Newest pop-band effort brings in Asians ““ at last

By Dria Fearn
Daily Bruin Contributor

Everybody’s seen the voyeuristic boy band television show,
“Making the Band.” Imagine something similar, only with
Asians.

A new pop group, At Last, is the result of a massive open call
audition with one twist: it called for Asians.

The auditions were held by actor Ming-Na (“ER,”
“Mulan,” “Joy Luck Club”) and
actor/producer Eric Zee (“Exit the Dragon,” “Dr.
Quinn Medicine Woman”), the heads of the new music company
Innovazian, founded to promote Asian American talent in the
mainstream market.

The audition process consisted of three parts and resulted in
the production of the talent that now makes up this up-and-coming
group: Justin Fong, JP Leynes, Cliff Wang and Ken Ycmat.

A word of caution: do not refer to them as a “boy
band.” Getting their start at an open call audition is where
the similarities between the Lou Pearlman creations and At Last
end. This group writes, composes, arranges and produces all their
own music, which is not the norm among their pop music peers.

Ycmat, 25, is a UCLA graduate student in physiological sciences
who spent two years as a student health advocate in Dykstra Hall.
Out of the rest of the members, Ycmat is the newest to music; he
did not start singing until he took a course at UCLA Extension.

Other members have equally impressive resumes. Leynes, 24,
graduated with a degree in film and a minor in music industry from
USC.

Wang, 22, recently graduated pre-med from USC, but is forgoing
medical school to pursue music. He also majored in violin
performance and plays the violin on their song, “Free At
Last.”

Finally, Fong, 20, is a junior at USC, but is taking a year off
to pursue music with the band. Coincidentally, Fong and Wang knew
each other through USC’s Chinese Cultural Club before joining
At Last.

Just this past June, similar to the “Making the
Band” experience, the group moved into a West Los Angeles
condominium to spend more time working together and creating
music

The living room has been converted into a dance and recording
studio, complete with a mixing board, electric guitars and
keyboards. The band comments that living together has allowed them
to become more like family. Interestingly enough, none of the
members have any brothers of their own.

“In the beginning, there were conflicts and we had ups and
downs,” said Leynes, “but you work through
it.”

Ycmat added that he doesn’t find it coincidental that they
are all even-tempered and easy-going.

“It’s not a mistake that we’re all nice
guys,” he said. “I think they (Zee and Na) chose us
because of that group dynamic.”

Natural performers, At Last opened “Concert in the
Woods” at De Neve Plaza during Welcome Week. They performed a
seven-song set complete with costumes and choreographed dance
moves.

The group has also performed at USC’s Bovart Hall (which
is comparable to Royce Hall) and is currently busy on the club
circuit. Their biggest thrill, however, was singing the national
anthem at Dodger Stadium last July.

The group counts Boyz II Men and the Temptations among their top
musical influences, while producers Ming-Na and Zee mentioned a
long list of idols that included Martin Luther King and Michael
Jordan.

“It comes down to having a good work ethic, and Ming has a
great one,” said Wang. “She’s able to go in and
read for a part that’s not written for an Asian and get it.
That’s talent and determination.”

At Last is concerned with the lack of Asian Americans,
especially males, in entertainment. Currently, there has yet to be
an Asian pop/R&B group that has had any staying power.

“It’s all about the music and the performance, but
if, at the same time, we can be positive role models and fill that
void (of Asian-Americans) in pop music, (then) that’s two
birds with one stone,” said Wang.

Other members also felt that it was important for other Asian
Americans to see At Last out there performing.

“Being Asian is almost an asset because it’s not as
saturated a market,” said Fong. “Hopefully we can be
role models for children in the Asian community, so they realize
that being in entertainment is a reasonable goal. They can do
anything they put their minds to.”

MUSIC: At Last will have an album release party on Oct. 26 at
Club Soho in Downtown Los Angeles, where they will be performing.
For more information, log onto their Web site at www.Innovazian.com.