But what do the letters I-S stand for? Awash in the alphabet-soup acronymland known as Singapore, where PMEBs leave their HDB, UDMC or HUDC flats and take the PIE, CTE, ECP, SLE, BKE or AYE to the CBD every DAY, we admit there are moments when even we get confused about what our magazine’s initials mean. … We settled on In Singapore. (Vol. 1 No. 1 August 7-20 1995)
Singapore is actually chock-a-block with opportunities for learning.… ANTHROPOLOGY: Rush hour on the MRT. Observe human behavior as it devolves to its basest forms. See “survival of the fittest” principles put into action each time an empty seat opens up. Keep an eye out for the missing link that boards daily at Novena Station. Special essay topic: Would Homo erectus have been able to navigate a transfer at Raffles Place? (Vol. 1 No. 8 November 20-December 3 1995)
CREDIT CARD: Don’t give us that song and dance about the convenience. How convenient can it be to pay 20 percent interest on all those flash clothes and that mega-stereo system? Think about that the next time you whip out that plastic for the plane tickets to Bali, dinner at Prego for your friends, a new wardrobe at the Great Singapore Sale. (Vol. 1 No. 21 June 10-23 1996)
When PM Goh proposed a return of snake charmers, he opened up a real can of worms, so to speak. You can’t have snake charmers without grit and grime, and you can’t have grit and grime without seedy-looking characters roaming around possibly trying to pick your pocket. But let’s not dirty all of Singapore for the sake of a little exotica. Confine the grit, grime and low crime to a single, contained area—Boat Quay, for instance—and rename it Little JB. (Vol. 2 No. 11 Jan 6-19 1997)
By all accounts, this cloning business is still open to improvement, and the margin for error at this early stage is clearly pretty high. So don’t try this at home, kids. It falls into the wrong hands, and who knows what could happen? We could live to see the day when we walk into our favorite restaurant to be greeted warmly and shown to our table — by a sheep. (Vol. 2 No. 15 Mar 10-23 1997)
Once we caught our breath, we realized maybe our expectations were running a little too high. We thought that March 23, 1998, the debut of the—GASP!—new The Straits Times, would go down in history as a date to remember. A day when we got a collector’s item to rival Princess Di margarine tubs, when we got more fashion tips from Cat Ong about what can be done with a ½ meter of masking tape and a pair of breasts, when we got enough world-class information and entertainment to beat a Disney-Microsoft merger. But as we were reading the new Straits Times, we realized that we were reading—GASP!—the old Straits Times. (Vol. 3 No. 17 Apr 3-16 1998)
Disney is embracing Asia with all its might. Next up: Animal Kingdom Asia. Included are whitewater rafting, some really scary Asian animals and a jungle trek. … If Disney goes with the Asian theme park, we say at least get with the times, play up the urban jungle and launch New Asia World. The buzz of cicadas is replaced by the shrill of mobile phones. … Garfield, Mao and now Snoopy leer down from our restaurant walls. The crowning glory to New Asia World? Imagine this: Habibe’s Hamburgers, Deng’s Diner and Pol Pot’s Claypot. (Vol. 3 No. 20 May 15-June 4 1998)
Top Ways to Tell that [insert the Southeast Asian city of your choice] is Turning into Singapore… The Christmas lights go up before Deepavali. • Snoopy toys (dressed as the Merlion) are given away with Happy Meals. • If it works properly, it’s “World Class.” • People run screaming into an Ah Mei concert and then sit down in an orderly fashion to wait for the show to begin. • Low fines don’t mean no fines. (Vol. 5 No. 6 Oct 15-Nov 4 1999)
Need we go further than the headline: “Seven hurt in rush for Hello Kitty toys”? The facts are depressing: A crowd clamoring for stuffed dolls waits in the early morning outside a fast food restaurant, which boasts a regular door. Made of glass. The crowd is so eager to part with hard-earned cash for trashy food and cheap toys that individual Kitty fans push and shove as hard as they can against the aforementioned glass. Hello Kitty. Goodbye door. (Vol. 5 No. 12 Jan 21-Feb 3 2000)
We’re all for diversity in the media, but we’re not sure we follow the logic of newspaper people thinking they know TV, and TV people thinking they know newspapers. It seems a little like the folks at Jurong Bird Park applying for a license to open an airport, just because they know something about flying. (Vol. 5 No. 22 Jun 16-Jul 6 2000)
It struck us that our talent for moaning and groaning—instead of being cause for concern—could be just the thing to put us on the map academically. … Here’s a prospective Course Catalog for the degree program: Dissatisfaction 101 … Advanced Groaning … Comparative Grumpiness … Tai-tai Tantrums … Philosophy of Moaning … Holiday Humbug. (Vol. 6 No. 10 Dec 15 2000 – Jan 4 2001)
The Scotts Road underpass, which seems to be the epicenter of buskerdom in Singapore, is already the Seventh Level of Hell. Imagine if you had to listen to a steady stream of Air Supply hits as you struggled with your shopping bags through the dark, crowded tunnel. (Vol. 6 No. 18 Apr 6-19 2001)
In case you haven’t been appointed to one of the five sub-groups, the Remaking Singapore Committee is being set up to look at all aspects of life here and redefine the Singapore Dream. The idea seems to be that we should no longer only be working for the five Cs. Now we should be concerned with quality-of-life issues like personal space, family bonding, finding individual fulfillment through (ohmigod) risk-taking, and creativity in our work. (Vol. 7 No. 14 Mar 1-14 2002)
Still there may be a way to satisfy both stayers and quitters. Since we’ve already reclaimed what looks like a quarter of the island, what’s stopping us from reclaiming whatever we can, or until we hit Indonesia? … We could build enclaves: miniature Sydneys, Londons, New Yorks, Batu Pahats, whatever. Stayers can stay put on Singapore Major; quitters don’t even have to surrender their CPF to hit Reclaimed Singapore for a taste of life on the other side. (Vol. 7 No. 24 Sep 6-19 2002)
Even as we speak, the new Singapore has chalked up many successes. We have recently set many world records: for the longest stick of satay, the longest popiah, the largest mountain of bak changs, the longest chain of used brassieres.… These are not achievements to be sneezed at. Rather, they demonstrate the determination of Singaporeans to achieve something monumental and significant in the history of mankind. They make a difference. (Vol. 8 No. 24 Aug 1-14 2003)
Fine, fine, fine. We certainly support everyone’s right to have their own beliefs and make their own choices regarding personal behavior. But it’s ironic that the virginity bandwagon is taking hold in Singapore, where a public movement saying there should be less sex is sort of like a public movement in Bollywood saying there should be more song-and-dance numbers packed into every Shah Rukh Khan movie. We already rank near the bottom of the Durex Global Sex Survey (on average, bonking a lowly 96 times a year)—and for years have been told we need to reverse declining birth rates and do something about all those older single women who seem to be perfectly happy with their lifelong, committed, monogamous careers. (Issue 201 Dec 20-Jan 2 2003)
Exhibit C: Another scientist added Viagra to a vase of wilting flowers — they stood upright for seven days longer than they should have. Singapore version: Maybe they should try this experiment to keep people awake at the next feedback dialogue.
(Issue 231 Nov 19-Nov 25 2004)
It’s the New Year, and we would like to take this opportunity to wish all our readers a very happy and joyous one. Of course, you realize that we are just being polite in doing this. In reality, we see very little hope of the New Year being either very happy or very joyous. This is due in large part to the emergence in Singapore of a new species of humans that makes cooperation and consideration impossible (even in principle). This new species of human is the Solipsist. What is a Solipsist? She (to be understood as including he) is someone who believes she is the only person that exists. In colloquial terms, she believes in “me only.” This must be clearly distinguished from the “ugly Singaporean,” who believes merely in “me first.” (Issue 238 Jan 14-20 2005)
Singaporeans’ notoriety for being bo chap (“disengaged” in Hokkien) from their work apparently has some form of psychological basis. … Says Dr. Bruce Avolio, the main author of the study, “If people don’t feel like they are using their best skills; if their strengths are not developed and their views not heard, they will switch off and channel their energies elsewhere. … We did our own informal (unscientific) poll and found that another reason for Singapore workers’ seeming bo chap-ness is that they are loathe to raise criticisms about (flawed) systems (and behavior) in the workplace for fear of being blackmarked by their Singaporean bosses. Hence, their open-armed acceptance of mediocrity. (Issue 241 Feb 4-17 2005)
Fast forward to day six. Guv thinks, “We need to take a (somewhat) calculated risk so Paradise stays ahead of the game. I will create a casino and it will have bright lights, rolling dice and, oh, also do great things for our bottom line.” Man and Woman are silent. They think, “We are mere mortals. We don’t think we have what it takes to withstand this evil temptation. We don’t even have any clothes for crying out loud!” In his omniscience, Guv reads their thoughts and declares in a booming voice, “Trust in me to safeguard the long term interests of yourselves and Paradise!! I know what is best for you, my children!!!” On the seventh day, Guv creates a gambling rehab center. (Issue 246 Mar 18-24 2005)
Old people are clumsy. Old people are more prone to falling ill. Old people are more expensive to hire. Old people cannot keep up with technology. Old people are stubborn. … Young people are inexperienced. … Young people are impatient. … Young people are easily distracted. … Young people are rude. … Since both Singapore’s old and young people are not fit for employment, we recommend that the entire economy of Singapore be outsourced. (Issue 249 Apr 8-14 2005)
Naturally, no one from the gathering is willing to spill the beans on what they came up with. However, our infallible psychic futurologists managed to have a few Christmas visions of what is to come. … It’ll be a blue Christmas for some careless speakers. … Some people will be dreaming of a white outcome. Many will sing: Let me vote! Let me vote! Let me vote! … Oh what fun it is, to win a one horse open race. (Issue 286 Dec 23-Jan 5 2006)
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What is your current state of mind?
I feel very calm. I think that I am in that mature age.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
I’ve always wanted to be an artist or a dancer.
What is your biggest achievement?
I make an effort so that I can perform better than in all my previous works. Repetition supports my present life.
What inspires you?
Love, passion, hope, and always being peaceful with myself.
What personal trait do you appreciate the most in others?
I appreciate the logical professional person, and those who keep their promises.
Do you have a cause or do you support one?
First of all, I respect people equally. Without any discrimination against race, sex and class. I think that these things are very necessary to live together.
Which living person do you admire most and would like to invite for dinner?
I respect my wife, and I’d invite her for dinner. She knows the difficulty of the world of the artist, and supports my life.
What are you reading?
I was reading The Da Vinci Code. I like suspense novels, but the characters should be sensual.
How do you spend your Sunday mornings?
I try to spend Sunday mornings with my family.
What is your idea of hell?
I suppose that hell is not far from each part of the world. Some human beings are good, and others are bad. If you encounter a bad person, maybe that place at that time is hell. We should learn from mistakes, but perhaps we would not learn from them without losing the fight and experiencing the ruin.
What is your guilty pleasure?
I do not smoke nor drink, so perhaps my guilty pleasure may be work. I am very strict with myself and at the same time, I require many things from others. Sometimes I forget that each person’s ability is different.
How do you recharge?
Being with my family.
What’s playing in your Ipod/MP3/CD player?
When I have time, I listen to lots of music genres on my Ipod.
Where would you like to live?
I want to live in Malaga in Southern Spain, because the climate there is so stable and it is not so humid. In the day time it is very warm, and at night it is moderately cool.
What is your favorite item of clothing?
Watches and shoes.
What accessory sets you apart?
I have a nature of keeping things, so I have kept memories since early childhood. I lived on the island of Ibiza, and many tourists have visited there. They gave me many things and I treasure all their gifts.
What about you that scares others?
I have a fear for the future.
If you had to play a character in a movie, which movie and which character?
I want to play the character that defends weak people, because I want to help others.
What did you believe at 18 that you wish you still believed now?
When I was young, I decided the aim in my life, and tried to achieve that goal. Even if I have attained the goal, I will not forget the original intention. You must always remember your original intention.
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How do brainteasers and word play appeal to you? Why not crosswords or Sudoku?
I love words—and love playing with them even more. To this end, I pick mainly word puzzles or puzzles that contain elements of pun or “mental twist.” These puzzles serve as excellent catalysts for lateral and creative thinking. After all, I’m a creativity practitioner—not just a puzzle solver. I’m not a fan of crosswords or Sudoku, as they belong generally to the “left-brained” or logic genre.
Where do you get ideas for puzzles?
Just about everywhere. I get my ideas by observing everyday things and occurrences, reading books, daydreaming, and by studying the dictionary! Words invariably come alive for me when I read them.
Does your brain ever get tired from creating puzzles?
No way! On the contrary, my adrenaline often gets pumped up when I’m thinking about creating new puzzles.
What’s the longest time you’ve spent solving a puzzle?
Up to a week, I guess. Like all normal human beings, most of the time, I just give up and look up the answers.
Since you’re good with words, can you talk your way out of any situation?
I’d certainly love to think so. But my wife would probably beg to differ, as she always has the last word whenever we are engaged in “intense fellowship.”
Are you always pushing puzzles onto your friends?
Not anymore. Especially now when I realize I seem to have many more of my wacky creations than I have friends. Now I only push my original riddles on to unsuspecting strangers over the Internet.
What do word puzzles say about you? Are you a puzzle waiting to be solved?
Wacky, weird, crazy, ingenious, or simply WOW! Inside me, there are at least a million wacky ideas trying to burst forth and each one looking for its own victims!
What do you say to those who think puzzles are just for nerds?
“Grow up!” or “Get a life!” Just as there are as many types of books and movies for as many types of people, nerds or not, there are “nerdy” puzzles for nerds and there are fun puzzles for anyone who knows how to have fun.
Why solve word puzzles online when you can just surf the net?
Why bother to surf the net if you can’t have fun solving word puzzles online?
The pay-off of a word puzzle doesn’t seem particularly great—isn’t solving an entire crossword more satisfying?
Size does matter. But ONLY when it really matters. Try indulging in a good spread of buffet when all you have is a mere five minutes.
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You can’t miss his blonde hair and statuesque figure. While David Mercer is best known in the fashion and hair industry as Director of TONI&GUY Hairdressing, the man is also a hardcore party animal and socialite, and has been seen gracing numerous parties about town, as well as appearing in many editorial and fashion spreads, including one for agnes b. last year.
What is your current state of mind?
Focused.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
I have always aspired to be a rock star!
What is your biggest achievement?
Building TONI&GUY, a company with incredibly talented individuals.
What inspires you?
Positive people. To succeed in life, it is important to be positive in one’s thinking, attitude and approach towards life.
What personal trait do you appreciate the most in others?
Passion, direction and a belief in oneself—regardless of the obstacles in life.
Do you have a cause or do you support one?
The awareness of AIDS, education and understanding of the HIV infection. At our recent 10th Anniversary event, the TONI&GUY team raised a staggering $20,000, and all proceeds from the night were donated to Action for AIDS (AFA). The objective of the charity event was to raise much needed funds, and reach out to a wider community with higher levels of public exposure.
Which living person do you admire most and would like to invite for dinner?
Definitely my mother. She has been my source of inspiration, support and strength in life.
What are you reading?
Nick Knight, Showstudio.com.
How do you spend your Sunday mornings?
Double shot macchiato, the gym and relaxing with my family and my mad dog.
What is your idea of hell?
Negative people.
What is your guilty pleasure?
Ben & Jerry’s Chunky Monkey ice cream—an entire tub with my daughter, India Scarlett.
How do you recharge?
A good workout session at the gym.
What’s playing in your iPod/MP3/CD player?
Black Rebel Motorcycle Gang, Starsailor and Babyshambles.
What do you collect?
Memories.
Where would you like to live?
In a postmodern house overlooking the ocean somewhere in Southeast Asia.
What is your favorite item of clothing?
A black T-Shirt.
What accessory sets you apart?
My Harley.
What about you scares others?
Black clothes, blonde and six foot two.
If you had to play a character in a movie, which movie and which character?
Johnny Depp in Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
What did you believe at 18 that you wish you still believed now?
Father Christmas and the tooth fairy.
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Listening to other DJs playing inspired me to become a DJ. I was hooked on house music when I first heard it at Manchester’s Hacienda, and it encouraged me to move from Wales to Manchester. But honestly, I didn’t plan on becoming a superstar DJ.
The clubbing scene in the ’80s got out of control. Clubs were fiercely competing with each other, and sometimes DJs weren’t paid on time. But now the business is settling down. I sense it getting real lately. People are being offered a lot more, and it’s healthy for the scene.
Touring around the world is OK once you get over the jet lag.
It is special when I play a set with John Digweed. We are so busy doing different shows that we play together only five or six times every year.
I love drinks. My favorite is red wine. Drinking gets me into the mood, but not if I drink too much.
The clubbing scene in Asia has evolved a lot compared to last year. I went to Babyface the club in Shanghai and it was pretty cool.
Hip hop has changed the clubbing scene a lot. A more commercial crowd goes to hip hop parties—but house and trance are still massive. Trance, house, breakbeat, hip hop... it’s just a question of taste.
I was worried in recent years about how the scene would be, but I’ve seen so many new DJs coming up last year who are pushing the scene forward.
All of UK’s superclubs are closed now. It was a one-off thing.
I can’t trust the computer 100 per cent. It’s a new technology to me. My computer crashed during my last gig and I had to restart it—that was not good. Sometimes I prefer to do small and more intimate
shows. My sets are usually huge and just crazy.
DJing is a crazy career. I don’t know how I ended
up here.
I’m always trying to push myself by putting new influences and sounds into my sets.
It’s easy to track down new music on the Internet. Just keep your ear to the ground.
I’m not very good at predicting the future.
If you want to be a superstar DJ, you can do it. It just takes a lot of hard work and focus. There are a number of world top DJs coming out of nowhere these days.
A DJ is an entertainer. I’m always reading the crowd on the dance floor and making sure everybody has a smile on his/her face.
I’ll be happy if I am still remembered in 100 years.
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There are so many Chinese New Year specials on offer at different hotels and restaurants, what distinguishes one from the other? We bring you the highlights.
Café Vienna (Royal Plaza on Scotts, 25 Scotts Rd., 6589-7799) is offering a Bruneian version of yu sheng (we didn’t know Chinese New Year was big in Brunei). In the sultanate, you would be served yu sheng comprising mango, apricot, pineapple and fresh, not smoked, salmon. Add to that Café Vienna’s mango sauce and you have a ripe concoction. Available Jan 28-Feb 12, $48 or $68 per platter. Open daily 7am-midnight.
Over at Upper Club (#02-01A CHIJMES, 100 Victoria St., 6338-1313), you can lo hei with a twist. At this ballroom dance club, elegant tai tais come to show off their moves with fit dance partners. What would make a better Chinese New Year show that this? Yu sheng is served here during the New Year period, alongside a reunion dinner menu and Lunar New Year menus. Book a ringside seat now. Yu sheng available Jan 26-Feb 12, from $28 per platter; reunion dinner menu available Jan 26-27, $88 for six courses, $118 for eight courses; Lunar New Year menu available Jan 30-Feb 12, $88 for six courses, $118 for eight courses. Open Sun-Thu 7pm-2am; Fri-Sat 7pm-3am.
Plunge into Chinese New Year at Carlton Hotel’s Pool Bar (70 Bras Basah Rd., 6311-8195). Here you can enjoy a Chinese New Year steamboat dinner under the stars, which sure will be different from being in a large noisy restaurant. Lobster, crab, crayfish and other seafood are on offer, as well as items from the grill like sambal stingray. Available Jan 27-28, $28.80 per adult, $14.40 per child; Jan 29-30, $38 per adult, $19 per child. Open to non-hotel guests Fri, Sat and eve of public holidays 6:30-10pm.
Szechuan Court (3/F, Raffles the Plaza, 80 Bras Basah Rd., 6431-6156) simply goes over the top with its Chinese New Year offers. The normally mild yu sheng is given some kick here with spicy Szechuan sauce. Made with crushed Szechuan peppercorns, this sauce will certainly add punch to the raw fish salad (from $48 per platter)—we just hope it won’t knock it out. To really indulge, go for one of the restaurant’s Supreme Pot of Gold. It comprises an encyclopedic list of ingredients: From the medusa like six-headed abalone, to sea cucumber, white conpoy, scallops, dried oysters, prawns, mushrooms, black moss, duck, pork, chicken and deer! At $56 per person, we hope it brings as much prosperity as its auspicious name suggests. Yu sheng available through Feb 12; Supreme Pot of Gold available Jan 21-Feb 12. Open Mon-Fri noon-2:30pm, 6:30-10:30pm; Sat, Sun and public holiday noon-3pm, 6:30-10:30pm.
Element Restaurant (Amara Singapore, 165 Tanjong Pagar Rd., 6879-2607) is also offering Szechuan yu sheng (from $28 per platter). This dish is ordered à la carte at this normally buffet restaurant, and a Chinese New Year buffet accompanies it. While not much to shout about food-wise, the buffet is very reasonably priced at only $36 per person for lunch and $43 per person for dinner. For that, you get standards such as Beijing duck, roasted pork, duck braised with sea cucumber and other predictable Chinese fare. Great for lunch or a casual dinner. Yu sheng and buffet available Jan 21-Feb 12. Open daily 6am-1am.
At Hai Tien Lo (37/F, Pan Pacific Singapore, 7 Raffles Blvd., 6826-8338) a particularly exotic variety of yu sheng is available—sea urchin. This rich meaty shellfish is tossed with the usual yu sheng ingredients, and you can also choose to add ingredients such as jellyfish and geoduck clams. Served alongside yu sheng are set menus that include signature Hai Tien Lo dishes such as Beijing duck with goose liver, and abalone braised with mushrooms. Yu sheng available Jan 23-Feb 15, from $28 per platter, sea urchin yu sheng starts at $48 per platter. Chinese New Year set menus start at $78 per person. Open daily noon-2:30pm, 6:30-10pm.
M Hotel (81 Anson Rd. 6421-6063) is offering a great value-for-money Chinese New Year package. At $498 per table for lunch and $598 per table for dinner, these packages come with BYO wine and spirits with no corkage, a $50 drinks voucher for the hotel’s J Bar and free flow soft drinks, mixers and Chinese tea. And the food, before we forget, comprises six courses for lunch and eight for dinner. Available through Feb 12.
Bottoms up with yu sheng at Town Restaurant (G/F, The Fullerton Hotel, 1 Fullerton Square, 6877-8128). This establishment is offering an Pernod and apple martini yu sheng--we’re not kidding. It comes with berries, red and green apple, peaches, Avruga cavier, Atlantic salmon, hazel nuts, and olive oil topped with Pernod and apple martini. Even we are impressed. Other variations are also available, including Japanese and Thai, each with their own mix of exotic ingredients. If the thought of fanciful yu sheng is too much for you, the traditional form is also served. Yu sheng available Jan 28-Feb 12, from $48 per platter. Open daily 6:30am-11:30pm.
For a classy Chinese New Year gift, get Conrad Centennial Singapore’s Golden Peony Classic Box ($28). Comprising six New Year pastries—pineapple, red plum, sweet potato, sesame with salted egg yolk, and white lotus—this gift box comes in elegant red packaging, and is great for clients or associates. No flimsy plastic red-top containers here—save those for your own stockpile of Chinese New Year goodies. Available through Feb 12 at Pastry Palette, The Gift Shop, G/F, Conrad Centennial Singapore, 2 Temasek Blvd., 6432-7309. Open daily 7am-11pm; Chinese New Year pastries available from 10am.
More gorgeous Chinese New Year gifts are on offer at Shangri-La (Lobby, 22 Orange Grove Rd., 6213-4473). Always out to impress, the hotel has come up with a new creation—black sesame nian gao ($28.80)—and continues to purvey old favorites like the bird’s nest and musical box hamper ($168.80). Its cookies come with a lovely tea leaf set ($38.80), which is a perfect gift for a formal occasion. Available through Jan 27. Gift counter open daily 11am-9pm.
And why stop at individual gifts when you can get a hamper? Over at Marriott Singapore’s Lunar New Year stall (Lobby, 320 Orchard Rd., 6831-4708) you can create your own hamper or choose from ready-made ones. Expect traditional goodies such as pineapple tarts, love letters and bak kwa as well as less traditional items like whisky fudge and chocolate pralines. Available through Jan 27. Gift counter open daily 10am-10pm.
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What did you want to be when you grew up?
Well, originally I wanted to be a zoologist, then a photographer, then a designer. But maybe I’ll move on to film soon, or something else.
Has fashion always been your first passion?
It’s always been a big interest, but there are a lot of other interests too. Sometimes I love fashion, other times I hate it!
What is your biggest achievement?
Just being here, where I am, I guess. Life’s not that easy, really, is it, and just to achieve a little bit you have to give a lot. Although I must admit I’m lucky at times.
What inspires you?
Anything inspires me. I enjoy finding out about new things and it can be literally anything: From a person to a song to a photo or a film.
How do you recharge?
Diet Coke and music.
What’s playing in your iPod/MP3/CD player?
Ron Hardy mixes and the Annie soundtrack, weirdly enough.
What do you collect?
A selection of ’70s and ’80s London designers from Leigh Bowery to Rachel Auburn to Vivienne Westwood, along with records, books and my own photographs.
Where would you like to live?
I’ve lived all over Africa and South America along with other places. I wouldn’t mind living in South Africa for about two months a year, and Brazil for a month. I guess I already stay in New York for one month a year anyway. But a nice island somewhere like the Maldives would be good for a few weeks a year too.
What is your favorite item of clothing?
At the moment, it’s a suit by Christopher Nemeth. It’s really beautiful, almost Victorian but modern too.
What are your thoughts on the fashion world right now?
Well, I’m not sure. People seem so happy with things that are totally unchallenging, that I find a little boring. It is the 21st century, so let’s have a little fun. It does seem that people in the ’20s, ’30s, ’60s, ’70s and ’80s were having more fun and pushing the limit a little bit more!
What accessory sets you apart?
My Kim Jones hotdog necklace, which no one has yet.
What about you scares others?
Not much. I think I’m fairly normal looking, polite and easy to talk to! I think people have a bit of a different impression of me to the real me, and I’m a bit boring when you meet me.
If you had to play a character in a movie, which movie and which character?
Oh, that’s a hard one! Probably one of the extras in Star Wars so no one could see me.
What personal trait do you appreciate the most in others?
Honesty and loyalty. Don’t we all?
Do you have a cause or do you support one?
Conservation. I am a nature freak, and we do have to take care of the planet. I do try my hardest even though what I do doesn’t help it.
Which living person do you admire most and would like to invite for dinner?
Paris Catherine Dupree, and I’m trying to arrange it!
How do you spend your Sunday mornings?
Sleeping or reading papers.
What is your idea of hell?
The dentist. I hate them.
What did you believe at 18 that you wish you still believed now?
Nothing at all, except my friends and music.
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What is your current state of mind?
I am pretty relaxed, just soaking up the atmosphere of my current holiday mood.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
I’ve always wanted to be a singer.
What is your biggest achievement to date?
Just successfully launching Get Lifted. It’s been really exciting so far, and I am really happy with how things are going.
What inspires you?
Music is the thing that really inspires me, first as just a listener, and now also as someone in a privileged position to perform and make the music. It’s inspiring and humbling to be able to do something that just feels right.
What personal trait do you appreciate the most in others?
I definitely like ambitious and hard working people. People with spirit and kindness also make me happy.
Do you have a cause or do you support one?
I support Aids research and helping the needy.
Which person living or dead do you admire most and would like to invite for dinner?
Bill Clinton. He just seems like a really intelligent guy and would be good company.
What are you reading?
The World Is Flat by Thomas Friedman.
How do you spend your Sunday mornings?
I rest a lot, exercise and read. If I am away from home, I like to walk around the city or country that I am in to soak up the culture.
What is your idea of hell?
Being somewhere that I don’t wanna be.
What is your guilty pleasure?
Strip clubs.
What’s playing in your iPOD/Mp3/CD player?
Jeff Buckley, Kanye West and Fiona Apple.
What do you collect?
I don’t really collect anything.
Where would you like to live?
I am already living where I want to: New York City.
What is your favorite item of clothing?
I don’t have one, but a nice coat can really make a man look good.
What about you scares others?
They shouldn’t be scared of me; as I really am not a scary guy. (Laughs)
If you had to play a character in a movie, which movie and which character?
Right now I am into action movies, so if I had to pick one character, it would be Will Smith in Bad Boys.
What did you believe at 18 that you wish you still believed now?
Back then I thought that I knew everything that there is to know about the world; so I guess, yeah, I still want to believe that.
What is the one thing that you would change about the world if given the chance?
End poverty.
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My father was a black baseball player. My mother was the beautiful daughter in a wealthy family. Their parents opposed the marriage, but they believed in the power of love. I grew up in a home where we learned love was more important than anything else, except music.
Throughout my childhood, we were poor. It didn’t matter much to me—singing was free, and I was always surrounded by songs. I knew everyone in our neighborhood by the sound of their voices in the streets. I’d listen from the window.
China was one of my recent stops in Asia. I remember loving the food, but the chopsticks weren’t easy to use.
There were Chinese people in Havana. One of them owned a fantastic Chinese restaurant that all Americans ate at.
I always miss home while I’m on tour, but travel has been in my blood all my life. I grew up loving home but always wanting to see the world.
I stay strong on tour because I’m charged by the Cuban sunshine. While I’m at home, I soak it up until it fills my bones. I’m like a little sunshine battery—I never get cold.
When I travel, I look at the audiences. People who are possessed by music are never strangers to each other.
Music is a message. I’ve never worried about whether or not people can understand words sung in Spanish. Feelings are much more universal than that.
I like music made by people who have little else. The poorest people are usually the richest in music. Simple honest music can be made by anyone, and it’s always better than the expensive stuff.
I like to stay current. When I’m at home, I spend hours watching music videos and broadcast performances. I’m sure that their influences sneak into my own performances, like little mice.
There are so many conditions for music. What’s popular? What rhythms can people dance to? Are the instruments in tune with each other? But the most important thing is a human voice. We all have our own, and they all can be beautiful.
I can’t resist listening to music from other cultures. As a dancer, I’m always entranced by seeing the many steps of the world. I wish I knew the moves for all of them.
I’ve had a long life. But as you can see, I’ve never stopped moving. Life hasn’t felt like different stages to me. No, everything has flowed from the very beginning, which I’d say was me as a young girl, singing as I walked down the street. I always sang loud enough for everyone to hear.
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