You will probably have established a very strong bond with certain people in your life. The next time you see them, you will be able to chat casually as if space and time was never between you. That person hasn’t changed at all even if they actually have. You have also gone through your own transformations and you hope they will understand the ‘new you’ the next time the two of you get to see each other. You can both chat like you’ve never left each other’s side – Two peas-in-a-pod to put it simply.

But more often than not, people enter and exit your life as swift as the day goes by. You’re lucky sometimes to exchange a few thoughts, drink a couple drinks or find them on Facebook before you never see them again. My new duties as a VJ have politely shown me new perspectives on how to acclimate the digital world into my daily life for the purpose of maintaining and nurturing relationships. Online responsibilities have gone beyond just work. No matter how insignificant it might seem to cruise the timelines and see what your family and friends are doing, I like to think it is in some way making an effort to be closer to them.

When someone you know or who may know you posts a message announcing a wedding or engagement, quotes a phrase that made them laugh or Tweets a picture of a sunset, they are in a way reaching out to you, sharing something that made them stop and think. I don’t know the long term significance of clicking ‘like’ on a status or picture or responding with a cliché reply (Happy Bday!), but I’d like to think (as many of you would) that you’re reaching back to them. It’s quite simple to say family and friends are priorities but taking action by playing just a tiny, insignificant role in a friend’s life is much better than doing nothing at all. It may not always be easy but making the effort is worth it in the end.

And so, with all the melancholy behind me, I’m stretching myself beyond my perceived limits. I never imagined riding the technological wave but I’m typing as fast and to as many people as my four fingers will allow me. I’ve gone from a numeric pager with a gold chain in High School to 6 mobiles with countless photos, functions and apps. I text. I talk. I send. I surf. I rip. I receive. I wait. I complain. I restart. I remove the battery and put it back. I walk. I run. I Facebook. I Tweet. I MySpaced. I Friendstered. I daydream. I drive. Sometimes all at once. So now when I say, “I’ll keep in touch”, I really mean it.

I am however, in urgent need of a typing class.

February is a busy month for everything but if you’re a sports fan you probably know that the Super Bowl is this weekend. The annual culmination of the National Football League season to determine the champion for American, professional football. There are often comparisons drawn between all types of football, rugby, soccer, etc. Truth be told, I think they’re all good. It’s truly a gripping, made for TV moment when all the practice, all the hype and all the talk boil down to one game and one opportunity to shine. Winners sip champagne and the losers make their own arrangements.

The Super Bowl , is a massive television event not just in the United States but all over the planet. Grown men and women of all races, ethnicities and tastes come together as one. Even those who don’t even care can be drawn into the spectacle. I would often tell friends who didn’t understand football or who have never watched it in their life to “scream when everyone else screams and you’ll have fun”. Watching any sporting event with a group of friends can be enjoyable. To all the ladies out there who sympathize to make their male friends happy and humour us by watching, thank you and on behalf of all men, WE LOVE YOU!

Photo: Men’s Health Philippines (Dec 2010)

Watching sports on the television with my family and friends is always fun. It brings back good memories when I used to watch with my mom and dad back in the US. We were die-hard supporters of my hometown University football team, The Ohio State Buckeyes. A Buckeye is a hard nut to crack. Really. My family was not alone, as most people in the State of Ohio lived and died with each victory and defeat. Our kind was a lot like the jersey-wearing, English Premiere League fans you see flooding the dive pubs and sports bars to support their favorite team through thick and thin. We were dancing on tables with a win and setting fires to trash bins with a loss (not recommended!). Truly a passionate bunch who loved our team.

Even as a child, I found humour in the fact that a guy with a big belly, eating nachos and holding a beer, who never ever played sports, could bark orders at the TV, berating the best and most elite athletes in the world! ‘How did you not make that play, I could’ve done that’! My mom and dad, on the other hand, were very supportive and a bit more cerebral in their viewing approach.

My dad would usually question the plays our team was calling if our offense was failing to score any points. Common sense tells you that if something is not working, you maybe, just maybe should try something different. Not always the case because you COULD keep trying the same failing strategy, HOPING it becomes LESS ineffective. Weird, but many teams in every sport often do that. Quite frustrating for my father, however, who would simply have to leave the house and take a quick walk to put things back into perspective. My mother was nothing shy of adorable watching the games. She would roar with excitement for every big play. She would scream at the top of her lungs ‘AAAAYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE SSSHHHHOOKKKKK’ (pronounced Shieuk and in place of S*@T) with every nail-biting play. It was almost as if the players in the game could actually hear her, get scarred and drop the ball. 99.99999999% of the time I would respond with “Geeez Mom”!

Photo: Men’s Health Philippines (Dec 2010)

Thankfully our defense was always solid and would offer us plenty of cheering opportunities. She was so optimistic in the face of defeat saying, ‘Oh well.. next time’ and moving on with life when everyone was else was sobbing uncontrollably in their beer.

And so, if you’re living here in Asia, you must wake up Monday morning at about 7am to catch all of the pregame hoopla and festivities. Expert pundit predictions, the national anthem, an F-15 fighter jet flyover and my favorite, the coin toss. Even if you’re not a football fan you might want to catch Madonna perform during halftime. Personally I’m hoping she brings back a bit of the Truth or Dare look with the bleached-blond, high pony-tailed hair. That’s MY MADONNA! Oh and watch The MTV Show on Saturday, early afternoon and you shall be at one with your weekend.

I have zero sympathy and/or first hand knowledge about heartbreak and the emotions or behaviour it produces. The times my heart has hurt the most were probably a) food related – KFC running out of chicken b) side effects of eating too fast – heartburn c) getting yelled at for doing something legitimately immoral. All purely on the surface, but nothing that has started at the front and worked it’s way through this object (vital organ?) they call the “heart”.

All this heart talk is making me bored and thinking about Leonardo DiCaprio in his better looking days… Pass!

I have a group of friends, and these friends have a cleaning lady who comes once a week for fix things up – like taking the nachos off the table top and making sure there are no cups, pails, buckets or blown up mini-pools of water that will be a good breeding ground for mosquitoes. Check out http://www.dengue.gov.sg/ for the “10 minute mozzie wipeout”, which their cleaning person performs on their behalf.

Well, the funny part of this is that one of these friends does not dare to look at the cleaning lady in the eye. Whenever she is over, he looks at the ground as he cannot bring himself to form any sort of social contact. He feels bad that she has to clean up their nachos and other chores that they do not perform on their own.

My sister used to have a similar problem, just worst. I remember this one time we were walking past a handicapped person and my sister started walking with a limp. I was wondering what was wrong with her leg. I asked, “why are you walking like that?”. She explained that it was because she felt bad walking by the handicapped person in a normal state. Hmmm.

I guess I do the same when I meet someone who speaks English with a foreign accent. I suddenly cannot pronounce many words the way I usually do and for some, I go as far as to refer to myself as “Holy” instead of “Holly”. Not quite accommodating.

My new year resolutions, are at this point of time still nowhere in sight. I could not see past my own nose last year, so this year instead of just jumping into making a long list of things I want to do, I instead am taking it slow and making commitments, as I go along.

Firstly, I am having the best time working on The MTV Show with Rich. He’s quite fun to be around and he always lets me have the last piece of chocolate, which is quite/very kind on days where my sugar level is morbidly low.

Secondly, I want to try to get physically fit. The whole of last year I thought that laughing while watching the Cartoon Network was the best way to exercise my abs, but seeing how the chips I ate while laughing and watching kind of put me off course, I have decided to take greater action. So far, this year I have done 3 power walks. Even though at inconsistent days and times, it is still a start and they say every step is a step closer to a better body. Oh! Did I mention I had carrots as a snack yesterday?

I have also been going for singing class and apparently I have some “potential”, but I guess everyone gets told that at a class, and the outcome will only be visible after more than a few months of attending class, and practicing. And I think I might have the wrong idea of practicing. I have to realize that singing in the shower is not proper practice! And I wonder why I have trouble hitting the note every class after doing the same song for 3 weeks? It’s tough! This singing thing. Adele shows me how it is done. Sigh, blame it on my lack of natural talent.

Anyway, for now I will focus on taking baby steps to making this year amazing. That includes washing my hair on a more regular basis and also buying a steam iron so my silk clothes stop burning. I lost way too many shirts last year!

Until then,
Holly

I’m not really sure how much has changed during the decade-plus that I’ve been out of school. My journey from kindergarten to university was truly a social roller-coaster for a misfit kid like me. At times I felt like the proud pigeon, strutting around doing what I wanted, where I wanted. And then there were other times when I really felt like the rusty statue, getting dumped on and not being able to do anything about it. I experienced both sides of the problem for many years. My story is not uncommon but I was able to take many lessons from the 20/20 hindsight.

There were many occasions in school that I can remember when I was less than friendly. I was a loudmouth kid at times who would rarely pass up talking opportunities. Even to my own friends, I could be very insulting and make cutting remarks. In my mind, I was just being funny and being me, but the reality of it was I was just being a fool. Maybe I was too young and stupid at the time to realize the implications of my behavior but it still doesn’t stand as a valid excuse. I was being a bully and I was being insensitive. My actions had consequences and hurt people’s feelings and in these situations, no one is a winner.

School anywhere will always be a proving ground. Bullies don’t need a reason to claim a victim. They will create one. Growing up in school was full of courage tests for me. Was I going to stand up to someone trying to put me down? Or was I going to stand up to them even if it meant receiving a humbling beating? I mean, kids will be kids and no one wants to be labeled a coward. I took a lot of pride as a youngster not taking guff from anyone, even if I was outsized. I took a few good whoppings from this guy in the 5th grade. He looked like he should have been in high school already and he would always single me out at the playground at recess. I knew I would always eat a few good punches but I would rather get what was coming than hide inside the school.

Perhaps I was a glutton for punishment but I always felt like I held my own even though I always took the worst of it. When you’re in the fight, you convince yourself that you’re doing a lot better than you really are! Me being the ever positive guy, I would think of each encounter as a test I would have to pass. This guy was helping to make a man out of me and I wasn’t going to let him break my spirit. It soon faded away and I ended up playing against the guy in high school American football. I beat him on a long pass play and we ended up winning the game. I suppose I could’ve taken the last laugh but I didn’t. The guy approached me after the game and apologized to me for the times back then. I didn’t harbor any negative feelings. As funny as it sounds, I suppose we both needed each other at that time.

Now I get bullied at work!

Sadly, not every bully war story has a happy ending. Many students are seriously injured and a great deal of victims and their families often struggle with ongoing issues. A student can lose the ability to learn and feel unsafe in their own school. Bullying takes many forms but is never a solution to anything. It is easy to try to solve issues with violence and misguided rage but it takes understanding to take a step back and think what you can do to make something better.

It’s the simplest thing in the world to react in anger, especially if a wrong has been committed against you. We are all human. We all do it from time to time. Often times we unleash our emotions onto others without even realizing it. It’s not necessarily being a bully but it is unkind.

I am a firm believer in the concept that we call karma. The things you do have a way of coming back to you, if not now maybe later. The way you treat people can be infectious to everyone around you. If you bestow random acts of kindness upon people, others around you will want to do the same and follow suit. Bully others with kindness and be looked upon as the person who picks people up rather than the one who drags them down. Even the most basic kind gestures to others are uplifting and make our daily struggles tolerable.

Being the better person isn’t always easy so it’s a great test for anyone! These are lessons we all should already know so I challenge all of you including myself to go out and be cool to everyone for no reason. Be a good friend to someone even if they can’t do the same for you in return.

Happy Lunar New Year! 2012 is The Year to Be Nice!

* * *

Catch “Bullied”, a creatively groundbreaking film, by Firecracker Films and MTV that explores the universal experiences of young people across the globe who have been victims of bullying. This powerful documentary will provide a real understanding of what it’s like living with the torment of being bullied.

“Bullied” premieres on 24 January 2012, 10.30pm (WIB), 11.30pm (SIN/HK/PH), 12.30pm (MAL) and replays at these times:

25 January
6.30pm (WIB), 7.30pm (SIN/HK/PH), 8.30pm (MAL)

1 February
10am (WIB), 11am (SIN/HK/PH), 12pm (MAL)
3pm (WIB), 4pm (SIN/HK/PH), 5pm (MAL)

And if you identify with the characters of this movie and want to find out more about cyber-bullying or current mainstream culture issues, visit MTV Voices.

I’ve been bullied. In fact, I am, more than the average person, a push over. I don’t know how to say “No, I do not want to share my apple pie and ice cream.”

In primary school, my sister had pretty messy hair. Being 7 and very good at watching television and nothing more, she did not see a problem with her messy hair. The other kids however, kinda did. We rode the bus to school every day and she was banned from riding in the back seat – And we all know that the “back seat” is where everybody, who is anybody, rides! Being her slightly older, and very timid sister, I felt bullied, on her part. So I sat in the front with her every day and made the front seat, the new back seat. Rebecca Black would be proud. What I am trying to say is that bullying is such a weird topic, that it can be anything that affects one personally. And I felt it was unfair my sister was not allowed to sit at the back cause the other kids did not like her messy hair.

If anyone makes you feel inadequate or intimidated, ask yourself how you can either speak to the person, or (if you’re like me) get someone to do it for you. You can always transfer schools? Just kidding! There are bullies everywhere, but if they are pushing you over the edge, find out who can help you and don’t hurt yourself or let yourself feel down because of someone else’s insecurities.

* * *

Catch “Bullied”, a creatively groundbreaking film, by Firecracker Films and MTV that explores the universal experiences of young people across the globe who have been victims of bullying. This powerful documentary will provide a real understanding of what it’s like living with the torment of being bullied.

“Bullied” premieres on 24 January 2012, 10.30pm (WIB), 11.30pm (SIN/HK/PH), 12.30pm (MAL) and replays at these times:

25 January
6.30pm (WIB), 7.30pm (SIN/HK/PH), 8.30pm (MAL)

1 February
10am (WIB), 11am (SIN/HK/PH), 12pm (MAL)
3pm (WIB), 4pm (SIN/HK/PH), 5pm (MAL)

And if you identify with the characters of this movie and want to find out more about cyber-bullying or current mainstream culture issues, visit MTV Voices.

Hello everyone! I just finished shooting the very first episode of The MTV Show with Her Wickedness, VJ Holly. I must say it was a lot of fun chatting about pop music and pop culture happenings. Something I’ve never done before. While we have similar interests, we are also very different so compromising may be in the form of heated debates. Thank goodness we are both friendly! VJ Holly is very educated with what’s happening in the pop world so keeping up with her isn’t going to be easy! She really has her hand on the pulse of pop music so I think it would be best for me to take notice and pick up a few pointers.

I suppose there’s a certain quality that one must appreciate about pop. After all, it’s called pop for a reason and regardless of whether people like or hate it, it demands attention. And whether you love it or hate it, the pop universe will always provide a ‘Comparison Arena’. Some of us are old-school at heart and will always rely on the classics while others are sonically exploring to hear what’s up next. There is a never-ending competition for your ears but the bottom line remains. The stuff you don’t like will make the stuff you DO like, sound that much better.

Even if you’re the most difficult to please, one should take a moment to appreciate all of the work, high-priced talent, behind-the-scenes wizardry that goes into making some of this crazy pop! It’s a fusion of unbelievably creative and inspired people who work long hours to contribute to a project or organization that will garner millions of opinions, Youtube views and highly negative criticisms along the way.

Artists, directors, assistant directors, writers, producers, technicians, managers, stylists, everyone involved in the Music Mill is part of something greater than themselves. Whether they are in the position they’re in because they deserve it or because of luck, it really doesn’t matter. People create their own luck by putting themselves where they must be. Time does not slow down in the hectic, highly emotional, over-rated media funhouse we are all forced to live in. Even to some degree, as much as we try to tune it out (and I have!), the pop media black hole shall inevitably drag you back in.

Through my own experiences, I’ve learned along the way to pay closer attention. Like a DJ talking over your favorite mix tape, it defeats the purpose and you miss the tunes, so talk less and LISTEN more! Strive to keep yourself busy by finding ways to improve yourself and your skills. Do your best to stay focused, even when things aren’t going your way. Like most of us, I’m not sure what I must do exactly to find fulfillment in the end but I’m positive that not doing anything will find me close to nothing.

Basically what I’m saying is it’s cool to get the chance to be at the wheel of the pop music bus with VJ Holly. It’s like the stylist, cutting shirts and dresses day-in and day-out, at long last getting a call to style for Lady Gaga. Or the unknown director, working countless years on shoestring budgets, finally getting a healthy budget to direct a Beastie Boys video. Or the once obscure rapper, who once couldn’t get a record deal, marrying Beyonce (Kudos Hova). Being an MTV VJ may give Holly and I the chance to experience similar thrills and smiles equal to those experiences but undoubtedly, the roads that lie ahead are lined with similar challenges and hopefully one day… rewards.

There are as many of those as there are dreams in the world. I personally enjoy the music and see it as a reward. Anyone who really knows me would tell you I’d rather have an iPod on me than a stack of cash any day.

VJ Holly and I will have the chance to bring all of you lots of cool stuff in the near future. The places we will go and the random personalities we will meet will hopefully fascinate you viewers, bloggers and Musictrippers alike. The both of us will learn more along the way than we’ve come to know so far and my hope is that we can put it all on your plates via The MTV Show, interviews, hostings, concerts and online.

Holly and I will do our very best to bring you a taste of what’s out there and listen to as many of your comments and suggestions as our remaining hearing allows us. And above all the madness, keep the music playing! Hope to see you all out on the road soon! And remember to catch the premiere of The MTV Show on 7 January 2012 at 12pm (WIB), 1pm (SIN/HK/PH), 2pm (MAL)!

But they say for every door that closes, another opens. And let’s just say the door that opened was pretty damn cool. Firstly, we have a new VJ, which meant a new co-host for me. Being socially awkward, I felt the stress of having to engage in close social interaction with someone I’d soon be spending everyday with. I met him and thank God, the awkward in “socially awkward” was nowhere to be found. Maybe because we are both part American, or it also could be that we are both part Asian, or well, simply because we both own white singlets. Either way, we get along and it has been (relatively) smooth sailing so far. But his interest in sports and my obvious lack of that has us on other ends of the world.

Might I add? Rich gives really good relationship advice. Who would have thought my new co-host and on- the-job best friend could enlighten me and give me insight on how to be a better-rounded human being. For starters, I have cut down on caffeine. That helps me sleep better.

The second best thing after having a new co-host was of course having a new show! What is a co-host for without a show right? Maybe to play chess with at lunch? Anyway, we have a new project on hand: The MTV Show! I am quite excited because I have never actually been on a real life show. I have filmed scenes of myself talking into a mic and talking to other people, but not actually a 30 minute show where I am, well… the host. How nerve-wrecking, exciting and crazy and wonderful 2012 will be!

Rich and I on set

If you want to check us out being nerve-wrecked, exciting, crazy and wonderful all at different times, make sure you watch The MTV Show that premieres on the 7th of January at the respective times: 12pm (WIB), 1pm (SIN/HK/PH), 2pm (MAL)!

You can ‘like’ me at facebook.com/mtvvjholly and check out The MTV Show!

Looking forward. Watch this space!

Vanness Wu

Text and interview: Natalie Yeo

For an artist who has had great success and also recently released his latest album, C’est La “V”, Vanness Wu holds no airs about his accomplishments.

Clad in a pair of black jeans, a red-striped cardigan over a black basic t-shirt, a beanie and black-framed glasses, he exits the stage arena for MTV Sessions and requests for a short break after an hour long on-air interview at the Waterfront Studios, Resorts World Sentosa (Singapore). With no hint of weariness or a lack of zeal, Vanness enthusiastically prepared himself for round two of interviews.

Vanness is nothing short of a down-to-earth, honest and sincere artist. Read on as he takes us through his journey as a growing artist in this interview. He talks about his new album, how he gains inspiration and shares the highlights of his career. He also gives insight into his passions in life and even his hairstyles!

***

What was the heart and direction for your new album?

The direction of it was just to be honest. The album is called C’est La “V” which is French for ‘This Is Life’ (C’est La Vie). We had a plan where the ‘V’ stood for Vanness, so it translates, ‘This Is Vanness’. And my life has three concepts: Love, Faith and Live. For me, if you have love, you have faith. Then you’re able to live through any obstacle life throws at you.

On this album, you worked with Ryan Tedder and Bruno Mars on your songs “Is This All” and “Knockin’”. How was the experience working with them?

It was very overwhelming. I’ve known about Ryan Tedder since 11 years ago, before One Republic. He was a solo artist at that time. I heard his stuff online and his vocals are just amazing. He’s a great song-writer so seeing all his success and being able to work with him 11 years later is very encouraging. I couldn’t believe I was actually working with him after 11 years of knowing about him so that was really cool.

And Bruno was introduced to me by Justin Michael. He said, “I’ve got this friend I’ve been working with. He’s a great song-writer and I think he could write some songs for you.” So I went to watch him perform one night. This was 3 years ago, before I knew who he was and before he had any songs. When I saw him perform, I thought, “Oh my goodness, this guy is amazing.” So I told Justin that I’d definitely love to work with him. I met with Bruno and told him I’ve got this thing going on and he said, “Yeah, I’d love to write for you.” It just happened all so fast.

You have released 5 music albums to date. How do you think your music has progressed over the years?

I think it’s matured, more honest to who I am. I feel like C’est La “V” is the album that’s closest to what I’ve been wanting to do. That’s why I feel like it’s my first real album because in the ones before, I was either too immature or too young to be able to enjoy the whole process. This time, I was able to have fun with it and regardless of what song I was singing, I made sure to enjoy it and that was the most important thing.

Vanness Wu

As for song arrangements, both fast and slow tracks, where does your inspiration come from?

It all just comes when it comes. There is no one key. I get my inspiration from God because that’s where it all comes from at the end of the day. It really depends on where I’m at. All of a sudden [snaps], I get this feeling and then it comes. It’s the funny thing about inspiration. It just comes. You go on Youtube, “Nope, can’t find anything here.” You go on Google, “Nope, can’t see any inspiration there.” All of a sudden you see a dog and “Oh! I got inspiration!” [Claps] It’s weird like that.

What has been the most memorable or significant moment of your solo career?

For acting, it was Autumn’s Concerto. That was an amazing time acting-wise because it took me into another level of appreciation on working on TV drama. As I had not worked on a drama in so long, my initial response was actually, “No, I don’t want to. I don’t want to shoot anymore TV drama.” I was scared and I just didn’t want to do it. But that experience really opened up something again and it was such a blessing to see the audience loving it as much as we loved creating it. For music, it’s this album that I recently released and to have had the chance to work with the people that I’ve worked on it with.

Between singing and acting, which do you feel has challenged and stretched you more?

They have both challenged me in their own aspects. Acting has challenged me to see how deep I can go with the character – How real and how true I can go with it. Musically, it’s how much more my vocal cords are able to stretch and train. Dancing? To see how much crazier I can get with the steps.

With the array of languages that you speak (English, Mandarin, Japanese and Korean), how has being a multi-lingual artist helped you in your career?

It helped me to travel [Laughs]. It helped me to travel a lot – to experience and enjoy different countries that I love and have loved watching growing up. I love watching animation, cartoons and Japanese manga. So to move from enjoying all that from young, to being able to go to the actual places that created and started it all now is… “Wow!”

Vanness Wu

You have often been associated with not just music and acting but with fashion and now your new jewelry line. Is there a particular piece of clothing or accessory that you wear that is symbolic to you or representative of you?

I have these 2 cross necklaces [Points to neck] that for the time being, I have not taken off for about a year now. I wear them everywhere. One of them is from my grandmother. She passed away about a year or so ago and she gave it to me so it’s one I keep with me. I bought this other one in Paris at an antique flea market and they said it was from the 19 or 1860s. I like them. These are the two pieces that represent and brings Jesus back to the center of everything. Then everything else just works itself out around it.

As a celebrity, you’ve gone through several (if not many) hairstyles, long to short. Which look or hairstyle is your favourite?

I get bored really easy. The reason why I grew and dyed it red that one time was because I got bored with short hair and I said, “I think I’m going to grow my hair long now.” And I dyed it a completely different colour so I wouldn’t cut it. At least it was a different style! After I grew it long, I said, “I’m so sick of this. Okay, I’m going to shave my head now”, and I went to the salon and told them, “shave the sides and shave it all off for me right now.” And they just shaved it off. It really depends on my mood. More often than not, it’s really random. When I shaved my head, again I thought, “You know what? Finally! I think I want to grow a Mohawk!” And then I grew a mohawk. That’s what I did, I grew a mohawk.

What does being here in Singapore for MTV Sessions mean to you?

It’s like a milestone. It’s a beginning of something. Of course, the originating point was from ‘Unplugged’ and I’m honoured being able to be the first person to do it here in Singapore. I hope I don’t mess it up [Laughs].

 The Christmas Song (Live at MTV Sessions)

Tags: MTV Asia

Through this show, what message would you want to share and bring across to your fans?

Keep following your dreams and keep pursuing them. They are there for a reason and don’t ever give up on your dreams. Anything is possible but you just have to be patient and realise that even though you might be thinking, “I must do it by the time I’m 30,” who knows? Maybe God’s plan is for you to do it when you’re 60. You know what I mean? But as long as you accomplish it, that’s what matters and the point of it all is to enjoy the journey.

Do you feel you’re an instrument of inspiration to others?

I don’t know what it makes me, but it makes me happy to make the people around me happy! Thank you guys for always supporting me. I pray that we’ll have a wonderful journey together ahead of us and I look forward to what our lives are going to bring for each other!

***

Catch Vanness Wu on the premiere of MTV Sessions airing 1 January 2012, 5pm (WIB), 6pm (SIN/HK/PH), 7pm (MAL).

Repeats will air on 3 January 2012, 12.30am (WIB), 1.30am (SIN/HK/PH), 2.30am (MAL) and 7 January 2012, 12.30am (WIB), 1.30am (SIN/HK/PH), 2.30am (MAL) respectively.

VJ Rich

Text: Natalie Yeo

Host, model, actor, writer, and now our new MTV VJ, Richard Herrera has plenty to offer! Shades and not much of a smile make him appear unapproachable but behind that facade lies a down-to-earth, traditionalist at heart.

Pushed by his spirit for adventure and inspired by his parents and love for music, VJ Rich reveals multiple sides of him in this interview. He carries with him a hope to re-engage MTV viewers and tells us more about himself as he embarks on his journey as MTV’s latest addition!

***

Welcome to MTV! Could you tell us a little background about yourself?

I grew up in Columbus, Ohio. Sports saved my life and kept me out of trouble growing up. Thankfully, I was a good test-taker but I wish I’ve paid more attention in school! I’m lucky to have the coolest parents ever. I left the United States in 2002 for Europe, and then ultimately ended up in Asia.

What were you working as previously?

I wasn’t the best behaved kid growing up but I started teaching and worked with handicapped and blind individuals when I was 15. My parents were teachers for the blind and that’s how they met. That was my first job, and then I got into concert production and worked as a roadie back in the US. Live music was a big part of my daily routine.

How did the experience of being a roadie branch out to becoming a model?

I was working and trying to finish school when the woman who was cutting (not often) my hair asked if I wanted to do a hair show for her where she would style my hair in front of people. One thing led to another but it gave me an opportunity to leave home and explore. I started off as a hair dummy of sorts.

For shampoo ads?

[Laughs] Kind of! And then it just spiraled into more opportunities. It’s a strange road to take but I ended up here in Asia. I have some family in the Philippines so it was a good place to start out and learn.

VJ Rich

Looking at your build, you must do quite a fair bit of sports. What kind of sports are you into?

A lot of things! American football, ultimate Frisbee (just recently), baseball, mixed martial arts, etc. I train a lot and that’s actually great for stress relief and staying in shape. You don’t want to get soft in your old age because that’s what tends to happen. When I left the US, the whole craziness of it all got me away from training and I realized when I got back into it how much of a wimp I became, so I had to get tough again!

How often do you go to the gym?

I tend to cut the work-outs really short. When there is time, I try to go in and just get it done. 20-30 minutes tops! I’ve tried all different kinds of training and whatever people suggest really. The more insane they are, the better.

Now that we know how you keep in shape, could you tell us a bit about your personal style?

Well, my mother’s always had good taste with things so I try to keep it clean. I’m not a colorful guy but I try to spice it up every now and then.

VJ Rich

With your background in production and modeling, do you enjoy show business?

Yeah, I really do. I ended up just getting thrown into it, but I never realized when I went to school that it was really something you could do as a career. My dad went to school for broadcasting and he’s the one that has all the talent and personality. He can tell jokes for hours and he really has dynamic performing abilities. Sadly, I didn’t inherit too much of that!

But you’re doing this today so you’re fine!

Well, I’m picking it up. I mean, I wasn’t born with it but I’m trying to get better at it so it’s a daily struggle to improve with everything. Meeting all these new people here really helps. I sit down, shut up and listen and learn. Eventually, I hope to put it all together like a proper VJ should!

What kind of music are you into?

I’m definitely open-minded. I will try to give a listen to pretty much anything. I’m fortunate enough to have a lot of DJ friends who really just keep new things playing all the time so I’m always asking them, “Hey, what’s this?” or “Make me a mix tape or something!” I’m really into Red Hot Chili Peppers and Armand Van Helden. At heart though, I’m a metal head. I find myself listening to the same heavy metal and hard rock over and over again. You can’t tell from my dancing but I do have a soulful side. Nevertheless, I’m trying to pick up some of this new stuff and get with the program!

You’ll be hosting the MTV Show next year. What do you think about the whole experience of hosting a brand new MTV show?

I’m fired up for sure. There’s a lot of work that needs to be done. I’ve already told the producers that we need to get out there, rather than do everything in the studio and take things to another level. I think we need to really get the viewer’s opinion on what they’re into and really everything that we do from now on; we should relate it to music.

How would you engage and draw in young viewers?

We need to find out what motivates people these days because that’s one thing everybody has in common is music. Everybody’s got their own trip with their own tunes. It means something different to every individual. Some people take it seriously, some people feel like their opinion really matters and for other people, it’s just something to kill the silence. I’d like to talk to people and find out more about what makes them tick because this is a learning experience for me too. Everyone, especially me, gets a bit lost in the whole internet circus and is slammed with so much new media that it’s hard to keep track of it all. At the end of the day, we are all selective as most of us don’t want to waste our time.

VJ Rich

You will be working a lot with Holly from here on. What do you think of her?

Holly reeks of awesomeness. She reminds me of how I was when I was 21, only a thousand times more intelligent than I was! Her personality is plus for sure. Talking to her just reminds me how much of an idiot I was at 21. She has a really good head on her shoulders and she has an extremely promising future ahead of her. Hopefully, I can teach her some things from my experiences so we can learn from one another and help each other out.

Would you consider yourself a daredevil in life?

‘Rampage’ was a nickname was given to me by my friend who passed away a few years ago and it was given for good reason. I like to meet people and everything I do, I want to push it as far as I can. So far I’ve definitely taken a lot of risks. Some were not thought out too well and some paid off. I have more responsibility now so I have to make better decisions these days. The next few years will be very interesting!

For news and updates on VJ Rich, visit:
www.mtvasia.com/vjrich
www.facebook.com/MTVVJRich
twitter.com/RichRampage