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November 10, 2006, 2:21pm
Low Lai Chow

We get wind of news that Singapore Idol 2 runner-up Jonathan Leong is “under the care of Hype” and uncover further exciting developments in his musical career — like being pursued by no less than three record labels.


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NO FLASH IN THE PAN Says Jon: "It’s not about making money, or who’s offering the most lucrative deal. I don’t want to make an album after Singapore Idol and that’s it.”
For those who are still aghast over Jonathan Leong’s loss to Hady Mirza for the Idol crown in September this year, wipe away your tears. Yes, Jonathan himself discloses that he is currently being eyeballed by no less than three record labels this very minute.

But the composed singer is in no hurry to sign any contract yet, as we understand from him during a short informal chat yesterday on a coach returning to MediaCorp from K.K. Women’s and Children’s Hospital, where with the Idol alumni, he handed out toys and balloons to recovering sickly children for Channel 5’s new festive variety Wish Upon A Star.

Declining to disclose the names of the record labels that approached him, Jonathan says he is still mulling over their offers. And no, his deliberation has got nothing to do with how much moolah he stands to pocket.

“Money is not the issue here. The relationship (between the label and the artiste) is very important. I want to be in more control of the album. It’s not about making money, or who’s offering the most lucrative deal. I don’t want to make an album after Singapore Idol and that’s it.”

He is now engaged in ongoing talks with the record companies.

From what we understand, whichever record deal Jonathan finally decides to take up will still go through Artiste Networks, the artiste management arm of Hype Records. As a Hypes spokesman tells us, Jonathan is “under the care of Hype”. Jonathan clarifies himself that no papers have been signed yet and that Hype’s current representation is a “temporary thing before they decide whether to sign me on.”

So how did Hype pop the question to him? According to Jonathan, it was more of a natural progression as he prepared for the musical extravaganza Hype Up more than a fortnight ago that reunited the alumni from both Idol seasons: “Gradually they got me a couple of gigs also. And so we took it from there.”

Hype Records director Ken Lim is unavailable for comment as to the artiste status of Jonathan, although of course at singaporeidol.com, we have high hopes for him.

Still, artiste or not, this driven singer says he will be no school dropout. The sensible 24-year-old arts undergraduate with National University of Singapore says, “I want to continue my studies, but it will be good if I can do this (singing) also.”

Asked what kind of album he would like to cut, Jonathan muses for a moment. “I’m thinking of Mandarin songs. I think the sound of the Mandarin language is very soothing.” Then he looks momentarily sheepish. “I actually like those very sappy ballads!”

Sappy Mandarin ballads? That’s new. During our short ten-minute chat, this singer with the “bedroom eyes” — as SI judge Jacintha Abisheganaden once described him — also revealed a self-deprecating side of him. “Maybe they (Hype) can do something about my image,” he says with no sense of irony.

As if he doesn’t already make enough girls and women melt.


Hear, hear! We bring you more updates in due time. In the meantime, catch Jonathan Leong as well as your favourite Idols spread good cheer in new variety Wish Upon A Star on Channel 5, premiering on Nov 28, Tues, 8.30pm with an hour-long Holiday Special on Dec 24 (X'mas Eve), Sun, 8.30pm.