Packing up and moving to a foreign country on your own is sort of like being reborn. You have to start over, going from zero, learning everything there is to know about a strange, new culture. For starters, there’s a language barrier, a culture barrier and not having any relatives around can be a bit much to anyone, let alone for a 16-year-old girl. Wanting came to Canada at age 16 completely on her own. The young lady soon experienced heartbreak, loneliness, nostalgia, confusion, sadness and short-lived happiness. These emotions and valuable lessons have forced her to grow up extremely fast.
“You are pretty much a nobody when you first go to a foreign country on your own. Without your family or friends that you made in high school being there with you to lend you a hand when you are in need, you have to prove to the people around you that you are worthy; that you can do what they do and, better. Nobody else is going to do things for you, you have to do it yourself.”
As an only child, Wanting felt a huge weight on her shoulders. In order to appease her beloved parents in China, she went to university and finished her Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management, but there’s only one thing that Wanting can be truly happy doing, and that’s music. She followed her heart back to the piano, and started writing.
Wanting’s heartfelt lyrics vividly display her personal struggles and her views on life and love. She tells her stories through a powerful, yet gentle voice. Each melody captures a moment of her life that’ll take you on a journey.
“Some of my friends have said that they see a different Wanting on stage. I agree. They are probably used to the Wanting who’s fun, goofy, always joking around and easy-going. I mean, come on, who wants to see a grumpy old soul hanging around… But I think singing, writing and performing, for me at least, is a way to bring out the bottom of the iceberg you know? To truly be vulnerable and just…let it out. It’s good to do that once in a while because it keeps you sane and happy. Now, not every song I write is always real life, I do use my imagination to keep it interesting sometimes.”
Wanting’s debut album “Love I Am” is a collection of stories of heartbreak, loneliness, nostalgia, confusion, sadness and short-lived happiness that are inspired by love. Love between a mother and a daughter, love between two lovers and love between friends.
“Love being the universal language, I hope the audience can easily relate and identify with my songs. I believe, if my creations have touched or influenced people in any way, if my songs have made people pause and think for a moment…even just one person, I feel that my music has served its purpose and as a song writer, I am fulfilled.”
Wanting also writes, sings and performs in Chinese (Mandarin). She exemplifies the very idea that music has no borders. Local fans can catch her Chinese songs at a live show, and fans abroad will be happy to know Wanting plans to release a Chinese language album very soon.
“ ‘Wanting’ in Chinese means graceful, peaceful, beautiful and happiness…And yes it is my real name.”
Here are a few lines from the album that capture Wanting’s originality.
In “Shine Over Me”, a line says, “I’m older than I am…”
Explanation from Wanting: “Well, I feel sometimes, certain people I meet who are the same age as me are way younger than me, mentality-wise. Things they want and they do are things I wanted and did 3, 4 years ago. That’s why I feel that I am older than my actual age. Thus, I’m older than I am. ”
In “Nobody’s Fault”, a line says, “The shoulder you lent me, was made out of sand…”
Explanation from Wanting: “This one is easy to read, shoulders that are made out of sand, you can never lean on. You’ll just fall flat and get a concussion (laughs).”
In “Shell”, a line says, “I threw myself, then I, became a shell.”
Explanation from Wanting: “This song I wrote when I was feeling very low and small. Basically, this line is a way of saying how empty I was at that point. I’m sure people can relate to this.”
Wanting’s last name (Qu) in Chinese means Music. She is unstoppable on stage, and lovable off stage. Keep an eye out for the amazingly talented rising star – Wanting!
The full-length album “Love I Am” will be released in spring 2009.
www.wantingmusic.com
www.myspace.com/wanting
No comments:
Post a Comment