been featured in some very high profile press coverage
from showcasing your latest songs on MTV CHI, to being on NBC's Inside
Edition several times as I remember and currently being featured in
Rolling Stones as one of the Girls of Myspace.Com. What was it like as
an indie musician to see your face inside the coveted pages of Rolling
Stones Magazine and how did these great opportunities come about?
A. Rolling Stones was a total surprise for me. One of the
editors emailed me asking permission for them to use my photo, and I
said "yes of course". They didn’t really go into detail about
what they were using it for and I didn’t even really take it
seriously because you never know what’s for real when dealing
with the internet. It was only when the issue came out that I knew they
had written a bit about me and placed my amongst these other artists.
It was really exciting!
Q. On top of all of these great milestones I think I should add the
fact that you've also managed to get a hit single over in Germany
amongst the DJs there. Two questions, how is it that you've been able
to accomplish this overseas success and what would you say is the most
difficult task in managing your overseas successes and pursuits.
A. Honestly, Germany was just a by product of my Myspace
exposure. I didn’t target Germany or promote in
Germany. I simply released my single on Myspace and Germany djs started
requesting the music so I would send them my vinyls and it just blew up
after that without my knowledge! I didn’t even know about the
popularity of the single until I saw the charts.
Q. Your latest singles Move
and Candy Coated Sugar
Sex I understand you not only wrote, but executive
produced as you have most of your records thus far. What would you say
is your favorite part of the whole writing and recording process?
A. I love creating the music, but my favorite process is
definitely the performing part of the process, when the product is done
and we get to show it to the world.
Q. Of the many songs you've now written which would you say means the
most to you and why?
A. I would say it’s a song called "So Deep" which has
not been released yet, a song about falling love, having no control,
and hating it, wanting to get rid of the feeling, and finally
succumbing to it. Its definitely a song that describes me! I hate loss
of control, but in love, you have to lose control.
Q. To any musicians wishing to know how to get started down the path
that you've blazed through what would you say would be your number one
tip to them as they set out on reaching their musical goals.
A. Set goals! Treat this like a business, do your
research. I know about record contracts, read books, study website
traffic, all the normal things business people do, but musicians shy
away from doing. Its important to know what’s going on so you
don’t depend completely on other people for your success.
Q. One more question, well two more, regarding your music and I'd like
to move on toward some questions that I ask everyone that I interview.
Being that you've had such seemingly tremendous success on your own why
haven't you yet signed with a major, as I'd assume that they by now had
to at least pursue you a bit? And too, being that you are somewhat of a
do-it-yourselfer and have such a strong connection and desire to
spotlight other Asian artists, as well as a strong business savvy would
it be too far off to suggest that we one day may see Kaila Yu the indie
record label owner/executive?
A. Im not allowed to get too much in detail about my
discussions with major labels, but they are definitely a place I will
go when I feel like I am ready and will be able to call the shots
instead of being completely under the will of the label. I might be a
consultant to an indie label, but I don’t know if I would
have any time to actually be an owner! The artists deserve someone who
can make it their full time job, not a side project.
Q. Okay now, what would you say the best advice ever given to you was?
A. Simple, set goals
Q. What, if only one thing, do you wish that a person walks away from a
Kaila Yu show with?
A. That nothing is luck, nothing is handed to you (well
maybe its handed to some people but it wasn’t handed to me)
hard work will always equal success if you believe in yourself.
Q. Aside from music what other hobbies do you have?
A. I love to cook and eat and travel.
Q. What if you weren't a musician would you currently be pursuing?
A. I would love to be a chef or a food writer.
Q. What person or thing could you not do without?
A. Music!
Q. What one person or thing could you do without?
A. The need to sleep!
Q. Giving your most ingenious description, explain to those that have
never had the chance to experience what displaying their original music
before a live show is like for you.
My live show changes all the
time and I don’t want to give everything away but it is
definitely a show that pushes buttons and surprises people. It is very
theatrical and there is always a story behind the performance, a little
bit of musical theater. I love Panic! at the Disco, their live show is
amazing. I would say that my show has a little of their live show
element without the budget that they have, haha.
Ladies
and Gentlemen, Kaila Yu, the IndieMusicLounge.Com December spotlight
artist of the month. You can find out more about Kaila, her
career and music at her website Kailapop.com or on Myspace.com @ http://www.myspace.com/kailayu
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