Kollaboration Star returns with a $20,000 Grand Prize
Kollaboration is once again searching for the most talented Asian American performers to feature in its second annual Kollaboration Star.
Following the success of the inaugural Kollaboration Star 2012 last year, Kollaboration Star 2013 will return in October to give its performing artists an even bigger platform to share their talents and increase their visibility. This year, Kollaboration has amped up the national competition with an ultimate grand prize of $20,000. With this new cash prize, Kollaboration hopes to inspire more talented artists to pursue their dreams and expans the focus from its local talent showcases to a national talent search, especially as the contestants now have an incredible opportunity to gain attention from a larger audience and use the prize money towards the pursuit of their crafts.
Since 2000, Kollaboration has provided a creative platform for Asian American performing artists to showcase their talents on stage to live audiences in cities across North America and with the advent of YouTube and social media, through videos to online audiences throughout the world. Notable performers who have graced the Kollaboration stage include Far East Movement, Dave Elsewhere, Dumbfoundead, Quest Crew, David Choi, Clara C and many more.
In 2012, Kollaboration partnered with Mnet, the youth entertainment cable television network, to produce the reality television series ‘Kollaboration Star 2012’, which detailed the stories of 12 winners from the talent shows nationwide. The top seven finalists voted in by the online viewing audience, were then flown to Los Angeles to compete in the live competition, Kollaboration Star 2012 – The Finale. Kollaboration Honolulu’s Mike Izon not only took the title and cash prize, but also received the opportunity of the lifetime when he was flown to Hong Kong to perform on the Red Carpet of the Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA) alongside some of the biggest celebrity names in Asia.
Kollaboration is now looking to crown its next Kollaboration Star for 2013. For performers who are interested in competing at Kollaboration Star 2013 for a chance to win the $20,000 grand prize, the process begins by auditioning for a local Kollaboration chapter’s show. To apply for a local audition, visit Kollaboration website here.
WIN: David Choi and Clara C autographed albums giveaway!
UPDATED WITH WINNERS
Thank you for all the responses to this contest!
The winners are:
David Choi’s album: Ashley Ooi (Selangor, Malaysia)
Clara’s album: Taylor Kwiatkowski (Saint Augustine, FL)
Stay tuned to hellokpop for more contests coming up soon!
Are you a fan of David Choi? Are you a fan of Clara C? Yes? Now, here is your chance to own one autographed album of either David Choi or Clara C!
Last month, we met up with David Choi and Clara C in Atlanta, Georgia when the two singers were there to stage the 15th stop of their 2012 North American Fall Tour.
Exclusive Interview: hellokpop chats with David Choi and Clara C in Atlanta
We have seized this rare opportunity and prepared 1 autographed album of Forever and Ever by David Choi and 1 autographed album of esc by Clara C as a special giveaway for our lovely readers!
TO PARTICIPATE:
1)
TO WIN: David Choi’s album – Tell us what David Choi’s music means to you!
TO WIN: Clara C’s album – Tell us which is your favorite track in Clara C’s esc and why!
2) EMAIL: Your answer, full name (also your Facebook or Twitter name if different from your full name), contact number, mailing address to: contest@hellokpop.com ,with the relevant subject heading: [David Choi Album Giveaway] or [Clara C Album Giveaway]
3) COMMENT: Leave any Facebook comment below once you have done the above!
* All 3 steps must be completed in order to be eligible for a chance to participate.
CONTEST HOT TIP: Make Facebook comments or retweet our articles as much as you can, so that the more attention we get from you, the higher chance that you will win!
RULES:
1) This contest will end on 23 December 2012, 23.59PM KST.
2) Two winners with the complete entry will be randomly picked. Incomplete entries will be disqualified.
3) Winners will be announced on our Facebook page and Twitter, and updated in this contest page by 25 December 2012.
4) Winners will be also notified by email.
5) To read all other terms and conditions pertaining to the contest rules, visit the disclaimer page here.
Good luck to all!
Interview: hellokpop chats with David Choi and Clara C in Atlanta
hellokpop had the pleasure of meeting with David Choi and Clara C for an in-depth interview, in Atlanta. Read to the end for a special treat coming up soon!
The evening was chilly and rain showers were expected, but that didn’t stop diehard David Choi and Clara C fans from queuing up to be first in the door at The Vinyl at Center Stage, on Wednesday, November 14, in Atlanta, Georgia.
Atlanta was the fifteenth stop on David and Clara’s 2012 North American Fall Tour. Sponsored by YesStyle.com, the tour took about two months and spanned twelve U.S. states and two cities in Canada. Since their home is Los Angeles, David and Clara do not get to Atlanta too often. So, this rare appearance here thrilled their Atlanta fans, especially the new ones who had just discovered them and their amazing talent.
“I’m a new fan,” Carlos said. “My friend told me there was going to be a concert today, so I thought it would be a really great experience to get to know them more by going to their show.”
“I recently became a fan because of my friends I came with tonight,” Samantha said. “I’m really excited to see Clara C, because she has a beautiful voice. It’s so exciting to actually see her in person.”
“I recently found out about them also,” Mi Keun said. “I heard so much about them. I heard their songs in my friend’s car and they were so beautiful. I love Clara C’s songs. And I’ve seen so many of their covers and they are really good. I really enjoy their music.”
The show opened with a moving performance by spoken word artist, Kavi Vu, winner of Kollaboration Atlanta 5, and several original tunes from keyboardist Brandon Ghorley.
Then, it was time for Clara C to hit the stage.
Clara started off the show with Quesadilla, a bluesy number from her latest album, esc. Backed by the tour’s awesomely talented band (Electric Guitar – Ken Belcher; Keys – Brandon Ghorley; Drums – Josh Doyle; Bass – Tyler “Taco” Carroll), she followed with more songs from esc., including a funky False Start and a rocking Wanting What I Need.
Having missed the show in Charlotte, North Carolina, due to illness, Clara appeared especially determined to give it her all—and that she did. Even though she didn’t seem particularly pleased with parts of her vocal performance, fans in the audience had no such complaints.
“I’ve been a fan of hers since she first started putting up YouTube videos,” said avid Clara C fan, Hannah. “Every time she’s been to Atlanta, I’ve missed her. I spent my summer in Korea actually, and she was there, but I missed her then, too…and I finally got to hear her tonight, and she sounds so much better live. And on top of that she says she’s sick. She doesn’t sound sick at all!”
“I wasn’t really a fan of hers [Clara C] before,” said Nathan, “but listening to her live, I was like, whoa! She’s pretty amazing. I didn’t realize she was that good, but I’m going to start listening to her more now.”
Clara closed out a spectacular performance by asking the crowd for a song request. The winner, hands down, was her new romantic ballad, Fish. Judging from the crowd’s reaction, Fish is sure to become everyone’s favorite “wedding song.”
After a brief intermission, David Choi claimed the stage with Underneath Your Love and Can’t Take This Away, two feel-good love songs from his new album, Forever and Ever. More new songs followed, as well as some old favorites like So Weightless and That Girl.
The biggest crowd-pleasers of the night were Lucky Guy, which David revealed was based on a sad (but true) story from his love life, and Rollercoaster, a bittersweet, poetic song with which many fans in the audience appeared to relate.
He topped off his performance with a sweet rendition of By My Side, a sweet song and the title-track of his second album.
What? It was over already? Not if the fans could help it. Shouts of “encore” brought both David and Clara back to the stage to perform their duet, Darling, it’s You, their tour kick-off song, sponsored by YesStyle.
After the show, the stars held a meet-and-greet, where they autographed merchandise and took quick photos with some of their fans. Then, David and Clara graciously sat down with our hellokpop crew for a chat. We thoroughly enjoyed talking with them.
Hellokpop Chats with David Choi and Clara C
November 14, 2012, The Vinyl at Center Stage, Atlanta, Georgia
hkp: The first thing I want to tell you is that tonight’s was an awesome performance.
David and Clara: Thank you!
hkp: Especially kudos to you, Clara. What a trooper you are, being so sick and feeling so bad and still doing the show—and now this interview. We really appreciate your both being so generous with your time.
Clara and David: No problem!
hkp: So, how did you two decide to get together to do this tour? Where did that come from?
Clara: Well, we were just sitting on a couch.
David: Yeah, we were just sitting on a couch.
Clara: And I was like, “You wanna tour together?” And David said– (cues David)
David: Yeah! (laugh)
Clara: Badda bing, badda boom.
David and Clara: (laugh)
David: Easy as pie.
hkp: Where did you two meet?
Clara: Oooh.
David: The first time we met? I think it was at the San Diego Film Festival?
Clara: We did? I don’t recall.
David: I saw her performing, and I said, “Hey, you were great!” And then that was the end of that. And then I think I saw her somewhere else.
Clara: Yeah, I just kept pestering him. I just kept popping up at events where he was. I don’t know.
David: Well, it worked. We became really good friends after that.
hkp: That’s awesome. So, you are enjoying your tour?
David and Clara: Yes.
hkp: What has it been like to tour across the United States and into Canada? I know you’ve stopped at a lot of places.
David: Whew, yes. It’s great, but it’s also tough.
Clara: Oh, yeah. It’s hot and cold. But it’s amazing.
David; It’s a lot of this (gestures across the venue).
Clara. Yeah, it’s a rollercoaster ride. It’s a lot of driving. Like, tomorrow we’ll be riding for fifteen hours, going to Austin, Texas.
hkp: That’s a long trip, but Austin’s a great city for musicians.
Clara: Oh, definitely. I love Texas.
David: We have to go.
hkp: Of course you do. I understand that YesStyle is sponsoring this concert tour.
David and Clara: Yes.
hkp: What’s has it been like working with them? I know you did a music video for them.
David: Yeah, we did.
hkp: That was a really cool video. Where was that shot?
Clara: Ooh. All over Los Angeles.
hkp: What about the part with the airplanes?
David: In the Mojave desert there is an airplane graveyard, where a bunch of broken airplanes are just sitting. It was done there. It was amazing.
Clara: Yes, it was.
hkp: I enjoyed that a lot. I particularly loved the fashion in that video. YesStyle seems to be extremely supportive.
David: They are very supportive.
Clara: They are really easy to work with and they are good people.
hkp: Have most of the venues on your tour been this size? The size of The Vinyl?
David: It fluctuates.
Clara: It varies. We’ve gone as big as six hundred plus in some places. And there have been much smaller venues too.
hkp: I asked that because this venue was awesome. As an audience member I really appreciated such an intimate venue.
David: Yeah, this venue is great. It is so intimate.
Clara: Yeah.
hkp: Once you get really big, it will be impossible for you to perform in places like these. So, we’re grateful we got to be here and see you perform in such an intimate space. Your band was also great. How did your band come together, by the way?
Clara: I handpicked them all.
hkp: Did you?
Clara: Yes. I knew them. I knew how well they played. They are all the greatest players I know—and the greatest people.
hkp: Well, please tell them we thought they were awesome too.
Clara: I will. I will relay that message.
(L to R: Tyler “Taco” Carroll, Josh Doyle, Brandon Ghorley, and Ken Belcher)
hkp: Let’s talk career for a few minutes. How did you both get started in music? I’m pretty sure that your fans and our readers at hellokpop.com know a lot about this subject already. So, give us something that we don’t know. When you got started in music what made you decide that this was it? I’ve now decided that I’m going to be a musician—regardless of the fact that it’s a difficult industry in which to work.
David: Hm. To phrase it differently than I have in the past? At first, I didn’t know that I could be creative. Initially, I was practicing music that was already written by the greats. I was playing classical music, piano and jazz—things like that. So, at first, I didn’t realize that I could create my own music. So, that first thought, that I could create my own music, grabbed me, and was the main the reason I started on this journey.
Clara: The biggest thing for me was I had no songwriting experience prior to the first day of my career. So, I think I came into it like, wow, anything is possible, and it’s not too late for me. It’s not too late for anyone. So, I hit the ground running. You can succeed that way. You just need the passion and the hard work.
hkp: David, you were actually signed by Warner Chappell weren’t you for awhile?
David: Yes, as a songwriter.
hkp: When you are signed as a staff songwriter, what does that mean for you? I am honestly clueless about that.
David: There are a lot of artists out there that don’t write their own music, and they are always looking for music for their labels, and publishing companies are looking for music. So, when I was signed with Warner, I was writing music for different artists that were looking for music. We would try to write something that fit them, something in their genre or style.
hkp: Ah. Did any of the songs you wrote ever hit?
David: I got close many times, but that doesn’t mean anything to me. It was tough. It was really tough. There was a lot of competition. I went into it really young. I was 19, and I was working with one of the biggest producers out there at the time. It was tough, but I definitely learned a lot.
hkp: Clara, you were going to school when you first started out, right.
Chara: Yeah. I was doing the juggle thing.
hkp: I think most musicians do the juggle thing at first, when they are trying to find their fit. You were working in several different areas all at the same time. I know that you have a degree in Psychology, with a minor in Education. Do you still work with children today?
Clara: No. There’s no way. The problem is that music is a really jealous hobby. It won’t let you do anything else. I used to stack all of my classes into Tuesdays and Thursdays, so that on the weekends I could be touring or gigging. But it was really rough, and so my GPA took a hit in my last year. But I still think I ended up on the right side.
hkp: We think you did too.
Clara: Oh, thank you.
hkp: Some people lean towards being composers and songwriters more. They love the creative process, the art. That is their passion. They may enjoy performing, but it’s not the end all, be all. On the other hand, some people love performing the best. They love getting out in front of a crowd and showing people what they’ve got. Which side of your music career do you prefer?
David: Probably the former [songwriting]. I feel more fulfilled during the creative process. Of course, there are also great things about performing, but I just like writing more.
Clara: Yeah, I love the comfort of that [writing], and I love the intimacy of just being with your art. But I do feel alive when I play it [my music] onstage.
hkp: You did look alive—which is amazing since you were so sick just a few days ago.
Clara: I was so sick I couldn’t move. I couldn’t even walk. But then right before I come on stage something possesses me and then I go on—and then I pass out afterward.
hkp: Both of you are incredibly talented musicians.
David and Clara: Thank you!
hkp: Speaking of talent, where did that come from? Have you always been musical? Always played music? I know your family, David, has some musical talent.
David: Yeah, on my dad’s side.
hkp: I’ve seen your dad on YouTube, playing his autoharp.
David: Oh, cool.
hkp: He’s very talented. So, you grew up with music around you?
David: Yes, I did.
hkp: So, you just gravitated towards music?
David: No! I actually hated music.
Clara: Really?
David: Yeah, I hated it growing up. All I got to listen to was classical and jazz. That’s all they would play for me.
hkp: Oh, you mean that was all that your parents would allow you to listen to? To play?
David: Yeah, until I hit sixth grade, and people at school started listening to other music, and I was like, wow. You mean, there’s more music out there than just classical and jazz? What’s strange is I love classical and jazz music now. That’s my default now.
hkp: But you learned that [classical and jazz] was not the place for you? You learned you belonged somewhere different?
David: Yeah. Like I said, the finding the creativity part grabbed me and pulled me in a different direction.
hkp: I know that in the beginning both of you won contests, which gave your early careers a boost. David, you won John Lennon’s Songwriting Contest? You were very young when you won that.
David: Yeah, that was in high school.
hkp: Then you won a David Bowie mashup contest?
David; Yeah, that was a remix contest.
hkp: Ah. And Clara, you won several contests too, including Kollaboration 10. So, those wins got you both started and gave you both confidence?
Clara: Yeah, totally.
hkp: Okay, let’s talk about favorite songs. How about that?
Clara: Ooh. Good territory.
David: Yeah.
hkp: Of all the songs you’ve written so far, which one is your favorite? In other words, when you think about your songs, which one gets you right here (places hand over heart) every time?
Clara. Oh.
David: The latest song that I’ve written is usually the one that gets me. But I never really perform it. I did at the last two shows, though. I performed a brand new song. So, whatever the most recent one is that I’ve written is the most relevant song to me—at that moment.
hkp: Emotionally you mean?
David: Emotionally and—well, just everything.
hkp: But you don’t have a particular favorite song right now, though?
David: You know, I wouldn’t even say I ever have a favorite, really. My songs are more like journal entries to me. I just write them down and then they’re there. It’s not like you would call a particular journal entry your favorite journal entry, right? So, it’s more like: here’s part of my life, right here, right now. That’s kind of how I look at it.
Clara: For me, there’s Fish, which is one of the songs I did today.
hkp: Oh, that’s my favorite.
David: My favorite too.
Clara: Oh, yeah?
hkp: Absolutely.
David: (nods)
Clara: Thanks!
David: You know that’s a hit song.
hkp: It is a hit.
Clara: Is it?
David: You’ve gotta push that one.
hkp: Agreed.
Clara: Well, okay! Point taken. Yeah. That song always resonates for me. Then there’s one called Wait on Me, from my first album. It’s the underdog. Nobody really knows that one and the power it holds. At the end, it just gets ridiculously huge, and there are like 20 gang vocals. All the people in the studio are all chanting and singing: (Clara sings) “I…I’ve been broken in, but I sure ain’t been broken down.” It’s huge, it’s moving, and that part always brings me to tears. Yeah. So, those two.
hkp: Great. And your favorite for me right now, David, is “Rollercoaster.”
David: Oh! Thank you!
Clara: I LOVE Rollercoaster.
David: Thank you.
hkp: Maybe it’s because I’m so old.
David and Clara: (laugh)
David: What are you talking about? (laughs)
hkp: Well, I mean I’ve lived long enough to know that real life is like that. It’s up and it’s down—and that it’s okay.
Clara: Yeah, you’ve gotta adjust.
hkp: Yeah, you really do.
hkp: I’ve got two more subjects I’d like to talk about. The first is commercial films. I know you’ve both done the YesStyle commercial, well, the music video for this tour, but what other commercial projects have you both done? David, maybe you’ve done a few more of those types of projects?
David: Are you talking about with YesStyle? For the ads?
Clara: You mean like placements?
David: Oh. Placements on commercials?
hkp: Sure. Placements on commercials.
Clara: Oh yeah. Tons of placements.
David: Oh, yeah, she’s had a lot of placements as well.
hkp: Really? See, I honestly don’t know anything about those.
Clara: Well, we don’t really talk about them much.
hkp: Nobody ever does.
David: Well, for an example, one of my songs just got placed in a coffee commercial.
Clara: Mine too!
David: But the song has nothing to do with anything that they are talking about in the commercial.
hkp: Which song was it?
David: It’s called Deserve to Be. It’s an older song.
hkp: Which coffee commercial?
David: It’s a commercial in Korea for a coffee product called Maxim.
hkp: That’s important. Our readers will probably know that product.
Clara: Yeah, they make those like instant packs of coffee.
David: Is that what it is?
Clara. Yeah.
David: Okay.
Clara: That’s mine too? Right?
David: You got a Maxim placement?
Clara: Yeah. And in America we’ve covered pretty much every TV network. Like MTV, Showtime, HBO, blah, blah, blah. I have a national commercial in Austria. That was nice.
hkp: That’s interesting. I knew your songs were being used a lot, but I didn’t know the details, because most musicians just don’t talk about it. I know your songs are also used in Korean dramas, David. I watch Korean dramas, and sometimes I’ll hear a song and I’ll think, that sounds just like David Choi.
David: Do you, really? Yeah. They [the songs] are always in the coffee shops. (laughs)
hkp: So, let’s talk about the future. Once your tour is over, what will you be doing next?
Clara: Deep sleep. Deep deep sleep.
David: Relax. Gosh. I just moved. So, I still have boxes in my house that I need to organize and stuff.
hkp: And you both still live in L.A.?
Clara and David: Yes.
hkp: So, you are both just going to rest for awhile then. Any new projects on the horizon, though? Any scoops you can give me,maybe?
Clara: Well, I’ve got several music videos in the works. And they are going to kick some serious behind.
David: I’m going to go to Europe for the first time in the new year. And I’m going to go back to Asia and try to do more touring there. I’ll also probably slowly start working on my next album. I won’t be releasing anything for another year, though. At least.
hkp: So, you’re going to get some rest, then?
David: Yeah, get some rest. Be creative.
Clara: I’m going to work on another album. Oh, and I’m going to Japan.
hkp: Are you?
Clara: Yeah.
hkp: For?
Clara: For a little business, a little R & R. I’ll figure something out.
hkp: Well, David, Clara. I appreciate your time. It has been a pleasure. Thank you so much.
Clara: No problem!
David: You’re welcome!
After the interview was over, Clara and David also kindly autographed a copy of their new CD’s for us. So readers, be on the lookout for a special hellokpop David Choi and Clara C CD giveaway, which will be coming your way soon!
Lastly, check out our previous video interviews of David Choi and Clara C, when they were in Australia!
Event and Interview by Terri@hellokpop
Sources: News & Videos – David Choi Music, Clara C Music, YesStyle.com and Kollaboration Atlanta; Photos – hellokpop.com
Kollaboration Los Angeles’ showcase of talents brings together Asian American community
Kollaboration Los Angeles’s Showcase of Talented Musicians and Comedians Brings Together
Asian American Community at the Ford Amphitheatre
On Friday, July 13, 2012, Kollaboration Los Angeles drew a packed stadium of supporters of the Asian American talent community to the Ford Amphitheatre in Hollywood, CA. The enthusiastic audience was engaged in cheers and laughter at the musical and comedic acts all throughout the show, demonstrating the continuing success of Kollaboration’s mission, “Empowerment through Entertainment.
The doors of the Ford opened at 6:30 PM for picnicking in the Ford’s Edison Plaza, and for many attendees on Friday, the food may very well have been the highlight of the event. Tacos and other concessions were made available on-site, but many guests showed up with pizza boxes, fried rice, sandwiches, and even party-sized platters of catered entrées – a feast in true Asian potluck style, complete with abundant bottles of wine and beer. Fans were able to purchase official Kollaboration apparel and artist merchandise from the competitors themselves, and David Choi’s album was noted to be in especially high demand during the night. Sponsor Verizon Wireless also had their newest phones and devices on display, right next to Picturesque Photobooth’s setup, where guests could don fake boas and large sunglasses and take home an amusing photo to remember the night.
The show opened with the celebrated return of Kollaboration’s original founder and host for the night, Paul PK Kim, whose witty banter welcomed the audience to the show and introduced the competitions’s four multi-talented judges: Dante Basco, established actor whose roles include “Rufio” in Steven Spielberg’s Hook as well as the voice of “Prince Zuko” in Nickelodeon’s phenomenal animated hit “Avatar: The Last Airbender;” Jen From Head to Toe, make-up guru whose charming video tutorials have captured the hearts of nearly 300,000 YouTube subscribers; JaeYoon Choi, MNET’s executive producer of popular televisions shows such as the prestigious Mnet Asian Music Awards and 2NE1TV; and Traci Kato-Kiriyama, creator of the widely-known grassroots performance organization Tuesday Night Project in Downtown LA.
The competition officially began with PK’s playful introduction of the first contestant, R&B singer Brooke Taylor, requesting that she use her soulful pipes to tell his wife that he wants to “get lucky tonight.” She then went on to deliver a soulful performance of her original song entitled “Dear Archer.” Her jazzy chords on the grand piano, coupled with her emotionally powerful and smooth vocals set the perfect mood to start off the night. In a similar vein to Brooke’s introduction, PK had the next contestant, Ms. Laney, use her opera chops to tell his son to “eat your vegetables.” Ms. Laney’s performance consisted of a creative medley of various Top-40 rap songs, including Trey Songz’ “Say Aah” and Nicki Minaj’s “Superbass,” re-imagined in R&B ballad form. Next was another cover performance by Nate Tao. Accompanied by a beat-boxer and a classically trained pianist, Tao sang a mash-up of pop songs, ranging from “If I Ain’t Got You” and “Call Me Maybe. The fourth contestant to go was high school student Kaitlin Obien, who looked completely at ease on stage. Swaying to her ukele, Obien charmed the audience with her original song and sweet vocals. Her performance drew loud cheers from the audience as her fans waved posters and glow sticks in support. Dave & The Cousins completed the first half of the show before intermission with a song that showcased the harmonic synthesis of their voices and reflected their playful personalities.
During the intermission, audience members were quickly auditioned backstage for Kollaboration’s popular Freestyle Vocal Competition and Dance Competition. Four were selected for each to compete on stage with the winner to be selected by audience applause. The vocal competition began shortly after the break and ended in a tie with the final two sharing the $100 prize. Jeremy Crooks and his band then ignited the stage with their energetic sounds, upbeat style, and Crooks’ smooth solo dance moves. Fittingly, the Freestyle Dance Competition followed with the winner taking home a $100 cash prize as well. St. Andrew was the last of the seven competitors to go on but was nothing short of spectacular. With theatrical make-up under the eyes that complemented his namesake, he concluded the competition with a beautiful original number. While the judges’ votes were calculated and audience members casted their own by text messaging for their favorite competitor, guest comedian Jimmy Ouyang performed a hilarious stand-up routine, thoroughly entertaining the crowd. Finally, it was time for the special guest performer that everyone had been waiting for – David Choi. He performed two songs, “Missing Piece” and “Underneath Your Love,” off his latest album, Forever and Ever. Choi then brought onto the stage his father, Ray Choi, a renowned musician in his own right as a world-champion autoharpist, to perform together for the first time ever. The night concluded with the presentation of the Verizon Wireless Audience Choice Award winner, Ms. Laney, and the Kollaboration LA 2012 winner, Nate Tao. Tao will have an opportunity to be voted into the Kollaboration grand finale show in November 2012 and represent Los Angeles.
Official photos
Source & Photos: kollaboration
Kollaboration Los Angeles featuring special guest performers David Choi & his father Ray Choi
Kollaboration Los Angeles, the largest showcase for Asian Pacific Islander (API) talent in North America, announced David Choi and father Ray Choi as special guest performers for its show at the Ford Amphitheatre on Friday July 13.
This will be the very first time that the talented father/son duo will be performing together. Both are highly accomplished musicians and this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see the pair debut a collaboration of their different styles. David has completed a worldwide sold-out tour and released 2 albums of original work, singing in the contemporary acoustic pop genre, while Ray has swept grand prize at various national competitions in autoharp and maintains a highly distinguished autoharp craft.
Kollaboration Los Angeles is also pleased to announce its celebrity judging panel, including:
- Jen From Head to Toe, celebrated YouTube makeup guru
- Dante Basco, actor known for his role as Rufio in the Peter Pan movie Hook
- Jaeyoon Choi, Mnet America’s Head of Programming and Production and producer of shows such as the Mnet Asian Music Awards and 2NE1 TV
- Traci Kato-Kiriyama, writer, artist and creator of Little Tokyo’s Tuesday Night Project
Other special guest performers taking the stage include comedian and founder of Kollaboration, Paul ‘’PK’’ Kim and comedian Jimmy Ouyang who has been featured on CBS’ ‘’2 Broke Girls.’’ The seven rigorously selected competitors vying for a chance to compete in November’s nationwide finale show are:
- Nate Tao, an L.A. based singer/songwriter known for his smooth, yet powerful R&B pop vocals
- Ms Laney, a versatile vocalist and performer who utilizes her classical background in pursuance of both opera and contemporary music
- Jeremy Crooks, a YouTube sensation hailing from Irvine, CA who received national attention dancing on the ‘’The Ellen DeGeneres Show’’
- Brooke Taylor, an R&B vocalist featured on Power 106 with DJ Felli Fel, Big Boy’s Neighborhood, and The Steve Harvey Show
- Dave & the Cousins, an up-and-coming indie folk band led by singer/songwriter Dave Cho that can be spotted playing on the well-known Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica
- Kaitlin Obien, a nationally recognized speech and debate artist who combines her oratorical skills and love for the ukulele to become a versatile musician
- St. Andrew, a classically trained pianist that infuses 20 years of his classical artistry into his pop music.
The 2012 Kollaboration Los Angeles show will be held in the historic Ford Amphitheatre in Hollywood, which has housed performances for renowed artistes such as The Red Hot Chili Peppers and Jane’s Addiction. The 1,200 capacity outdoor venue offers an unique live performance experience under the summer night sky and allows picnicking for maximum entertainment. Ticket prices start at $15 for General and $40 for VIP. Tickets are available at www.FordTheatre.org or 323 461-3673 (for non-visual media 323 GO 1-FORD). For groups of 8 or more, please call 323 769-2147.
ABOUT KOLLABORATION
Kollaboration is a 501©3 non-profit organization and movement founded in 2000 by Paul ‘’PK’’ Kim. Under the guidance of Executive Producer Roy Choi and a leadership network of students and professionals all over the United States and Canada, Kollaboration Global promotes the mission of ‘’Empowerment through Entertainment’’ in the Asian Pacific Islander community. Kollaboration has produced over 60 shows to a total audience of over 50,000.
Press release: kollaboration.org
