About the Webmistress

I was born and raised in New York. My parents were Taiwanese immigrants. Mandarin Chinese was my first language, and I knew some Taiwanese, but I learned English soon after and it eventually took over my knowledge of Chinese. In my free time I like to webdesign, listen/sing-along to music (oh really?), write, watch Asian dramas, and pretend I’m practicing violin and piano.

As far as music was concerned, my dad was much more into English alternative rock than Chinese pop, so I wasn’t exactly inundated with such music. I listened to much more Madonna than Teresa Teng, more Pink Floyd than Jacky Cheung. But, I did listen to Chinese music frequently. Some off the top of my head are Faye Wong, Chyi Chin, Judy Chiang, Wubai, Power Station, Winnie Hsin, etc. Give me a popular Chinese oldie to listen to and I recognize it most of the time.

When it comes to more recent pop (circa 2000), Jay Chou’s Hidden Track EP was probably one of the first albums I got, and since it came with all the Ye Hui Mei MVs I got to hear that album too. I didn’t fully become immersed in Chinese entertainment and music until after my summer 2005 trip to Taiwan. After I came back home, I started searching and learning more and more about Chinese music through the Internet.

Currently, my favorite Chinese artists/bands are F.I.R., Shin, Cherry Boom, Jay Chou, Justin & Sophia, Relax One, Sodagreen, Angela Chang, and Deserts.
Other artists/bands I like: Loveholic, Rumble Fish, Lee Soo Young, The Clazziquai Project, JTL, Bonnie Pink, the brilliant green, X JAPAN, Do As Infinity, Love Psychedelico, CORE OF SOUL, Vienna Teng, Grey Eye Glances, Straylight Run, Anberlin, Linkin Park, Sarah McLachlan, Holly Brook, Evanescence.

I review and moderate at Chinese Music Blog.