HONG
KONG, March 2013 – After years of stardom
in Asia, Asian Superstar Karen Mok hopes her first English album and an action
film directed by Keanu Reeves translate into success in the West. Karen Mok has
released 15 Chinese language albums and starred in more than 40 films over the
last 20 years. She plays a Hong Kong police officer in Reeves' directorial
debut, "Man of Tai Chi," scheduled for release this summer. It's
about an underground fight club in China. Mok says most of her dialogue was in
Cantonese, but Reeves always knew which takes were the best.
Her
debut English-language album, "Somewhere I Belong",
exclusively under MCA Music (Universal
Music Philippines) was released last month. She's known as a pop artist but
this is a jazz album, something she says had long been a dream of hers.
“Somewhere I Belong”
is indeed the next chapter in her incredible career. Recorded in Shanghai
during 2012, Karen Mok has created an album with global appeal that features a
broad palette of songs running all the way from Cole Porter to Portishead,
Chris Isaak to Sting and from George Gershwin to The Beatles. Reflecting her
roots, Karen has included two Chinese songs, including one from the heyday of
Shanghai’s swinging jazz scene in the 1930s and ’40s, and plays the traditional
Chinese instrument, the guzheng,
throughout the album. “Somewhere I
Belong” has already peaked at No. 1 on iTunes Hong Kong, Taiwan and
Malaysia. “This album has been my dream for as long as I can remember, bringing
my music to a bigger audience, to the world,” says Karen. “I’m always trying to do things that are
different and have an element of surprise and fun. Jazz is a genre that can
cross borders and cultures but we’ve also made sure this album has a Chinese
identity - I don’t think there’s ever been the use of Chinese instruments to
play jazz music like this!”
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