Nicole Lai

{{infobox person | name = Nicole Lai | image = Nicole-CD080.JPG | alt = | caption = | birth_name = Lai Pei Yee | birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1974|2|26}} | birth_place = Penang, Malaysia | death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2008|9|6|1974|2|26}} | death_place = Singapore | burial_place = Christian Columbarium, The Garden of Remembrance, 920 Old Choa Chu Kang Road, Singapore 699815 | burial_coordinates = Niche: 4y02(6)219 | occupation = Singer-songwriter, Backing vocalist, Vocal Trainer, Performer, Record Producer | children = Carmen Ang (Daughter) | awards = Xinyao 2003 Competition:<ref name=zaobao>{{cite news |url=http://stars.zaobao.com/localstar/pages/xinyao300603.html |title=新谣前辈：本地音乐成熟了 |date=30 June 2003 |newspaper=Lianhe Zaobao |language=zh |accessdate=6 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120212062311/http://stars.zaobao.com/localstar/pages/xinyao300603.html |archive-date=12 February 2012}}</ref> *'''Champion''' – Vocal Performance Category 梦想家 *'''1st runner-up''' – Composing Category 梦想家 | module = {{Infobox Chinese|child=yes | p = Lí Jiāyì }} | module2 = {{infobox musical artist|embed=yes | alias = '''Niguolai''' (你过来) | background = temporary | origin = Malaysia | genre = Mandopop | instrument = Piano, Drums, Guitar }} }}

'''Nicole Lai''' (黎珈仪, 26 February 1974 in Penang – 6 September 2008) was a Singapore-based Malaysian Chinese singer-songwriter, backing vocalist, vocal trainer and performer. Her nickname '''{{Transliteration|cmn|Niguolai|italics=no}}''' ({{lang|cmn|你过来}}) was given to her by her good friend and singer-songwriter, Stefanie Sun. This nickname simply means "You! Come over here!" in English.

==Biography==

===Professional qualification and training=== Nicole had London College of Music Grade 8 (Distinction) qualification and also had undergone modelling training at Mannequin Studio and had received a diploma from Plato Make-Up Academy. Nicole studied vocals in Los Angeles under Jodi Sellards, who has taught David Tao, A-mei (Zhang Hui Mei) and Alex To (Du De Wei).

===Vocal instructor, backing vocalist=== Nicole has worked with many famous celebrities including Aaron Kwok, Jolin Tsai, Gigi Leung, Sammi Cheng, Jeff Chang, Karen Mok, Na Ying and Stefanie Sun. She has done backup vocals for albums by: Stefanie Sun, Gigi Leung, Sammi Cheng, Aaron Kwok, Jolin Tsai, and also has done live backup vocals for Julia Peng and Eric Moo. Nicole was one of the most experienced instructors in Singapore. Beside being a freelance instructor, she also taught at Lee Wei Song School of Music ({{lang|cmn|李偉菘}})<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.leeweisong.com/about/instructors/nicole.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303190935/http://www.leeweisong.com/about/instructors/nicole.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2016-03-03 |title=Forever in Remembrance ... 永在怀念中 ... |website=Lee Wei Song School of Music}}</ref> and Ocean Butterflies ({{lang|cmn|海蝶音樂}}).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ob-i.com/en/about_en.html |title=About Ocean Butterflies |date=8 February 2003 |website=Ob-i.com |accessdate=6 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120215224023/http://www.ob-i.com/en/about_en.html |archive-date=15 February 2012}}</ref> She has taught many famous celebrities, including Stefanie Sun, Niki Wu, Huang Yida, Xiao Su Shen. She was also the vocal coach of MediaCorp Artistes including Zoe Tay, Tay Ping Hui, Christopher Lee and Constance Song.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://celebs.mediacorptv.sg/en/Constance-Song/biodata |title=Constance Song 宋怡霏 |website=MediaCorp TV |accessdate=6 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091003131431/http://celebs.mediacorptv.sg/en/Constance-Song/biodata |archive-date=3 October 2009}}</ref>

===Awards, judges=== Nicole was a member of the Composers and Authors Society of Singapore (COMPASS).<ref name="compass.org.sg">{{cite web |url=http://www.compass.org.sg |title=Home |website=Compass |date=10 July 2011 |accessdate=6 January 2012}}</ref> In 2003, she won awards for her own composition "{{lang|cmn|梦想家}}" ("Dreamer") in the Xinyao Song competition held in Singapore<ref name=zaobao/> where she was champion in the Vocal Performance Category and 1st runner up in the Composing Category. This song was later featured in the Taiwanese TV series ''Green Forest, My Home''<ref name="hk.geocities.com">{{cite web |url=http://hk.geocities.com/toryhj2705/greedforest.htm |title=綠光森林電視原聲帶 |website=O.J.Tom |date=26 November 2007 |accessdate=6 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071126142932/http://hk.geocities.com/toryhj2705/greedforest.htm |archivedate=26 November 2007 }}</ref><ref name="ttv.com.tw">{{cite web |url=http://www.ttv.com.tw/drama/2005/greenforest/index.htm |title=綠光森林 |website=Taiwan Television Enterprise |accessdate=6 January 2012}}</ref> soundtrack album. Nicole also sang on the soundtrack of Singapore's own home-grown movie, ''Singapore Dreaming'' "Mei Man Ren Sheng".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.singaporedreaming.com/music.htm |title=Download Music |website=SingaporeDreaming.com |accessdate=6 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120211234953/http://www.singaporedreaming.com/music.htm |archive-date=11 February 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Nicole also made appearances on television as one of the judges for MediaCorp TV Channel 8's weekend variety show, ''PSC Nite 2005''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://archive8.mediacorptv.sg/shows/variety/view/671/1/.html |title=PSC Nite 2005 From 12 Nov, every Sat @ 8pm |website=MediaCorp Pte Ltd |access-date=11 October 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080529185328/http://archive8.mediacorptv.sg/shows/variety/view/671/1/.html |archive-date=29 May 2008}}</ref> and MediaCorp TV Channel U's 2008 ''S-POP HURRAY'' song writing competition show.

===Commercial performer, charity work=== Nicole was also an avid performer herself, having performed at countless Dinner and Dance events, Family Days, Singapore Town Council events and many other occasions. She has done many jingles including those of Hazeline Snow,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cosmeticsandskin.com/aba/hazeline-snow.php |title=Hazeline Snow |last=Bennett |first=James |website=Cosmetics and Skin |access-date=11 October 2018}} "Hazeline Snow" is a moisturizing cream originally marketed by Burroughs Wellcome of the UK. The product was composed of 50% witch hazel but later formulations may have significantly less content. It is now the brand for a cosmetic cream that is marketed as brightening or providing fair skin for women and girls in Asian and African countries.</ref> Singapore Airlines, McDonald's, Canon, Slimwater and Knife Oil. Under the World Vision<ref>{{cite web |url=http://chinadesk.wvkor.org/html/sponsorship/sponsorship_01.html |title=Sponsor a Child |website=World Vision China Desk |accessdate=6 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080605034903/http://chinadesk.wvkor.org/html/sponsorship/sponsorship_01.html |archive-date=5 June 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Organization child sponsorship programme, Nicole sponsored four kids when she was alive. After her death, her friends launched her EP album at the end of 2008 and proceeds from the CD sales will go to charity and to adopting Nicole's four kids from World Vision.

==Discography==

===Songwriter=== Nicole was also a songwriting enthusiast, and recently had one of her songs published in Stefanie Sun's album. Nicole was also a member of the Composers and Authors Society of Singapore (COMPASS),<ref name="compass.org.sg"/> and had songs published in Stefanie Sun's, Maggie Tang's, Vivian Hsu's, Linda and Taiwanese TV series ''Green Forest, My Home''<ref name="hk.geocities.com"/><ref name="ttv.com.tw"/> soundtrack album. Nicole's own composition of "{{lang|cmn|梦想家}}" title was renamed to "一{{lang|cmn|個人的星光}}" ("One's Star Light") and sung by William So.

{| class="wikitable" |- ! Song ! Performer ! Description |- | {{lang|cmn|亲爱的}} | Vivian Hsu | Co-written with Low Shao Suan<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.intunemusic.com.sg/student03.php |title=Low Shao Ying and Low Shao Suan |year=2008 |website=Intune Music School |access-date=11 October 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080602022113/http://www.intunemusic.com.sg/student03.php |archive-date=2 June 2008}}</ref> |- | {{lang|cmn|反过来走走}} | Stefanie Sun |- | {{lang|cmn|好久不见}} | Maggie Tang | |- | {{lang|cmn|祝我好运}} | Maggie Tang | |- | {{lang|cmn|一个人的星光 (梦想家)}} | William So, Xu Jing Lan<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.imeem.com/people/KyY2Vxd/music/C8Fq32Ev/mp3 |title=Muziek | Myspace Music |website=Imeem.com |date=8 December 2011 |accessdate=6 January 2012}} {{Dead link|date=May 2010}}</ref> | Taiwan TV series – Green Forest, My Home<ref name="hk.geocities.com"/> |- | Another Me | Linda<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.haoting.com/musiclist/ht_fe6145ac50ad7bce.htm |title=我挺你 |website=haoting.com |access-date=11 October 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090131054708/http://www.haoting.com/musiclist/ht_fe6145ac50ad7bce.htm |archive-date=31 January 2009}}</ref> | Taiwan |- | {{lang|cmn|你我的自由}} – Freedom | Nicole Lai | Co-written with Ruth Ling<ref name="About Ruth Ling">{{cite web |url=http://www.ruthling.net/about |title=About Ruth Ling |year=2008 |website=RuthLing.net |access-date=11 October 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110115182838/http://www.ruthling.net/about |archive-date=15 January 2011}}</ref> |}

===Albums=== Before her death, she wrote the song "{{lang|cmn|你我的自由}} – Freedom" which carries a special messages from her – ''"Freedom is a choice in life. We are all free to make our choices in life, and even if we decide not to make any choice, that in itself is our freedom to choose"'' '''~~With Love...nL'''.

Many local singer-songwriters attended her CD launch at Lunar on 23 April 2008. They include Lee Wei Song, Lee Shih Shiong, Jim Lim,<ref name="Jim Lim">{{cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/people/Jim_Lim/748416935 |title=Jim Lim |website=Facebook |accessdate=6 January 2012}}</ref> Kenn C.,<ref name="profile.myspace.com">{{cite web |url=http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=151817163 |title=Kenn C |website=MySpace |accessdate=9 October 2008 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081114180429/http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile |archivedate=14 November 2008}}</ref> Wu JiaMing, Ruth Ling,<ref name="About Ruth Ling"/> both Peng ChiSheng<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.intunemusic.com.sg/chisheng.php |title=Chi Sheng (冯启胜) |website=Intune Music School |accessdate=6 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217042046/http://www.intunemusic.com.sg/chisheng.php |archive-date=17 February 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and Aaron Lim<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.intunemusic.com.sg/aaron.php |title=Aaron (林伟强) |website=Intune Music School |accessdate=6 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217042113/http://www.intunemusic.com.sg/aaron.php |archive-date=17 February 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> of Intune Music School,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.intunemusic.com.sg/event11.php |title=Intune Performers @ Lunar on 23rd April 2008 with Nicole Lai! |website=Intune Music School |accessdate=11 October 2008 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080914141245/http://www.intunemusic.com.sg/event11.php |archivedate=14 September 2008 }}</ref> Radio DJ Luo Bang Qiang<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.yellowren.com/news/awake/awake.html |title=Wide Awake with Yellow人 |website=Yellowren.com |accessdate=6 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120218073605/http://www.yellowren.com/news/awake/awake.html |archive-date=18 February 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and many of her vocal students too. The CD was sponsored by Stefanie Sun<ref name="Late Singer gets own CD">{{cite news |url=http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Lifestyle/Story/STIStory_282468.html |title=Late singer gets own CD at last |date=25 September 2008 |newspaper=The Straits Times |access-date=11 October 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081028155034/http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Lifestyle/Story/STIStory_282468.html |archive-date=28 October 2008}}</ref> and was given to friends during her wake. Another remembrance EP album is released in September 2009.

{| class="wikitable" |- ! English title ! Chinese title ! Producer ! Arranger ! Launch date ! Description |- | Freedom | {{lang|cmn|你我的自由}} | Jim Lim<ref name="Jim Lim"/> | Kenn C<ref name="profile.myspace.com"/> | (1) 23 April 2008, (2) 6th to 10th Sept 2008 at her wake | '''1st launch''' at Lunar,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lunar.sg |title=LUNAR |website=Lunar.sg |accessdate=6 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120512150039/http://www.lunar.sg/ |archive-date=12 May 2012}}</ref> and '''2nd launch''' sponsored by Stefanie Sun.<ref name="Late Singer gets own CD"/> |}

===Record producer=== One of Singapore largest entertainment complex, St James Power Station decided to produce an EP album for their ''Dragonfly'' Performers<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dragonfly.sg |title=Home |website=Dragonfly.sg |access-date=8 October 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061230200408/http://www.dragonfly.sg/ |archive-date=30 December 2006}}</ref> in August 2007. Nicole was consulted for this project. In her own premise at Tiong Bahru, she personally trained the performers to ensure everybody is studio ready. The EP album was released by Sony BMG in October 2007. The song that Nicole produced was one of the best track audience selected.

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=170687083 Official MySpace of Nicole Lai] – Last login 29 June 2008 * [http://www.zaobao.com/special/services/pages/xinyao030303.html 2003 Xinyao Competition – Semi Final] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20081006043947/http://stars.zaobao.com/pages2/xinyao050419.html 2005 Xinyao Competition] * [http://www.sgwritings.com/9573/viewspace_17457.html Li Yun He] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20080914122600/http://www.alucasevents.com/artists.asp?s=nicole Lucas Events] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20080302203251/http://www.soma.com.sg/1st_2006.php SoMA – School of Music and the Arts] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20091017080221/http://www.intunemusic.com.sg/artiste.php InTune Music School]

===Celebrity response blogs pertaining Nicole's death=== {{commons category|Nicole Lai}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20080914194859/http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_48a3906f0100b0io.html Hong Kong actress Nnadia Chan] * [http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_4901297d0100axgn.html MediaCorp Actor Tay Ping Hui] * [http://kellypoon.pixnet.net/blog/post/21717014 Singapore singer Kelly Poon] * [https://sherlynxueling.blogspot.com/2008/09/tribute-to-nicole.html Sherlyn Xue Ling] * [https://deepinthoughtsndreams.blogspot.com/2008/09/goodbye-nicole.html Shao Suan Low]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lai, Nicole}} Category:1974 births Category:2008 deaths Category:Malaysian people of Chinese descent Category:Mandopop singer-songwriters Category:Singaporean Mandopop singers Category:Musicians from Penang Category:Singaporean composers Category:Singaporean women composers Category:20th-century Singaporean women singers