KUALA LUMPUR: Local artiste Hannah Tan’s early birthday present this year will certainly be memorable – the honour of being the first Malaysian to produce an album in Japan.
The Penang-born Hannah whose 28th birthday falls on Oct 25, has just signed a RM6mil production deal with Japan’s Fillmore Far East Inc to produce five Japanese pop albums within two years.
“I feel really honoured,” said Hannah who signed the deal with Fillmore Far East at her office yesterday.
Hannah produced her debut album Crossing Bridges in 2005, which she collaborated with internationally-acclaimed composers/writers Jorg enElofsson, Phil Thornalley, Andrew Fromm and Chris Rojas.
Wonderful smile: Hannah at her office after signing a RM6mil contract with Fillmore Far East Inc Saturday. She wrote and composed three songs on the album.
Hannah, who is also an actress, model and television host said she set her eyes on the Japanese market earlier this year when she started thinking about her singing career beyond Malaysia.
She said she was impressed with the Japanese business, entertainment trends, the anime wave and the country’s technology.
Hannah said her dream came true when Fillmore Far East approached her.
She will head to Tokyo today to promote Malaysian works together with MSC Malaysia at the Tokyo Film Festival and will be back in time to watch the Beyonce concert on her birthday.
“I haven’t had a day off since I decided to venture into the Japan market early this year,” she said.
“I want to treat myself to a day of rest with no work on my birthday.”
Fillmore Far East chief executive officer Yoji Hayakawa said the company would get Hannah to begin formal Japanese lessons and voice training in Japan beginning next year.
Hayakawa said he had been looking for an Asian artiste to promote in Japan when a close friend from the Japanese entertainment industry pointed Hannah out.
“The first impression that I got from Hannah was that she had a wonderful smile,” he said.
Other qualities that made her stand out from the rest, he said, included her strong influence among the Asian pop-culture market, fast growing web presence, humility and positive attitude.
Hannah’s first album will be released in June or July in Japan next year and the company hoped to sell 100,000 copies there.
The album will also subsequently be released in Malaysia, Taiwan and Singapore, he said.
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/10/18/nation/4928001&sec=nation
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