Hsu-Nami’s music is a cultural fusion of Chinese folk and various types of instrumental rock. Lead by Jack Hsu leads with the Erhu, a Chinese violin, their original sound is an experimentation of bold uniqueness. When listening to Hsu-Nami, a melodic past comes alive within the avant garde sound. This modern take of classic tastes is like no other group around. You may have heard this band before when they were featured in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, as it was their music that was used for the theme of the Chinese National Basketball Team’s Entrance.

The band, originally from New Jersey, has not changed with international success. Even now, they are still grounded for the road ahead. Their highly anticipated 2nd album, “The Four Noble Truths”, is due for release March 24th!

Check out Hsu-Nami on myspace and facebook !

Be sure to check their features on the many facets of MTV such as MTViggy, MTVu, and MTV2. More »

21 Comments

Chanel Iman, “it” fashion model of the moment, graces the cover of the Page Six Magazine, available inside the Sunday edition of the New York Post and Monday online. Although only 19-years-old, she’s considered the protégée of Tyra Banks and a favorite of designers John Galliano (Dior) and Alexander McQueen. As a model of Korean and African American descent, she discusses the issue of diversity in the fashion industry in the upcoming issue of Page Six:

“It’s not just black girls. It’s ethnic girls in general: Brazilian girls, Hispanic. You really don’t see a lot of Asians either. A lot of designers think that if every girl on the runway looks exactly alike, then people will come to the shows and buy the clothes because they won’t be focusing on the models….It’s not even just runway either… us ethnic girls should be getting a lot of the covers too! I would love to be on half of the campaigns these [white] girls are booking, all looking exactly alike. It’s not right. It’s not fair.”

It is not fair indeed. Wanna know what else isn’t fair? That cover doesn’t do you justice, Chanel! (But I still think you’re fierce as ever!) You make both Chanel AND Iman proud.

17 Comments

According to this, South Korea is in 6th place for the number of broadband subscribers within a country. I’m not surprised by the results — though I thought it would be higher. Yay, Korea, for broadband power.

The main point of this entry, though, is to point out something slightly disturbing. Seriously, Chosun Ilbo, what the eff were you thinking when you decided to use the word penetration to explain broadband subscribing?! I am trying to figure out what subscribing and penetrating have to do with one another. Doing that bring some nasty images in my head.

I know the whole world’s an innuendo and each of us take our own spin on certain words, but really, penetration? I never expected something of this sort to pop up in a news article like this. Please use better word choices. Or start using a thesaurus to expand your English language.

22 Comments

We’d like to wish a Happy New Year to our Ningin readers. May you be happy and prosperous in the Year of the Ox! For our American readers, it’s also Year of the Obama. Our new President will be turning 48 this lunar calendar. A good sign of prosperity for sure!

I’d like to share this with you from President Barack Obama:

I send my warmest wishes to people across Asia, in America, and indeed around the world who are celebrating the Lunar New Year and welcoming the Year of the Ox. As they gather with their families and celebrate over meals, they welcome new beginnings and honor the enduring wisdom of their ancestors.

From the lion dances in San Francisco to festivals in Atlanta and parades in New York City and Washington, D.C., Americans of Asian descent carry on the vibrant traditions of their forefathers and enrich America’s cultural diversity. I wish all those celebrating the New Year to be blessed with peace, prosperity, and good health.

More »

22 Comments

Just two weeks after winning best drama at the Golden Globes, Slumdog Millionaire adds yet another award to its belt on Sunday evening at the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards. The film about a poverty-raised orphan in Mumbai who goes on the Indian version of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,” won an SAG award for an “outstanding performance by a cast in a motion picture.” This week, the film was also nominated for 10 Academy Award nominations including best picture, best director and best adapted screenplay. Yet another reminder to trust my taste in film! (haha.) More »

15 Comments

It’s the Year of the Ox, and we’re celebrating with contest after contest! This time, Ningin is combining forces with Subway Cinema to give out TEN free tickets to the world premiere of YATTERMAN (ヤッターマン). On Friday, February 6, at 8pm, director Takashi Miike (Crows Zero, Ichi the Killer, The Great Yokai War, Sukiyaki Western Django) and Sho Sakurai, actor and singer from Japanese boy band Arashi, will personally present YATTERMAN at New York City’s prestigious Director’s Guild Theater.

That’s right. World Premiere. This movie doesn’t even open in Japan until March. More »

35 Comments

Like they did for Chuseok, Kpop celebs have dressed up in traditional hanboks to wish you a Happy New Year and they look oh so cute!

It’s tradition for the Kpop celebs to get dolled up for the holidays, and why wouldn’t they? It’s the only time we get to see them in traditional clothing. So I rounded up a few photos of them (old and new) in celebration of the New Year.

Which Kpop celeb do you think looks best in a hanbok? Personally I love Lee Junki but he’s had experience thanks to Iljimae!

Photo Credit: Soompi More »

12 Comments

Chinese and Vietnamese celebrate Lunar New Year with firecrackers, games, red envelopes, and food. Koreans celebrate Seollal with saebae, games, and tteokgook, and other food. The similarities and the differences amuse me greatly.

I always liked living in South Korea because along with the American holidays, the military also lets us recognise two major Korean holidays, and Seollal is one of them. To me, Seollal always symbolised money, a day off, and tteokgook! I love tteokgook! Even though I eat it more than one time a year, my mum makes it special on Seollal.

Anyway, I hope everyone have a fantastic Seollal or Lunar New Year. 새해 복 많이 받으세요 (Saehae bok manhi badusaeyo = Happy New Year)!

15 Comments

My parents came to America thirty years ago—well, my dad came here a little earlier—but for my whole life, it’s just been my mom, my dad and my big brother; the rest of my family still lives in Taiwan. So, when it comes to Chinese New Year, our traditions are a little different, or should I say, flexible.

As children, my brother and I were like any other kid who came from a family that celebrated the lunar new year: we looked forward to 紅包 (hong bao) payday. Or should I say, those red envelopes stuffed with crisp, new bills, which all of my non-Asian friends knew about/were eager to know about; in the spirit of the holiday, I gave them sacks of chocolate coins. As for other Asian kids who had extended family in the states, they made their rounds and collected red envelopes like the tax man from hell. More »

21 Comments

Barack Obama is officially in office! Congrats to him and his family.

In honor of this historical week, we had a guest blogger and a special interview with NYC councilman John Liu. Be sure to check them out!

Also, we have a contest with Priscilla Chan!

Anyways here’s this week’s wrap up: More »

4 Comments

More often than not, “soulful” has a way of being casually thrown about in a manner that smacks of the schlocky. But when it comes to Jane Lui, it’s not an empty word or a false praise: listening to her music is seriously a tune-up for the soul. Armed with a billowy voice, a penchant for melody and a way with words, Lui is very much the quintessential singer-songwriter.

At times, Lui is reminiscent of acts like Tori Amos, Leslie Feist (Feist) and Chan Marshall (Cat Power), yet retains a voice, musical approach and stage presence that’s distinctly her own. Simply put, she’s the real deal. After speaking with Lui, it’s clear this woman lives and breathes music—even her answers have a way of turning into lyrical and whimsical musings: More »

7 Comments

Very few women in this world can pull off a Christian Lacroix haute couture dress beyond the runway. Slumdog Millionaire’s leading lady Freida Pinto is one of those women. At the Golden Globes this month, she rocked a Christian Lacroix dress from the Fall 2008 season that’s got her on both best and worst dressed lists. Me? I find her absolutely stunning. Off the runway, most Christian Lacroix dresses I’ve seen only make people look like the dress is wearing them. The architecture, draping and color of the dress on Freida is equally as beautiful as Freida! Thus, she is a force to be reckoned with!

What list is Freida on for you? Who would you like to see her wearing at the Oscars?

15 Comments

Being bilingual in a foreign country really is a handy thing. But then again, when you’re weaker at your second language, it can be quite troublesome. Language barriers are not something new to me at all. Trying to communicate in Korean with my mum is one of the biggest challenges I face almost on a daily basis. Luckily, she knows that my Korean language skills are weak, so she tones down her vocabulary to my level and uses English once in a while to help me understand. When I go out into the real world in Seoul, though, I am not as lucky.

A couple of days ago, I went to Yongsan Electronics Market to buy a custom-made computer. My friend help me compile a list of specifications I wanted inside the thing. I was plunked in front of a dude who doesn’t know English, and negotiations went under way. It was really a painful but amusing experience that tried my patience. More »

10 Comments

Welcome back, here is part 2 of the Quest Crew interview! In part 1 of the interview, I asked the boys about what they like to do in their downtime, but before we got the chance to get to Dominic, I had to ask about their favorite video games… Now, here are Dominic’s “hobbies,” in full glory: More »

37 Comments

Hello Bitches! Just got off a 14-hour flight from New York to Seoul. It’s dumping snow here in fellow blogger Tara Popp’s neck of the woods. Have a few more hours to kill before my flight to South East Asia (where I am sure I won’t see any snow).

Ok the reason why I am blogging is that I am in heaven now and I need to share my heavenly experience with everyone. Yes I am not bitching about anything this time. This sheer niceness will probably last for 2 hours so enjoy it while you can. Anyway I had mentioned before in my post that Singapore Airlines was one of my favorite Asian airlines. The other one is Asiana Airlines. The inflight experience that I just had from this long haul flight on Asiana affirms my choice of this Korean airline as one of my two favorite Asian airlines. More »

16 Comments

To celebrate the inauguration of U.S. President Barack Obama, Ningin asked members of the Asian American political community to tell us what this historic event means to each of them. New York City Councilman John Liu returned from the Inauguration Ceremony and was kind enough to talk to Maimounah Masudi and David Hou from Ningin.

Councilman Liu moved to the United States from Taiwan at the age of five. His first name was changed from Chun to John, in honor of John F. Kennedy. In keeping with the Kennedy inspiration, his brothers became Robert and Edward. His father became Joseph. Councilman Liu was elected in 2001. He currently serves on the New York City Council, representing District 20 consisting of northeast Queens (Flushing, Queensboro Hill, Mitchell Linden, Murray Hill, Holly, Kissena Park, Harding Heights, Auburndale, part of Whitestone). Councilman Liu was re-elected in 2003 and in 2005. He is the first and only Asian American to be elected in New York City. (Yes, really! Go John!) More »

16 Comments

Avatar’s four main roles are pretty much set in stone, but that does not mean we can’t get Asians involved with the film. But to do so, we actually have to get involved. The official casting call is asking for people of all ethnicities to fill roles as extras. Of course, there is still the current controversy at hand, but this is a great opportunity; you have the chance to appear in the film adaptation of the best American made animated series ever.

I don’t think I really have to tell you how the cultural currents have shifted these past couple of months. Think positive: if you’ve ever wanted to appear in a film, if you’ve ever wanted to act, now’s your chance! Even if you just love Avatar, you should definitely check out this casting call. Every little bit counts when it comes to pushing forward with change. Be seen, be heard. More »

21 Comments

Hello Ningin! I’m officially back from my ten day trip to China. During those ten days, I was able to visit three great cities in China: Beijing, Xi’an, and Shanghai in that order. It was my first time going to Asia and doing a study abroad trip so of course, I didn’t have my mom or dad there to bother me! It was one of the most fantastic experiences of my life and I would do it all again if I could!

While I was at the airport, I was accompanied by my mom, my brother, Jessica, and her boyfriend Carlos. Carlos was my cameraman and my sidekick for the trip so Jessica had to say her goodbyes before he left with me! More »

28 Comments

It’s the Seollal (Korean Lunar New Year) weekend! That means Seoul’s streets are empty! And it’s all because of this. Because it’s a major holiday, all the people in the city are going back to the country to visit their kins to celebrate one of the two biggest holidays in South Korea.

My daddy drove me to work today, and there were practically no cars today. He then remarked how it’s his favourite holiday because traffic is non-existent! He also joked that by tomorrow, you could take a nap in the middle of the street. My dad cracks me up. More »

18 Comments

It’s almost Lunar New Years! Shout out to all the oxes (sp?) out there.

It’s been an interesting week with now President Obama in office. Unfortunately I didn’t catch the Inauguration party but I did see his amazing speech. It was very moving and if you didn’t catch it, get your arse to CNN ASAP!

Here’s this week’s round up, enjoi! More »

15 Comments