Rustic living with Teo
The former indie artiste tells Dennis Chua about his journey in film, music, food and farming
FaNs of Malaysian music may remember Pete Teo as the first indie act to win big at Anugerah Industri Muzik in 2007 when his album, Television, won all three categories for which it was nominated.
Malaysian film fans may also remember Teo as Yasmin ahmad’s soundtrack composer, most notably for Talentime, which featured the song, I go, of which its Malay version, Pergi, won the main prize in anugerah Juara lagu 2009. He was also the man behind Here In My Home — a 2008 multi-artiste anthem for national unity — and the 2009 short film, 15 Malaysia.
In a career spanning two decades, this low-profile artiste is one of the few Malaysians who have accomplished extraordinary things in music and film. But he has now added another feather in his cap as a successful farmer and restaurateur.
A LITTLE FARM
The sabah-born artiste has been busy tending to his organic farm. Known as a little Farm On The Hill, this idyllic property is located in Janda Baik, Pahang, which is a 45-minute drive from Kuala lumpur.
Teo and his architect wife, lisa Ngan, had no experience when they bought over a hobby farm seven years ago. so they began learning from books, YouTube videos and friends who are farmers.
several years on, their farm has grown into a major organic vegetable supplier for top chefs in Kuala lumpur.
ARTISTE RESIDENCY
standing 600m above sea level, with average temperatures of 5°C lower than the capital city, Teo’s farm produces more than 30 varieties of vegetables, flowers and herbs, while its by-reservation-only restaurant is mostly fully booked from Thursday to sunday. “By the end of next year, we’ll also host an artiste residency programme for musicians,” Teo said during a visit to his farm recently.
“It wasn’t my lifelong dream to be a farmer. But lisa and I got to a stage where we wanted to live in the countryside. she has always been a fantastic cook, and building a farm or restaurant seemed like a cool challenge,” he said while laughing.
Even though he lives away from Kuala lumpur, Teo keeps in touch with his fellow artistes.
“I still continue to take on new music and film projects, although I am a bit more selective now.”
UNLIKELY INSPIRATION
Teo, the second of four siblings, took piano lessons when he was 6 years old. He also played the trumpet in school before his uncle taught him to play the guitar. But Teo did not take it seriously until he heard Jimmy Page of led Zeppelin playing the instrument.
“I was about 15 years old then. What inspired me was his sense of harmony when he played rhythm. at university, two of my three bands were heavy rock bands.”
although two of Teo’s bands did not land a contract with recording companies, it was his third band — a Cantopop duo he formed with fellow london school Of Economics (lsE) student Grace au known as MidCentury — that gained some recognition in the Hong Kong music scene.
“Grace had won a singing competition in Hong Kong the year before. she heard that I was a good guitarist and asked to collaborate with her. she sang and I played the guitar as well as wrote the songs.”
But Teo soon became disillusioned with the pop music industry and left Hong Kong for home after the duo’s second album.
HOMECOMING SINGER
“My original intention was to see friends while I decided whether or not to pursue a doctorate back at lsE. But I ended up staying for good,” he mused.
In the next few years, Teo took on jobs in equities research and property development. That was until he met Joe Kidd, a punk musician and promoter in the underground music scene of the late 1990s.
“Joe offered me a slot in a show. That first performance led to many more.”
RUSTIC LIVING
It did not take long for Teo to emerge as one of the luminaries of the underground music scene.
His old producer in Hong Kong offered to fund his solo record. This led to his first award-winning solo album — Rustic Living For Urbanites. The record featured his breakout hit, Jesselton Tonight. It was this achievement that attracted the attention of Yasmin.