Interview with Steve Lee

Arkansas born & raised, Nashville, Tennessee based recording artist Steve Lee wants to take you to the Dirty South … Korea.

Born to a Korean father who was raised in Mississippi and a Caucasian mother, he literally is a “Dirty South Korean”.

His recently released second album, Dirty South Korea, is an eclectic, entertaining and definitely different journey through skits and songs with the main focus on his Southern raised heritage and Korean/Asian background with an underlying theme of poking fun at North Korean dictator, Kim Jong Il. It is a significant change of pace from his first album, What Did You Do Today, Stephen Scott Lee?, which was an indie children’s album.

Along with recording albums and performances, Steve also has a internet show that he hosts on Mondays-Thursdays at 4:25PM (CST) where he basically discusses whatever is going on in his life and chats with viewers of the show about a wide array of topics.

While busy promoting the new album and doing shows, Steve was gracious to spend some time with HalfKorean.com to discuss his projects and personal life.

Please note that HalfKorean.com comments/questions are in BOLD.

Background: The Basics on Steve

Where were you born?
Little Rock, Arkansas.

Where were you raised and currently reside?
Raised in Arkansas and currently reside in East Nashville, Tennessee.

How did your parents meet?
Karate class in Mississippi.

So, you sure it wasn’t “Tae Kwon Do” class? Just kidding.
Now considering this was in the deep south around 20 plus years back, what was the reaction from your Mother’s (Caucasian) family when she met/married your Father and vice versa?
From what I understand the reaction was fine. My father is a smooth cat. If anything I would imagine my Korean grandparents would have had qualms with him not marrying a Korean lady.

Do you have any brothers and/or sisters?
I have had many brothers but no sisters.

Can you speak Korean? I take it that your Korean is limited after listening to your track, “The Complete History and My Understanding of the Korean Language.”
I cannot speak Korean. I can barely speak American but I gets by. The only time it has only bothered me is when I go into Korean restaurant and I know they are talking about me saying things such as look at this Neanderthal of a Korean man.

Have you been to Korea?
I have never been to Korea and after releasing Dirty South Korea and making fun of Kim Jong Il, I probably will not be going there for a few years or until I’m rich and I can afford big bodyguards to protect me.

What is your favorite food? What about your favorite Korean food?
My favorite food has to be the new Burger King Burger Shots. My favorite Korean food is DOLSOT BIBIMBAP! Big shout out to The Korea House in Nashville, TN, that place is delicious.

Did you grow up around other half/mixed Koreans (or people of mixed heritage)?
I grew up around maybe one or two in Arkansas. Not many, but I know quite a few now; we have weekly meetings.

Did you ever experience any racism/prejudice and/or identity issues growing up as a person of mixed heritage and, if so, how did you handle it?
There were a few incidents and it helped me to be quick on my feet and have a comeback to the stereotypical Asian jokes you can make. But when I hear a good Asian joke I am impressed.

What do you think most people who meet/see you think you are (ethnicity)?
Native American or African-American.

Entertainment

When and what made you decide to enter the entertainment industry?
I have always loved to make people laugh. Even as a kid I realized that if you could make people laugh than it’s easier to make friends. Perhaps it came from looking different from people. If you beat someone to the joke then there is no need for them to make fun of you. Also, my family is very funny; particularly my Father. He is as quick and funny as they come. We definitely went through some tough times and always used laughter to help heal problems we ever had.

What do your parents and family think of your chosen career?
They are extremely supportive. haha Probably more so than they should be. It has been amazing to really live in a creative world for so many years and never once have questioned whether this is what I should be doing.

From what I can tell, you pretty much have a hand in everything you record/release (from singing, playing instruments, writing/composing, video creating/editing, etc.); is that the case? If so, it must keep you really busy!
Ha! It can be very exhausting. When it comes to putting my name on something I am a control freak. People think ridiculousness is just really easy to come up with but I am very careful/obsessive about what I put out. If I do not think something is funny I will not put it out. The key is to surround people that can take an idea and guide them to the right places. There is nothing better than enthusiasm, even if someone is not a musician or creative person, if they have enthusiasm it inspires me like nothing else.

Your first recording, What Did You Do Today, Stephen Scott Lee? from 2006, was a children’s album. Was there any specific reason that you decided on your first recording to be a children’s album?
Because of all the ladies that come with it. Entering the kid’s world as my first release kind of just happened. They were the first songs I had ever written and the topics were very simple so I figured it would be the easiest kind of record I could write. But I knew if I were to release another kid’s record I would be pigeonholed and I didn’t want people to think that is the only kind of music I am going to make.

How did the Arkansas Razorbacks Hog Cheer video come about (that was featured on Sound Off from College Football Live on ESPN in 2008)?
I actually have another record that is yet to be released called Steve Lee’s Greatest Animal Hits and that was a track off the record. Being from Arkansas, I am huge Razorback fan and thought it would be fun to make a Jock Jams II, arena rock type of song.

What kind of feedback did you get from your fellow Razorback fans?
It was amazing. The day it aired on ESPN I got a million phone calls. I had a friend that I hadn’t talked to in years and he was eating at a bar in California and looked up and saw me booging down on the TV. The next day I was interviewed on three Razorback sports talk radio shows; they even showed it on the local news. If they are showing me dancing like a fool on the local news you know there is nothing very important going on in Arkansas.

Did they (Arkansas Razorbacks football) use it at a game last season?
They did not. From what I understand the Arkansas Razorbacks are very traditional and this not traditional enough I guess. I am going to make a record of Razorback hits so hopefully at some point they can’t deny me!

You have a live internet show Mondays-Thursdays on your website, www.stevelee.tv. What do you usually do/cover during your show?
Anything! When I first started doing the show it began as a way for people to chat with me and tell me what to do but recently the service I use has changed there rules and you have to sign up with the site to chat with me. So now I actually have to have content and material. This is good because it will be a legit show and not me dilly dallying around doing nothing. I am turning the show into a talk show, which will include sketches and musical guests. But the best part of the live internet show was Power Ballad/Mark on my Face Chooseday (Tuesday) where I play power ballads and people tell me what to draw on my face. So needless to say this is going to continue on every Tuesday.

Dirty South Korea is your second record to be released. Where did the concept for this recording come from?
I had a collection of songs and one of those was “Kim Jong You Must Be Ill” and realized that if he ever heard it he might come after me. At least if I was in the same room as me, he might try to attack. Plus everyone that heard it told me I was going to die so I figured I would make a joke out of it.

So, if Kim Jong Il gets a copy of this album and listens to the track “Kim Jong You Must Be Ill?”, what do you think his reaction would be about this track and album?
He would probably be scared of me and then say “baby hungee” and then I would feed him, burp him and then put him to bed by singing a lullaby.

What coincidental and interesting timing of the release of the album due to the renewed tensions between North Korea and the rest of the world. Maybe he got a leaked version and that is why he’s on edge; what do you think?
(hahaha) The only reason he is trying to shoot missiles out of North Korea is to be able to blow up my house in Tennessee.

Are you planning on doing any touring/shows for the album Dirty South Korea? I think I’ve seen that you are currently doing shows in the Nashville area, right?
I am planning on taking Dirty South Korea on the road. We’ll see how this comes out about but I’d love to take it LA, NYC, Chicago, and DC. Who knows how the Korean communities will react so that will be fun to see. All I know is that my Korean ancestors are looking down with such pride.

When are you planning to release Steve Lee’s Greatest Animal Hits?
Good question. Ideally, the beginning of the new year. There are still some things I need to do make sure it is a Greatest Hits so people should be on the look out for that next year.

Who are some artists you admire?
There are a few staples: Paul Simon, Lynyrd Skynrd, Tenacious D, Charles Barkley, Dave Chappelle, Dog the Bounty Hunter, and Captain Crunch. Oh yeah and Papa Johns.

What’s next for you and what do you have in store for the future?
There is so much I want to do, just don’t have enough money! It’d be over if I had all the money to pursue every endeavor to its fullest. But I do have a record about animals I recorded last year that has yet to be released so hopefully that will be coming out next year. Ideally, though, I will have my talk show up and running in the next few months so people should be on the look out for that. www.stevelee.tv baby!

Random & Personal

Are you single, in a relationship, married?
Single and ready to mingle.

What hobbies or interests do you have?
Sleeping, wondering if dogs are winking at me, watching sports, and pretending that I’m hip and cool.

Anybody you respect/look up to?
I definitely look up to my family. Everyone in my family is so talented in there own ways its amazing. As of today I look up to my roommate, Jeremy, because he bought me some chicken fajita nachos today for lunch because I said “I don’t have any money.”

In general, do you think that the Korean & Korean-American communities are accepting of Koreans of mixed heritage (half/mixed Koreans)?
Well obviously some of them have to be accepting because Koreans are having babies with other cultures so I would say, in general, yes. And if they are still those who are not accepting they people are fools.

As a person of mixed Korean background, have you had any positive and/or negative experiences from the Korea-American community (and/or Asian community) that stand out to you?
The only real positive thing is that I have is a beard so automatically Asian males are jealous of my bearded skills and bearded abilities.

It’s funny you mention the beard; I saw your photo album where you compare pictures of you and Judge Lance Ito and you also mention that on one of your tracks (the two “bearded Asians”); do you get that often? In those pictures, the resemblance is pretty uncanny! Haha
I really don’t, only once or twice but I’m hoping Oliver Stone will make a movie about the OJ Simpson trial so I can catch my big break!

Do you drink and/or like soju?
Soju! Yes! Sip, sip, sipping on that sojuuuuu.

Do you have (or had) any personal preferences in relation to dating?
The only real preference is that they have to laugh at all my jokes; literally all of them and they are relentless so that’s about it.

How do you feel about other prominent half/mixed Koreans and have you met any of them?
The only other prominent half Korean I know of is Jon from “Jon and Kate Plus 8” and I have not met him but I hope to some day. Oh yeah and Hines Ward! That guy is bad! I love that he is the most hated receiver in the NFL. Oh, and is Steve Byrne half Korean? If so, he is so funny!

It’s funny you mention Jon (from Jon and Kate Plus 8); what’s your take on the recent tabloid mess with his marital issues?
The tabloid mess with J&K+8 is sad. Hopefully this will not be as big of a deal as possible for the children’s sake… but Kate is pretty mean. It’s funny when people I know talk about it and they are like “Well if he is cheating I can see that.”

What is your take on Korea’s reaction to the Hines Ward “phenomenon” (after he was MVP of Super Bowl XL in 2006)?
It was incredible! That guy is a beast and is one of my favorite athletes around.

So what are some of your favorite websites that you visit?
Si.com, hulu.com, bankofamerica.com, grainedit.com, angryasianman.com

How did you find out about HalfKorean.com and what did you think about HalfKorean.com when you first saw it?
I was looking up some Korean websites and somehow got to link to it. I thought it was fun to see all the profiles of half Koreans!

Any words that you would like to pass on to the community?
Always be yourself and always do your best.

I want to personally thank Steve for taking a break from his busy schedule to complete this inteview with HalfKorean.com and to share some insight to his life and career.

Be sure to check out his website and online show at SteveLee.tv. You can also check out Steve at the following sites: Steve’s MySpace & YouTube.

Interview by: David Lee Sanders

Posted: 5/27/2009

“Say Herro” music video

Arkansas Razorback Hog Cheer