Max Loong

Full Name: Max Loong
Birth Date: March 8, 1980
Profession: MTV VJ
Hometown: Switzerland
Joined MTV: 2006
Mobbed Blog: VJ Max

I sat next to VJ Max, drinking in the heavenly scent of his perfume. Desperately trying to focus on my piece of paper filled with intriguing questions, I mastered all strength not to pop the question “What scent is that?” Eventually, curiosity got the better of me and I finally got my answer, towards the end. Nevertheless.

So there he was — the latest addition to the MTV VJ family trying to get comfortable on the couch. What’s his story? Apparently, a lot more than I thought.

To describe Max in a word is easy: Dreamer. In two: BIG dreamer. To fill in the gaps of his tinted world is quite impossible be’cos the man has a list of ambitions that stretches on for miles and miles. When you take a good look at him, you’d probably think model, actor or someone in the good-looking business line. Well how about a pilot? Or rally-race car driver? Or a chef while we’re on a roll? Didn’t think so? Well so did I.

Max: I just like to watch cooking channels, Jamie Oliver that kind of stuff. I don’t take down recipes, I never write down any recipes. I just look and “oh, he fries this like that, he adds this” and I watch another show and this other guy does something different and then I kind of just go out there and what I have in mind, I buy and I just make some and try out.

So you just throw everything in?

No, no, no, no, no. It’s also about the presentation. It’s amazing.

Wow, you’re on your way to be a Chef now.

Yes! So you see, I’m having all of these different career dreams. It’s important to have a lot of different dreams, I believe so. I don’t just like stick to one dream.

So are you going to follow through all of them?

Well, I’m going to try. That’s why cooking is fun, you can just do it at home and all that. But I mean of course, career wise, you got to stick I guess, to a certain pattern which is fine and I love doing what I’m doing.

Okay, so what is Mobbed?

That’s a good question… Okay so let me explain, Mobbed just stands for this community of people, the Mobbers, and we just go around and mob people in a positive way by sharing cartoons and games and graphics and contests and prizes and stuff like that. So basically, we’re mobbing the people on screen, like every other show but then we also do it on ground be’cos we’re always shooting outside, we never shoot in the studio.

Okay, so how exactly do you mobbed people?

It’s about creating a community of Mobbers and basically sharing whatever we offer. I mean things like they get to download all these different cartoon, the Mob Squad, which is very funny, and then there’s games that you can download to your phones, download wallpapers, pictures, you can participate in all kinds of contest and send in your pictures too.

Do you meet a lot of strange people on the street?

Yeah, we meet a lot of strange people. That’s actually the interesting part of my job, I love meeting people.

So what’s your best experience so far with MTV Mobbed?

Well so far… When we went to the Philippines. I love the Philippines and I love the people. I think they’re fun people… going there and we had great feedback from the people we launched Mobbed and we were at the beach in Boracay, starry night, and it was just so much fun. And everyone was in a good mood. It was the same in Singapore, and in Thailand. So basically, meeting up with the people and sharing all that entertainment love we’re doing and of course, one of the good experiences I had is working with the Mobbed team. I love my guys.

So I’m sure you’ve had your fair share of parties and girls. Do you use pick up lines like, “Hey do you know who I am? I’m a VJ”?

(Laughs) “Do you know who I am? I’m from MTV Okay? Better let me in here.” No, I’ve never used this before. I’m actually waiting to use this line. I would love to use this line one day. (Laughs) “Do you know who I am?” But more of ironically, more of just for fun. But I don’t have the guts to do it, ‘cos it’s so bad, it’s so stupid.

So what’s your favourite music?

My favourite music is actually soul music. Like Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder and Earth Wind and Fire.

That’s really old.

I know, but I grew up with that music. But I also love the new type of R&B and Hip Hop as well as pop. I like classical music. I went to a lot of operas when I was young. My Grandma was an opera singer. So I grew up with classical music.

Wow, so can you sing too?

No I can’t, under the shower only. I sing old karaoke though; I’ve become a huge karaoke fan since I came to Asia. The problem is, when I go to Karaoke in Singapore, my Chinese local friends always sing Chinese songs.

Yeah, So is there anyone special in your life currently? Are you dating anyone right now?

No, I’m single and available. Asia, I’m here. I’m waiting for all of you.

You know this is going to go up on the web right?

(Laughs) No… I really think that I like Asian women but it’s more of the fact that in general, people, that there’s so much respect around and there’s a lot of family values, in general, values. So nothing against Western women… I like both, I like all. I mean, if that right woman comes along, she comes along. But I’m just happy with my life, I’m a very positive person.

What is the one thing you have to do before you age?

Whoa. Well, see Michael Jackson in concert. I’ve never seen him and I love him. Actually, the one thing is, to fly. One of my biggest dreams is to become a pilot. So if I were not doing this, I would become a pilot. So I think, if I have the chance one day, I want to take up some course and fly. But I would not regret anything in life ‘cos it just comes the way it comes or the bad things you do in life as well as the good things; it’s just the way life is.

So let me get this straight. You want to be a pilot.

Well that was my childhood dream.

You want to be a race car driver. You’re an actor and you’re a VJ and… what’s the other one? Oh you want to be a chef, you can cook!

Oh yeah! The chef, the cook! So see I have a lot of things to do in my life. I say you only live twice- one life for yourself, one for your dreams. So I believe you live two lives- the reality life and your dreams.

One more thing, what perfume are you wearing?

Armani: Black Code.

Why?

It’s nice.

Is it too strong?

No, it’s nice.

Source: Vanessa Koh / September 2006

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