CHONG NEE Chong Nee is undeniably one of New Zealand’s most in demand Hip Hop and R&B producers. He is also regarded as one of the best musicians in New Zealand. Chong Nee recently won the APRA Professional development award, the best Pacific male artist award, and the best Hip Hop artist award in the 2007 Pacific Music awards. After spending many years behind the scene producing #1 hits for some of the top musicians in New Zealand, he has written and produced his own solo album “Just Getting by on Love”. Chong Nee believes that music is a powerful medium which allows music artists, such as himself to share his life experiences and stories with the world. He hopes that the music he creates will help his listeners recognize the humanity that we all share regardless of where we come from. When asked why he decided to record his own album, he replied; “”I just want to give back to anyone and everyone that has ever loved me!” Don’t miss the chance to hear Chong Nee live at the E- Center in West Valley City, Utah on December 07, 2007 as part of the Island Christmas Bash.
PT: What is the story behind your album “Just Getting by on Love” what’s the significance of the album title? Chong Nee: The whole thing behind the album name “Just Getting by on Love” was a statement I really wanted to get across to my audience; it’s the whole take on how I grew up, and how I came into the music industry. My mum and dad had a hard life; my dad was a hard working man, like a lot of Pacific Islander fathers. Every meal was no thrill, but as always, dad showed us how to be together and be strong and love each other, even though he drank a lot, we all knew he was stressing a lot as well, but he always came thru to support his family. Coming into the music industry for me it was really exciting, but back then, everything was harder to come by, (record deals, equipment, etc.) so everything was slower, so a lot of patience was needed, but because I loved music I didn’t mind. The whole time I was making music I still had to keep a day job as well and things were hard and so for me, naming the album “Just Getting by on Love” was the whole journey from where I came from, to where I am now. I got here on love, not money.
PT: When did you know that you wanted to become a music artist? Chong Nee: The day I knew I was going to start taking on more as an artist, was when I felt I had done enough work for others and I really wanted to tell my stories and my experiences in life. PT: How would you describe the kind of music that you create? Chong Nee: The music I make has been greatly influenced by Al Green, Barry White, to Jodeci, and Bob Marley, so all the music I love and was brought up with, plays a big part in the kind of music I create today.
PT: You are among a handful of music artists who not only sing but also writes and produces your own music, what’s it like to be involved in every single process of the production of an album and why is this important to you? Chong Nee: Basically every song I write is a true story, so how I tell it, or how I write it from start to finish has to be bang on. I’m not really fussed when it comes to how it’s sung, but more about how it’s told.
PT: What would you like your audience to get out of your music? Chong Nee: I want them to understand that every one has problems and every one can make a difference. PT: If you had the chance to collaborate with anyone in the music scene, who would it be and why? Chong Nee: K.C. & Jojo because they have been the biggest influence in my life.
PT: Out of all your songs, which one would you say is the most empowering and why? Chong Nee: I would have to say my song “Suicidal”. It tells the story of what happens a lot in New Zealand with teenagers and how many of them come from broken homes and how these young teenagers end up taking their lives due to broken homes. It’s also about how some parents just don’t care until their son/daughter has taken their lives. It’s sad but that has been one of the biggest problems in New Zealand and I really wanted to bring attention to that problem.
PT: What would you like to accomplish in the world of music? Chong Nee: At the moment I am at a stage where everything I have done and been through has been an accomplishment in itself, but I’m just taking it as it comes, every day I thank God for where he has taken me so far.
PT: What is something about you that would surprise your fans? Chong Nee: Ummm…hmmmm…I am Maori/Samoan/Chinese….surprised?? Hahahaha!
PT: What does it mean to you to live a “life filled with purpose”? Chong Nee: It means that I have an opportunity to tell mine and other people’s experiences. I love the fact that I can talk for some of the people who can’t talk for themselves.
PT: What do you feel are the biggest misperceptions about Pacific Islander peoples? Chong Nee: I feel that a lot of people are wrong when they say we cannot come together. Although we are from different islands, we are and do come together as Pacific peoples. I know that some people think we’re lazy, when in fact we sometimes work harder than other people. We know what it’s like to struggle and so we work hard so that our kids don’t have to go through what struggles we have gone through. PT: What do you feel is our contribution as Pacific peoples to the rest of the world? Chong Nee: Our culture as a whole: the traditions, values, languages and FOOD hahaha!!! We are multi-talented people who haven’t been able to show the world who we are in the past, but times are changing and the world will see that we have much to offer!!! So watch out!!!!
Chong Nee’s Myspace Page http://www.myspace.com/chongnee
Chong Nee’s Bebo Page http://www.bebo.com/neezy1
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