Photo courtesy of Nemesis Records

Canadian idol
Rising pop sensation Kristine Sa pursues dream of stardom in the world of music
Ashton Do, staff writer
Feb. 28, 2007
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For pop singer Kristine Sa, musical invention is about originality.

I feel that (the Vietnamese music scene) is slightly repetitive,” she said. “I would like to come up with my own original stuff and throw something out there that’s new, and hopefully it’ll be liked.”

Sa was picked up by Nemesis Records in 2000 following a stint in a girl group. While studying at an acting conservatory, she recorded material for the label and made her debut in 2002 with I Never Knew.

To date, Sa has recorded and performed songs in both English and Japanese, but has been hesitant to do anything in Vietnamese. When the time comes, she said, she wants to do it right and she wants to take risks.

“I’ve already started writing a few songs with Vietnamese lyrics,” she added. “And hopefully as those get in the works, I’ll be able to perform them.”

In the meantime, she has been working on her latest English album, Hopeless Romantic. Although she followed up I Never Knew with a remix album and a J-pop project, she is nervous over the launch of her true sophomore release.

“It’s like releasing your child into the wild,” she said. “They’re personal stories.”

Hopeless Romantic blends eastern flavors with modern beats and catchy pop melodies. The result is a multifaceted pop experience that ventures into new aural landscapes guided by Sa’s sultry vocals.

“I discovered strength, which I didn’t get to do with the first album,” she said.

While writing the songs, Sa found ways to express and atone for things that she never could before. Part celebration, part confessional, Hopeless Romantic finds its inspiration from her life.

“Now a song has got to convey emotion, have great lyrics and be catchy or memorable to pass muster,” said Minh-Dan Pham, CEO and executive producer of Nemesis Records. “A lot of people will like Kristine's new songs right away." continue >>