Charting his destiny

2009/08/21

FRANCIS DASS

A young singer and self-taught guitarist, who has set his heart on the music scene, shows the way to pursue your dream, writes FRANCIS DASS

PENANG-born Ray Cheong has indeed come a long way since he won the DiGi CelebriTeen talent contest in 2004.
As part of the victory deal, he was given the opportunity to travel around Malaysia performing “live” in front of audiences every time the mobile telecommunications company carried out its roadshows or promotional activities.
Indeed, that’s quite a treat for an 18-year-old who loves music.

After that year of instant, heady dose of celebrity status, he went on to study Mass Communications at KDU College in Penang.
He had his priorities right and knew that getting an education was important.

Not surprisingly, he never really put his guitar down.
Now, at 23, he has his heart set on making music, having harboured dreams of being in the music scene since his teenage years.

“My interest in music started in secondary school, when I was 15 years old.
“My friends and I decided to start a band, and I actually started out as a singer. The band played 90s rock music and — lo and behold! — that’s when I discovered I could sing,” Cheong says.
The band, which was called Crash Vertigo had five members, including Cheong, was popular in the high school circuit in Penang and had a busy schedule performing at school events and gatherings.

Then, at 17, Cheong decided to learn to play the guitar (till then, he was just the singer in the band), in large part because he felt inspired by his bandmates who had great faith in him becoming a good guitarist.

Cheong learnt to play the guitar on the Internet and has mastered the instrument since.

“In learning, 90 per cent of the result comes from you,” he says.

So, after completing his studies at KDU in Penang, he was determined to go to Kuala Lumpur at age 20 because he knew there were more opportunities in the capital to break into the music scene.

When he arrived in the city, in between pursuing his love of performing “live” music and writing songs, he decided to get a foot in the industry by working in the media.
He did production work with television stations in Kuala Lumpur and, recently, quit as a producer with Astro to focus on his music.

He has written 10 English songs, of which he performs six regularly at his gigs (jazz festivals and events).
He has also hired a manager and plans to cut an album as this “gives a singer credibility”.

“My music is sometimes bitter but honest. I sing songs in the vein of funk, blues and jazz and, for me, the music has to be melodically rich,” he explains.

What Cheong says next holds promise of an exciting new artiste emerging: “I take music seriously and it has disciplined me. It is also important to discover a lot of things for yourself. Music is not about routine but about passion.

“I believe that music is never scripted so I don’t play my songs the same way twice. I play songs differently every time because the song must come from the heart — and certain bits come out stronger at different times.”
At present, Cheong has a group, called the Ray Cheong Trio, and as a performer he is at a place where he can confidently advise others to go down the path less travelled, “so that mid-life crisis does not hit you so hard”.

On a serious note, he says: “Education is important, but as you grow older, be daring to do whatever you want. Do not be tied down — make your own path.”
This Penang boy certainly has!