When and how did you begin your musical career?

It’s hard to pinpoint exactly when it all began, but I usually first recall the classical piano training I had growing up. I didn’t start singing until much later in college, but I’ve always connected with music, so when I mustered up the courage to put an album together with the nudge and support of friends, I gathered some songs I’d written over a few years and recorded them. That album was released in 2008 and it’s called “Images”. Since then I also released an EP called “Inside,” and I’ve been playing around NYC for a few years. It’s been an interesting and memorable ride!

Where do you find inspiration for your songs?

Most of my inspiration comes from personal experience—life, love, relationships and other mysteries. I think life has so much depth, intensity, and vastness to be written about over and over again, never be exhausted. I usually also write when I’m in a pretty sad place. Music is my main mode of expression, and I grew up not really expressing sadness very well. So it all poured out into music.

In addition to being a musician, you are also an accountant. How do you find balance between these two very different career paths?

I kind of need one in order for the other one to exist. I can’t make a living off of music, so my accounting job has paid for a lot of my musical expenses, such as recording an album, traveling to play, etc. However, music is my escape from the corporate world. If the corporate world didn’t exist, I wonder if I would have taken the steps to move more into the music arena. It’s very interesting how these two seemingly different careers coexist in my life. Of course, on any given day, if you were to ask me which one would I choose to live off of, it’d be music, hands down, no competition.

You recently opened for a Tim Be Told concert in New York City. Do you have any more shows coming up this summer or projects coming in the future?

That show was awesome! They’re such great guys. It was so fun to open for them. We’re trying to do a reunion show with Tim Be Told and Jae Jin, another great artist from Maryland, but that will probably be out west in California later this year.

Which came first: the singing or the dancing?

I’ve been singing for as long as I can remember. My dad was a composer and my mom is a singer as well. They’ve always implemented music in our lives, so I’d always be singing at home, with my brother, at family parties—pretty much anywhere and everywhere! It was my first love and always will be a huge passion of mine. Dancing was a much later discovery for me.

In addition to your brother AJ, you also have a little sister, who AJ has said is also getting into the arts. Do you think you three will ever collaborate together?

We have collaborated before, on a song called “Butterfly” that we sang for my mom. But of course, we are going to produce something one day that shows how awesome the chemistry has always been between the three of us. We’re siblings, but also great friends.

With so many things going on in your life, how do you deal with stress?

I’m absolutely still learning how to deal with the stress of things and how to balance everything out. But like the saying goes, “Blessed to be stressed.” I am thankful for everything going on in my life. I try not to take anything for granted and really focus on each goal and do my best.

What advice do you have to give Mochi readers on handling it all?

Always keep in mind what is really important, and who is really important. For me, that’s family. Surround yourself with positive people who push and support you. I have great friends and family who give me that breath of fresh air that I need from time to time. Sometimes you need a break, but ultimately I just think and pray about how blessed I am through God to be working on the things I love to do. That gives me the motivation I need.

What are some projects you are currently working on?

I’m a part of a dance crew called Katalyst, so that alone takes quite a bit of time. As an individual, my projects consist of video collaborations, upcoming performances and teaching dance.

Photo via Guardian.co.uk

In a vibrant, diverse city like New York, you’d think that dating would be a lot easier. But for the Carrie Bradshaws, Bethenny Frankels, Ivanka Trumps, and Peggy Olsons of the world, strong, smart, independent women like them have always found dating a challenge; their sharp wit, business savvy, and confidence sometimes intimidated men. But are men threatened by women in power? TIME magazine’s last issue “The Richer Sex,” (aka women), dispels many stigmas single successful women face when dating men who do not make as much money or are not at the same level of success in their careers.

Photo via The Remembrance Project

On February 19, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued the Executive Order 9066 that led to the internment of about 120,000 Japanese Americans residing in the West Coast. Two-thirds of those interned were American citizens, and over 285,000 people of Japanese ancestry were impacted solely because of their race.

Although it’s an often forgotten piece of American history, it is important to remember what happened in the hopes that people can learn from these mistakes and the experiences of those impacted are not forgotten.

The video also describes the effects the camp had on others long after they left. Takei adds, “My uncle told me how our mother left the internment camp a changed person. She never talked about any details of the internment experience except to say it was hard and difficult. I sensed her discomfort and fear of what people thought of her after she returned to Los Angeles. That there was an inexplicable shame in being incarcerated in an inhospitable environment solely because of her ancestry.”

To learn more, visit The Remembrance Project to see George Takei’s message and future videos featuring Steve Aoki, Senator Daniel Inouye, Former Secretary of Transportation, Norm Mineta, and others.

Photo via UsMagazine.com

Here’s an interesting casting decision: Lucy Liu is going to play Sherlock Holmes’ sidekick Joan Watson in the CBS drama Elementary, which takes place in modern New York City. We can’t wait to see the relationship unfold between Holmes and a female Watson. Perhaps she will be more fierce? We hope so.

The overview of the new take on the famous British detective and his (now female) sidekick is that Sherlock, a former consultant for the Scotland Yard, has landed in New York City after multiple stints in rehab. Once he gets out, Sherlock meets Watson, a former surgeon whose license was revoked after one of her patients died. The show’s name refers to Holmes’ famous line, “Elementary, my dear Watson.”

I have to say, this is a creative and very different way of showing Sherlock and Watson. I can’t wait to unravel this mystery!

Photo via iHeartKoreanBeauty.blogspot.com

We’ve seen Asian fashion and music trends continue to translate and grow in the United States over the past few years, and now Asian skincare products have started to dominate the beauty scene. As we last noted, BB creams and snail creams are hugely successful in Asia and now American cosmetic companies and skincare lines are working to develop similar products to fill the demand for them here. Growing up, I’ve tried several American cosmetic and skincare products, some of which have become part of my list of holy grail beauty products. Still, there was a lot of trial and error—trying different cleansers,moisturizers, and makeup foundations—to see whether they suited my skin type and tone. It was hard to find products that measured up to my expectations. Finally, I tried my hand at Asian beauty products and I suddenly realized what I had been missing!

Zhen, founder and owner of iHeartKoreanBeauty.blogspot.com, sells popular Korean skincare products internationally after she discovered how well Asian beauty products worked for her acne-prone skin. I got in touch with her about her blog and e-commerce site, and she was gracious enough to send me samples of some of her favorite products. There is no better time to give yourself a little makeover and overhaul some of your beauty products now that spring seems to be in full swing (it’s 70 degrees in New York!). Check some of the products I tried:

Jadilla J Original BB Cream

This BB cream comes in two shades and offers medium to full coverage but still looks very natural and gives a dewy look. At first, I thought it was a little too light and gray for my skin tone, but it oxidizes with the natural oils in my skin to create a more natural finish and glow. I’ve tried Missha Perfect Cover BB cream, and while I’m still a fan of the product, I’m liking Jadilla J Original BB cream more and more each day because the coverage is longer lasting. However, Jadilla J is a lot heavier so if you have oily skin, I recommend you stick with Missha. I also love that Jadilla J has built-in SPF and contains phytoncide, a tree extract which helps even skin tone.

Tony Moly Sweety Dual Lip Gloss

Lipsticks tend to dry my skin, so I love using lip tints and stains to give my lips a pop of color without drying them out. This God-sent dual lip gloss combines a lip tint on one end with a sheer lip gloss on the other end. The two colors and textures balance each other out beautifully. I’m surprised by how long-lasting the lip tint is because it stays vibrant throughout the day, and I only had to re-apply once after eating and drinking. I have tried other lip tints in the past, including Cover Girl’s Outlast Lip Stain and Liole’s Cherry Lip Tint, but this one seems to last the longest without drying my lips. The only downside to this product is the scent. It doesn’t smell as sweet or floral as other lip tints and glosses.

Baviphat Peach All-in-One Waterfall Cream

If you’re looking for a rich night cream to moisturize and repair your skin, Baviphat’s Peach All-in-One Waterfall Cream does that and more. At first, I was hesitant to try the product because all the product information was written in Korean, and there weren’t that many online reviews for it. But I had read in some beauty blogs that in addition to moisturizing your skin, it can also minimize pores, brighten your complexion, and whiten your skin for an even skin tone. After a week and half of using the products, I’ve seen some improvement in my skin tone and my pores. If you have oily to combination skin, I recommend applying only tiny dots of the product to your skin. It’s a very rich cream, and you don’t need a lot of it to soothe dry skin.

Baviphat Sweet Honey Lip Scrub

Other than their cheap drugstore prices, Baviphat’s other selling point is their cute packaging. This lip scrub comes in a lip gloss tube, so it makes application easy and convenient. Unlike other lip scrubs I’ve used in the past, the application of this lip scrub isn’t messy because you can control how much product you want to apply to your lips without getting your hands dirty. The sweet smell of the honey can be a little distracting, but it does the work of massaging and exfoliating your lips with its gentle micro beads.

All readers who spend above SGD50 will receive a 5% discount with this promo code: TZJ19W322G82. Offer is valid through April 2012.

When and why did you start learning the piano?

I started the piano when I was three. My mom had a family friend whose daughter was a few years older than me and was learning how to play the piano. Every time we would visit their house, their daughter was always practicing. I was so interested in learning how to play myself after watching her several times. I kept begging my parents to teach me how to play the piano, so they first bought me a toy tinker piano, but I quickly outgrew that and asked for lessons. They searched around for a piano teacher, but none of them would accept me at my age. So for the next a year or two, my mom, who has little to no experience with the piano, taught me a few basics and a simple song or two. It wasn’t until I started kindergarten when I finally got my first piano teacher, and from then on, I’ve always had a private piano teacher.

Your covers range from classical to songs from anime, videogames, and kpop. What influences your decision to cover these songs?

Whatever pieces I record are simply because I am in love with them myself. The only other influences include songs that are in high demand by the general audience, and even then, those songs have to be approved by my own taste. I do take requests from time to time, but sometimes it’s so hard to meet some of them because I don’t feel a personal attraction towards the songs, and I need that connection in order to perform my very best.

Who are your musical influences?

My influences are my current piano professor at Northwestern and the piano teacher that I’ve had for the longest period of time. Growing up, I’ve had the same piano teacher from fifth grade until my high school graduation. Both of them have been more than just a piano teacher to me. They have taught me numerous life lessons that I know I’ll be able to take with me. They have shown me the beauty of music, and I want to be able to show that to everyone I can reach. I honestly don’t know where I would be if it weren’t for them.

What do you see yourself doing in a few years?

I see myself as a hopefully successful freelancer. I am very intrigued by the idea of having the freedom to set my own schedule and becoming my own boss. I don’t like the idea of working a 9-to-5 day job at all. I’m someone who loves to collaborate, as you can see the number of collaborations that I have done with other YouTube musicians. I want to become a professional accompanist for instrumentalists or as a vocal coach. I would also love to accompany large groups like choirs or orchestras. I also love teaching, which is something I have been doing since my freshman year of high school. I would love to create my own piano studio and teach young children.

Are there any upcoming projects Mochi readers can look forward to?

I have a few more collaborations with Jun Sung Ahn [read our interview with Jun here] that should be coming out in the near future and another Evanescence cover. I have many more ideas, but none are quite solidified yet. There is also a HUGE project coming out within a few months. I don’t know if anyone will be expecting this at all, but make sure to keep following me because I’ll be making a huge announcement some time this month!

Photo courtesy of Lenin Glass

You need more than just unique striking looks, personality, versatility, edge, and that certain je ne sais quoi to stand out in the competitive world of modeling. For the past few years, models Liu Wen, Shu Pei, Hye Park, Ai Tominaga have paved the way for Asian models to rise to success in the fashion industry and become the most celebrated models in history. It was their “exotic” looks, androgynous features, perseverance, and modest personality that shined through in the runway. Model Trang Cao didn’t believe it was their exotic looks, but their hard work that got them to the top. Asian American model Trang Cao has always thought modeling was a personal responsibility.

“My inspiration for modeling has been and always will be the responsibility I have to be a role model. My love for others has really pushed me to become the person I am today. I know that I have a responsibility to lead the younger generation to become intelligent, independent, and strong women,” Cao says.

Cao got her start in modeling when she competed in pageants in college. The pageants helped her pay for tuition, but her hobby soon turned into a full-blown modeling career as photographers asked to shoot her for magazine spreads, editorials, and ads. But giving back to the community was always her goal. In 2008, Cao joined the Miss Vietnam USA pageant and placed in the top 5. The opportunity has helped her become more involved in the Oklahoma community, where she was brought up. Cao was born in a refugee camp in Malyasia after her parents fled Vietnam and her family is first generation. She grew up in government housing for most of her childhood and lived among neighbors who had also fled from other countries. A humble, modest life wasn’t new to her; the adversity has given her more meaning to her work and has made her appreciate the opportunities given to her.

“Growing up I never went without, I had all I needed when it came to love, food, and shelter. My parents worked 18-hour days and raised five kids. One might think we were struggling to even feed ourselves, but God blessed my parents with the gift of charity. If we ever had any extra food, it would be given to a neighbor that needed it. The selflessness of my parents has always given me the fuel and humbleness to help others who can’t help themselves. I’ve made the choice to dedicate my life to help others,” Cao says.

What’s up next for Cao? In addition to building her career in modeling (she’s modeled for fashion photographer Lenin Glass and been featured in Twenty Something magazine, Dillards, So6ix magazine, and Gils Clothing), she is looking to also write a book. She argues your looks can only achieve so much in modeling; it’s also your intellect that can take your farther.