Singer Bonnie Loo: I hope to perform with Jam Hsiao one day!

“I love listening to live music at concerts. I’ve attended the concerts of Taiwanese singers Show Lo and A-mei and Singapore singer Kit Chan. Recently, I watched Taiwanese rocker Jam Hsiao’s concert here. It’s the fourth time I’ve seen him perform. I hope to be able to perform with him one day,” Bonnie Loo tells to straitstimes.com.

Bonnie Loo, was it your childhood ambition to be a singer?
Yes. My parents said that as a child, I loved to sing while walking around with a radio. I remember how envious I felt when I watched a primary schoolmate perform onstage. I went home and asked my mother to let me learn singing. I’ve been taking vocal lessons since I was 10.

You’ve taken part in more than 300 singing competitions. What drives you to join contests?
I relish the challenge of a competition. Of course, it’s nerve-racking and hard to accept it when you lose. I take it as a learning experience. My purpose is to get pointers from the judges and improve my singing. Competitions are also a great place to meet friends with common interests.

How do you prepare for a contest?
I would by lying if I say I don’t get nervous. But the best way to overcome nerves is to be fully prepared. You have to practise real hard and memorise the lyrics well. Before I perform, I have some quiet time to calm myself. This is to help me better focus onstage. Also, I keep warm by preparing heat packs and hot water in a thermos flask. If I feel cold, it affects my vocal cords.

Whose music do you enjoying listening to?
I love listening to live music at concerts. I’ve attended the concerts of Taiwanese singers Show Lo and A-mei and Singapore singer Kit Chan. Recently, I watched Taiwanese rocker Jam Hsiao’s concert here. It’s the fourth time I’ve seen him perform. I hope to be able to perform with him one day. I can identify with him because he also got his big break in a reality singing contest.

You do a lot of acting now. Do you prefer acting or singing?
My first love is singing. I’m most confident about my singing. I’d like to explore what I can do with acting too. Through acting, I get to try out different characters.

You played a bratty teen in Tiger Mum and will portray another bratty teen in Life – Fear Not. Were you a rebellious kid in real life?
In reality, I’ve never skipped school. I’m the opposite of my character in dramas.

You joined show business at a young age. Do you plan to continue your studies?
After I completed my secondary school studies, I joined show business. My parents are supportive and feel that I should pursue my passion. There’s no point in me doing something I don’t enjoy. I’ll give myself five years to see what I can achieve in show business. If it doesn’t work out, I may further my studies overseas.

How would you like to be remembered?
As a versatile singer who can perform all kinds of songs.