Ling Kai's fight against YouTube hackers

Ng Ling Kai might not be a name familiar to most, but that’s about to change. The 21 year old Singaporean singer-songwriter recently signed onto Australian indie label Lempicka Records and has just completed her debut album, due for release in the middle of this month.

Ling Kai is one of the many rising YouTube stars of today, but her story is one filled with controversy. After putting up a video of herself singing the self-penned ‘Larkin Step’ on guitar via her “ling86” account, the video was subsequently picked by a guest editor and featured on the front page of YouTube. But little did Ling Kai know, that move was the beginning of trouble.

One million views later, Ling Kai’s account was hacked and therefore suspended–fans had to petition for her account to be returned. “I was very surprised that someone was interested enough to put in the effort to hack the account,” she muses. “The petition was really touching, I was, and still am, very thankful to those people who signed it. If anyone who signed the petition is reading, here’s a virtual hug!“

Citing Rachael Yamagata, Aimee Mann, Fiona Apple and Emily Haines as influences, Ling Kai’s music is honest, touching and heartfelt. An obsession with literature and music kept her busy as a child, which subsequently led to her teaching herself how to play the guitar in the comfort of her own room. “In school, I was mostly just reading when I had the time and I also listened to a lot of artists that people weren’t really into at that moment. That didn’t exactly make me the coolest kid in class,” she reminisces. At 20, Ling Kai took up the courage to start playing in charity and open mic events at the Singapore Art Café, and started putting words in her music.
‘Larkin Step’, the song that got Ling Kai one million YouTube views (and counting) is an acoustic number inspired by poet Philip Larkin. Asked how she came to write the song, she jokes, “I put it through a computer, and calculated what kind of chords and melody would formulate a huge online hit, and then I just used it wholesale.”

Most impressive is the fact that ‘Larkin Step’ has been covered by many fans on YouTube. “I should be flattered and grateful but honestly, I am still trying not to feel embarrassed about it,” she admits. “The song was still a work in progress; I never meant for it to be seen by so many people. Now that it has, I can’t go back and change anything anymore because the “work in progress” has already made its impression. I am, however, very glad that people like my song enough to overlook its flaws.” A second single, ’21 Years’, is currently making its rounds on YouTube.

Ling Kai signed to Australia’s Lempicka Records in May and two months later, travelled to Brisbane to begin recording her yet-to-be-named debut EP. “I’m finishing up my six-track EP, and then it’s swimming with the sharks to see if the EP sinks or swim. It should be fun,” she smiles. It’s this kind of playfulness and willingness to take everything with a pinch of salt, plus her unabashed talent that will get Ling Kai to places far and beyond.

Be the first to listen to Ling Kai's song, 'Suburbia.' The good people at her label, Lempicka Records has given Junk an exclusive of the song, and you can stream it for free from our Junk music player.


Words Jolyn Photo Lempicka
www.myspace.com/theacousticsmellycat
www.youtube.com/user/ling86