Singer and songwriter Eric Chou is getting better at his craft with each passing year, writes Loong Wai Ting
HE was barely out of school when, at 17, Taiwanese singer and songwriter Eric Chou was recruited by a recording company and offered a record deal.
Chou, who was performing at a celebrity friend’s wedding then, impressed the guests with his soulful voice and boyish good looks.
Now 21, slightly older and more mature, Chou has two albums under his creative belt, including his latest, What Love Has Taught Us.
Its single, How Have You Been, an essential love ballad, has topped music charts in the region, with over 31 million views and counting, on his official YouTube channel.
“I am enjoying the experience so far by giving back to supportive fans through my music. It has been a wonderful and thrilling ride,” says Chou who was in Kuala Lumpur to perform at Sunway Putra Mall.
He shot to fame in 2014 after his self-penned hit, Let’s Not Be Friends In The Future, became the theme song for the popular TV series, The Way We Were.
His success was further augmented by the subsequent release of his debut album, My Way To Love, the same year.
CHILLING WITH MUSIC
It must feel wonderful to see the number of online views steadily increasing on his YouTube channel but Chou says he is not bothered by the numbers.
“Composing and writing songs are my hobby. It helps me relax. I love sitting at the piano and letting the music flow out. I feel as if I am speaking through it and I hope those who listen to my songs will feel that relaxing vibe as well,” he says.
Chou has grown more expressive with his vocals and quips that he loves “channelling his inner Sam Smith” while in the shower.
Jokes aside, his ability to go between a regular vocal range and falsetto is quite impressive. He also loves watching people performing covers of his songs. “I was impressed by a singer from Congo who made a video of himself singing How Have You Been in three different languages (English, French and Chinese). I’m happy that my music has reached out to so many people from different countries and backgrounds,” he says.
What Love Has Taught Us brims with personal experience and is filled with every aspect of love. “It’s about rekindling lost love and falling back on your family and friends whom you’ve not seen for a long time. Compared to the first album, the current one is more upbeat,” he says.
“I had just come back from the US and I didn’t have many friends in Taiwan. I was very lonely, that’s why my first album sounded really sad.”
Chou says he is inspired by the movies he watches. “I am a big fan of romantic films,” he admits shyly, before adding with a wide smile that, “a lot of inspiration for the songs in my album come from those late night movies”.
Still single, Chou is particularly grateful for his furry companion, a 2-year-old shiba inu, named Chopin after his favourite classical music composer.
“Chopin is always by my side when I write my songs and he’s the first to listen to my compositions,” he says.
PICKING UP MUSIC
Born in Taiwan, Chou moved to Boston, USA, where he spent most of his formative years before returning to his birth country at the age of 18.
Growing up in Boston helped Chou develop a different kind of music style. “I listen to a lot of pop music from John Meyer to Ed Sheeran and John Legend. My music style is a mix of everything. There’s a little R&B and gospel, which is quite similar to Legend’s music. The culture and language also help in influencing my music style,” he says.
Chou picked up the piano at his mother’s insistence. “Music is an important aspect in my life. I find music very calming and relaxing. It’s also a medium where I can let my emotions run free,” he says, adding that he discovered his singing ability quite by accident.
“As I was playing on the piano, I started to sing along. That’s when I discovered that I could sing and thought maybe I should do this more often,” he recalls.
Chou will be in Kuala Lumpur again on Dec 4, for a one-night only performance at KL Live at 5pm. There will be an additional show in Penang on Feb 12, next year, at Soju Room at 5pm. Tickets are currently on sale and details can be found at www.facebook.com/ericchou0622
What Love Has Taught Us is available via iTunes, Spotify and in leading music stores.