Meet Gin Lee, the Malaysian star of Cantopop: the singer-songwriter rocks music competition reality TV shows, just released dance hit ‘Dum Dum’, and flaunts Fendi and Prada fashion looks
With a music career spanning over a decade, singer-songwriter Gin Lee is making her mark on the Cantopop scene one hit song at a time. Recently signing with Emperor Entertainment Group (EEG), the Malaysian-born songstress is expanding her repertoire with more uptempo songs, a departure from the love ballads she’s known for.
Read on for five things you need to know about Lee, including what might have inspired her recent fashion transformation.
Gin Lee hails from a family of musicians
Gin Lee performing a concert in Kuala Lumpur in October. Photo: @ginleeginlee/Instagram
Born in Malaysia’s Johor Bahru, Lee, 36, grew up around music. A professional drummer and a singer, respectively, her father and mother provided a nurturing home environment that gave Lee plenty of exposure to music.
Inside the lavish Singapore home of Race Wong, one half of Cantopop duo 2R
Inside the lavish Singapore home of Race Wong, one half of Cantopop duo 2R
Her parents encouraged her to sing for her family, as previously reported, and she also took part in theatre and musical productions at school.
She studied at Malaysia’s International College of Music and graduated with a degree in vocal music and music arrangement in 2007.
She got her big break as a songwriter
Gin Lee poses in a promotional post for her single “Dum Dum”, released in January. Photo: @ginleeginlee/Instagram
At age 18, Lee entered and won a songwriting competition hosted by Universal Music in Malaysia. This would become the first of many times she tried her hand at music-related competitions. She wrote most of the songs on her debut album, One & Only, and continues to write music for herself and other recording artists.
Gin is her stage name
In May, Gin Lee shared with her fans the experience of trying lavender-flavoured ice cream for the first time in Budapest. Photo: @ginleeginlee/Instagram
Born Jeanie Lee Hang-ngai, the singer adopted the name Gin at the beginning of her music career. In a video interview on YouTube, she reveals that Gin stands for the gentle, intelligent and natural qualities she hopes to nurture in herself.
She’s a singing competition veteran
Gin Lee performing at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong, in March. Photo: @ginleeginlee/Instagram
She achieved success with her first album, which was nominated for Best Local Chinese Album at the 17th Malaysian Music Industry Awards. However, the singer did not gain wider recognition across Asia until she entered the Taiwanese singing competition Super Idol in 2010.
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She took part in Hong Kong’s The Voice 2 singing competition the same year, before moving to the city to further her music career.
In celebration of her 36th birthday in August, Gin Lee performed a gig in Hong Kong and invited her fans to come dressed in red. Photo: @ginleeginlee/Instagram
Joining the cast of the fourth and final season of The Voice of China in 2015 allowed Lee to reach an even greater audience. Shortly after, she entered the Star of China competition, solidifying her fan base on the mainland.
Her style evolved from feminine to edgy
Gin Lee shared a glammed-up image in April to promote her new single on the theme of unrequited love. Photo: @ginleeginlee/Instagram
Known for her incredible voice, Lee excels at belting out soulful ballads that require her to hit a wide range of notes. After years of recording under Universal Music, Lee signed on with EEG earlier this year and released a new single “Dum Dum” – a dance number that marked a departure from her usual love songs.
Gin Lee greeted her fans with a New Year’s post in January. Photo: @ginleeginlee/Instagram
With this new direction in music came a new wardrobe. While Lee used to favour long flowing gowns when performing on stage, her recent Instagram posts reveal that she’s experimenting with a bolder look that includes edgy oversized blazers, chunky Prada loafers, and a head of bleach-blonde locks. She was also recently spotted in a denim two-piece from Fendi, which she paired with an adorable bucket bag.
