bbchris: The Sisters of Sharon

bbchris is a moniker seen widely across a great number of music BBs, and Chris of Sisters of Sharon is the creative mind behind it. As the singer and songwriter of this 4 piece power pop female quartet from Hong Hong, she has shared her thoughts on everything from the environment to her sexual fantasies. I caught up with Chris in her Hong Kong apartment moments before she got ready for a good night's sleep...

Mb: Yo Chris!!
bbchris: HELLO! You must have got my e-mail! Thanks! Do you have the questions?
Mb: lol...Do I ever!! lol... Actually, I never prepare.
bbchris: hahahaha Seriously?
Mb: Seriously
bbchris: We often get tons of questions where we have like a month to prepare! So what should we talk about? I'm a fast typer!!!!!!
Mb: What do you want to talk about? Your music? Your life? ... What's important to you?
bbchris: My music! That's what's important to me! My life is too of course! hahaha
Mb: OK, let's start there.
bbchris: OK fire away.
Mb: Why'd you ever start?
bbchris: Cause I was drawn to the stage. At first I debated being a comedian (!), or an actress. hahaha And although I'm good at making people laugh, ultimately being a musician/singer was the right answer for me. Then as soon as I was on a stage and noticed the power of being on stage. I was hooked! It's a very powerful feeling. Oh dear do I sound like some power-hungry junkie? hahahahahahahaha
Mb: So were you looking for attention or did you have something to say?
bbchris: A bit of both, if I'm honest. Entertaining people gives me immense pleasure. I love to see people having a good time!
Mb: And, what did you have to say?
bbchris: When I first started performing, was writing songs about the environment, freedom, the Vietnamese refugees, toxins in our food, stuff like that. I guess I've mellowed a bit these days.
Mb: Why have you mellowed?
bbchris: Cause I sing more about love these days! hahahahahaha And I write about sex - well actually I've always written about sex. Plus I've written a few more fictional songs in the last few years I used to only write about 'actual' things/situations/happenings/feelings. It's quite liberating to use my imagination hahahahahahahahahhahaha You're making me nervous here! hahahahahahahaha
Mb: Do I sound like your therapist?
bbchris: Er I've never had a therapist! Are they as weird as they appear on Ally McBeal?!?
Mb: lol... So these imaginary songs.. What are they about?
bbchris: About dreams I've had, about relationships I've never had, about situations I see people in - where I like to give a positive twist to. About imaginary people I've never met. I've written two songs in my life both of which are called "Dreaming" hahahahahahahaha One I perform with Sisters of Sharon, the other with Thinking Out Loud.......
Mb: So is songwriting more about painting a picture than expressing your beliefs?
bbchris: It's actually both for me. I wouldn't sing about something that I disagreed with - unless I was singing that I disagree with it. I want people who have those similar experiences/feelings to be comfortable with what I'm singing about.
Mb: So what else happens in your day in Hong Kong...
bbchris: What? You mean my day job?!!!!
Mb: Do you have one?
bbchris: My 'other' life? hahahahahahahahaha I have a business - exporting lingerie.
Mb: Wow... Sizzly stuff is Ted one of your clients?
bbchris says: hahahahaha Ted would LOVE to be one of my clients! Maybe one day Ted & I could do some business. hahahahaha. I also have Shazza Music - my music publishing business.
Mb: So what do you want to be when you grow up?
bbchris: hahahahahhahaa. I want to be successful and jam with the world's best musicians.
Mb: So it's the music biz all the way?
bbchris: Pretty much although I like dabbling in other stuff. I like meeting and working with all kinds of people.
Mb: Have you lived in Hong Kong your whole life?
bbchris: Born & bred here. Love it. Must be the faster [sic] moving city in the world.....fastest!!! I sounded a bit too Chinese there hahahahhahahahahaha
Mb: Has living in Hong Kong given you any unique insight into humans?
bbchris: Probably one-sided ! The whole society here is money-orientated. Something terrible happens in the world and the newspapers will start talking about the stock market & property prices. Kids are encouraged to study to be accountants/lawyers and not bother doing creative stuff like arts & music! Scary huh? I'm considerably rebellious here.
Mb: I imagine you are.
bbchris: The way I look, the lifestyle I choose. Then Chinese people will say it's cause I'm half-English. of course when I'm being a good business woman or daughter, then they say it's cause I'm half Chinese. hahahahahahahahahahahahhahaha Best of both worlds! hahahahahahaha
Mb: I saw on the boards that you went to Germany and did some work with Mike Burn. How was that?
bbchris: Yes that was AMAZING! First mp3.com musician I've met in person! And he's tall! And hilarious! We spent more time laughing than anything else! hahahahahhahahahaha. He organized a gig so that I could go and perform with him and his band; Mike Burn & Friends. Means I've now performed in THREE continents. He also recorded a couple of my songs, which Mike said he'll do something with one day. Plus I flew Jane Eliz in (an Australian artist that I manage/publish) to do a couple of recordings. To be honest, I can't wait to go back to Germany.
Mb: Tell me more about your publishing biz.
bbchris: I've got a few songwriters mostly from Hong Kong although I'm courting two English artists. Shazza aims at the HK film industry. As you know here in Hong Kong, a lot of movies are made. Not as many as in the past as we are currently going through a recession. Only one of my songwriters also wants to achieve success as a performer (Jane Eliz) so she's the only one I'm working on getting a record deal for. The other writers have their own studios and either submit their new songs or create songs that are requested.
Mb: Have you placed many songs into movies?
bbchris: Not many! I got sidelined into environmental videos a few years ago and am drawing away from that.
Mb: So, imagine there's no more Internet... it will be shut down in 2 minutes for good... What's the last thing you type?
bbchris: I LOVE YOU to someone special.... What a great question! Is the e-mail still working in the last 2 minutes?
Mb: lol.... No you only have time to post on thewireweb BB.
bbchris: Oh then I would still post I LOVE YOU and write the persons name after that! hahahhahahahahahahaha...censored myself!
Mb: Short and sweet?
bbchris: You only gave me 2 minutes!!!! It depends if I was connected at the beginning of the two minutes. And what if they WEREN'T connected to the internet!?!?!?!? hahahahahhahaha You can tell I'm a woman, can't you?!?!?