Cao Zhen

    caozhen0806@126.com

    PARTAKING in singing competitions on TV for quick fame might be many young singers’ choice in today’s fast-paced world of show business, but for Ron Kingston, a soul, smooth jazz and R&B singer from Australia, down-to-earth hard work and being a prolific musician are more significant.

    “Competitions only show off your singing ability, not your talent as a songwriter. So it doesn’t necessarily prove that you are an artist,” said Kingston at Hilton Shenzhen Shekou Nanhai’s lobby in an interview with Shenzhen Daily.

    Kingston currently sings and performs acoustic guitar every night from Monday to Saturday at the hotel’s lounge until the end of July. With a musical career spanning 10 years, the Melbourne native has recorded three albums and has written many songs.

    Before he came to Shenzhen, he performed in festivals, clubs and casinos in Australia, the United States, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Brazil and also in the Gulf. In the past few years, he frequently performed at events in Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai.

    Last year, he performed as the resident entertainer at Hilton Guangzhou Tianhe and later was recommended by the management to sing at Hilton Shenzhen Shekou Nanhai.

    Starting from scratch

    Becoming a musician developed from Kingston’s dream to be an actor when he was a child. He emulated voices of different characters in films and performed in several classic musicals in high school. “As a kid when I watched movies, I couldn’t help but start to copy different characters’ ways of talking. I did voiceover recordings at home, so I began to learn how to use my voice that way,” said Kingston.

    Although acting was Kingston’s first passion, as a child, he found far more creative control with music. “When you are in a movie, you are just a small part of a large picture which involves directors, makeup artists and choreographers and you may only be accepted if your face fits the part. However, with music, I can produce it on my own. I control the process to make an album without really depending on too many other people.”

    Kingston’s idols were Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder and Sting, world icons who created great hits records. It wasn’t until his mother took him to a Billy Joel concert when he was 13, which fascinated him, that he found his calling. “That’s probably how I began to sing. I’ve never had any professional musical training; it just happened like that through inspiration.”

    Kingston then taught himself to sing and to play the guitar. “I was good at mimicking my favorite singers when I was a teenager, so I quickly learned to use my voice from the singers I admired,” he recalled.

    At 18, when he was attending university to study arts and business, Kingston was already performing in clubs in his hometown and toured along the east coast of Australia with bands. His albums were self-financed and independently recorded without the support of any record label or even from his parents.

    “I never had support from my parents because they felt music was not a stable career path. Friends have been supportive, but most of my support comes from people who believe in my songs. I treat each song as if it was my child,” said Kingston.

    With a burning desire to pursue his musical dream and supported by relatives in the United States, earlier on Kingston played at clubs in New York City during his university years. He sent his albums to U.S. recording companies, but what they wanted were singers who had already built up a reputation, said Kingston.

    “The labels favor singers who have accomplished some success, for example, in singing competitions,” said Kingston.

    “But auditioning on ‘Australian Idol’ would not give the success I want. They give you 30 seconds in front of three judges; I don’t want to be judged in 30 seconds. They judge you on your voice, not the full package. I’d rather to be judged on my 10 years of experience.”

    Kingston said he sings 40 songs every night at the Hilton Shenzhen Shekou Nanhai. “There are not many singers who can sing 40 songs every night, and I want to be judged on that.”

    Singing in Asia

    Kingston’s songs are mellow, with relaxed tempos and rhythms. Some are soothingly pensive, with a romantic sentiment. His style features an urban sophistication and subdued soulfulness. After several years of finding his voice and a style more suitable for the Asian market, he began performing in Southeast Asia and China.

    “Perhaps my voice is gentle, so people in Asia like this timbre or texture in my voice. In Australia, the music tends to be more rock and hardedge. If you turn on MTV Australia, the music is rock, Brit pop or aggressive dance music. If you turn on MTV China, the music is gentle and romantic,” said Kingston.

    Watching him perform either his original songs or cover songs in the hotel lounge, the audience can feel his deep emotion through his soulful voice and facial expression. Kingston always stresses that he does everything by following his heart. “I try to give as much emotion as I can in each performance. I hope that my emotions flow through the audience as well.”

    Although soul music arose out of African American gospel and rhythm and blues in America, the blue-eyed Kingston from down under has his own interpretation of soul music. “Soul is a sense of passion and sensuality. You need to have a lot of passion and have something spiritual that drives you within. No matter which genre of music you do, I believe the prerequisite is every good singer should sing with soul and passion,” Kingston explained.

    Working as a traveling musician for 10 years around the world has made Kingston a patient person with a strong heart. He enjoys meeting different people and experiencing different cultures all the time, which give him inspiration for songwriting.

    He loves to learn foreign languages from local friends. In 2012, he sang and recorded some of his songs in Indonesian. In China, he loves Chinese songs by Teresa Teng and Faye Wong. Last year he sang the famous Chinese pop song “The Moon Represents My Heart” in Mandarin. He said: “The song’s title is a very beautiful metaphor.”

    During his stay in Shenzhen, Kingston likes to explore the city, going to concerts, but he especially avoids karaoke. He joked: “the worst punishment to torture me with is to put me in a KTV room;” after singing three hours every night, he avoids singing to rest his vocal cords.

    After July, Kingston plans to perform in new countries and to start a new album. “My dream is to create the best songs I possibly can and sing in as many countries as possible.”

    He said his parents have now accepted his way of living. “All parents are concerned about their kids’ future. In particular, they worry about the stability of a musician’s life. I’ve been singing for 14 months without any holidays, but I want to keep singing and make people happy. That is the choice I’ve made.”

    “No matter which genre of music you do, I believe the prerequisite is every good singer should sing with soul and passion”

    — Ron Kingston