One Take Only, One Life Only is the rule of the Japanese YouTube music channel THE FIRST TAKE, where invited singers get only one chance to record. Having won a ViuTV music talent show, Vincy So (Journalism and Communication / Year 4) earned the chance to perform on THE FIRST TAKE this summer, singing her original song, Sora. Beyond the white clouds lies the colorful sky, while inside the white recording studio stands a singer chasing her dream.
Q: When did you realise you loved singing and wanted to be a singer?
During my primary school years, I loved watching Japanese Anime like Pretty Rhythm and Shugo Chara, whose Japanese theme songs I enjoyed listening to and humming along with. By secondary school, I knew singing was my true passion, so I kept practicing and participating in school competitions. My first solo performance was in Form 4, singing my idol Mika Nakashima’s ‘僕が死のうと思ったのは’(The Reason I Thought of Dying).
I chose that song because I had seen a clip of her performing it, and I was deeply moved, crying as I listened. I wanted to touch others with my voice the way she did. I always had the dream of becoming a singer, but for a long time, I told others “Singing is just a hobby.” I was afraid to admit my true ambition, fearing that if I failed to achieve it, I’d disappoint others or be ridiculed.
The band “203 Grocery Store” was pivotal in helping Vincy (center) recover from her downheartedness. Her companies include Curtis (far left), Gordon (second left), Angus (second right) and Sarah (far right).
Q: How did you join the band “203 Grocery Store”, and how did it influence your singing journey?
In my first year of university, besides school competitions, I joined the ICMA inter-university singing contest, my first public competition. I scored the highest in the first round and thought I was a shoo-in for the final, but I was eliminated in the semifinal. One judge described my high notes as “shrill,” which was my first major setback.
During that time, Sarah, the bassist of the “203 Grocery Store,” invited me to be their lead singer. I was thrilled—someone still appreciated my voice! They didn’t know about my disheartened state, but their invitation felt like a lifeline, gradually rebuilding my confidence. I later competed in ICMA again and won third place.
The band members are all passionate about music. Even though some were graduating and could have pursued stable careers, they chose to be full-time musicians. Their passion inspired me, reminding me of the reckless abandon I once had for singing, and it made me aspire to become a full-time singer.
Q: During the ViuTV show, you injured your vocal cords. What happened, and how did you cope?
Before the first round, I noticed something was wrong with my throat — my voice was hoarse. After seeing a doctor, I learned I had a small vocal cord hemorrhage. It felt like a bolt from the blue. I even considered withdrawing, fearing I might embarrass myself. But the chance to perform on THE FIRST TAKE made me decide to push through.
I was nearly eliminated in the first round, and the hemorrhage doubled in size afterwards, making it nearly impossible to speak clearly. I was terrified my vocal cords might never fully recover. For the second round, I chose Ref:Rain by Aimer, a Japanese singer whose vocal cords were damaged in her youth. Though she never fully recovered, this injury gave her a unique husky voice. Singing that song echoed my fears about my own vocal condition, and it unexpectedly resonated with the judges, earning me a spot in the final round. With rest, I recovered just two weeks before the final and went on to win, securing my chance to perform on THE FIRST TAKE.
Experienced in performance, Vincy indicated that becoming a singer has always been her dream. To seize opportunities, she plans to learn guitar in the future to enhance her musical skills.
Q: What was the most challenging or memorable part of your THE FIRST TAKE experience?
The studio of THE FIRST TAKE felt like sacred ground to me, many singers I admire have performed there. After winning, I doubted myself, feeling I wasn’t good enough. At that time I took a lesson with my vocal coach, Fat Li, who told me that if I truly believed I didn’t deserve the opportunity, no amount of time would change that. He advised me to embrace it like I’d won the lottery. That moment woke me up, I realised I shouldn’t overthink.
Sora is a bilingual song in Japanese and Cantonese. The Cantonese part was the hardest because some said my Cantonese singing had a Japanese accent and unclear diction. The Cantonese lyrics, written by Mr. Lui Wai Lok, were beautiful, and I wanted to do them justice. Up until the day before my departure, my producer, Edwin, worked tirelessly to refine my pronunciation. During my THE FIRST TAKE performance, I nearly cried singing the Cantonese part, overwhelmed by memories of everyone’s support and jamming with “203 Grocery Store.” It wasn’t until the post-performance interview that I finally broke down in tears.
Student Reporter Ngan Man Chin
