What makes some of these local or global creatives tick? In this weekly column, violinist Kailin Yong shares his favourite things.
Photo Credit SSO
1.Whisky: I started to appreciate the sophisticated flavour profiles of whisky when I was living in the U.S. At that time, I was pretty immersed in the folk music community and bourbon sure had an important place in defining Americana.
In the beginning, I was trying to understand more about bourbons, then I allowed myself to be more adventurous and started to explore outside the offerings of Bourbon County, Kentucky. Beyond American whiskeys, I also indulge in Scotch.
A nice smoky whisky represents for me the ultimate state of relaxation, especially when a walk on the beach or in the mountains is not an option.
2. His Cat: This is Bluesette, my first kitty. This fluffy, cross-eyed bluepoint balinese came to me when she was barely 2 weeks old, fulfilling a dream that I always had of having a cat. Undoubtedly, she became one of my best friends and kept me company when I was going through some dark times in Colorado.
3. The Ocean: The ocean is without a doubt my most important spiritual teacher and perhaps my greatest muse. As I look back at songs that I have written in the last 20 years, there is so much reference to life as an ocean. I even have a tattoo of it on my left chest as a reminder to love deeply and fearlessly. ‘Climb out of the crowded room of your head and Plunge into the V A S T ocean of your heart’.
4. Wanton Mee: This is easily one of my most favourite local fare. It’s a basic non-glamorous dish but it’s the right kind of “basic” where it contains all the essential elements for a delicious and nourishing meal. My number one is definitely the Dunman Road Char Siew Wanton Mee at Dunman Food Centre. If I had to choose only one food to eat for the rest of my life, or in one of those “stranded on a deserted island” kind of a question, I think I would most likely pick this dish. Nothing says “welcome home” better than spicy wanton mee paired with a robust cup of kopi O kosong gao.
5. His Soulmate: I have always allowed myself to “love recklessly” since the beginning of time. Needless to say, it’s led to countless heartbreaks throughout my life, for it’s rare to find people who resonate with my idea of self-love-first over selflessness and the concept of a life guided by a love that’s modelled after Mother Nature. Once in a while, we meet someone who’s not just beautiful on the outside, but you feel their inside vibrating with the same kind of energy that drives you. This is Renyi, my original soulmate/BFF.
6. His Daughters: My two BFFs, Yue and Baby Mio, are two big reasons why I continue to wake up and do my best every day. I am reminded of the true meaning of love every time I get to spend time with them.
7. Multi-Kailin: This wild photo was taken by my friend, Scott McCormick when we were both playing in a band together in the US. I have never enjoyed being put in a box, but it’s an inevitability of our society for people to want to label you. I have never identified myself with my craft, especially not as a musician, much less a violinist. The point is not so much that I don’t love what I do, but that I allow myself to be so much more than just my craft.
The root of this thought stems from my deep desire to be able to serve more in the world and to become a more effective and multi-faceted vehicle for love and beauty.
Once you’re done with Kailin Yong’s obsessions, click here to catch up with our April 2022 issue!
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