View source for Imee Ooi

{{Short description|Chinese-Malaysian Record Producer}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| image            = Imee_Ooi黄慧音.jpg
| caption          =
| native_name      = Huáng Huìyīn (黃慧音)
| native_name_lang = zh
| birth_place      = [[Taiping, Perak|Taiping]], Perak, [[Malaysia]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://big5.xuefo.net/nr/article12/115966.html |title=宇宙就是佛樂的殿堂—訪馬來西亞佛教音樂人黃慧音－－學佛網 |publisher=Big5.xuefo.net |date=15 March 2012 |accessdate=25 November 2013 |archive-date=30 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170630161901/http://big5.xuefo.net/nr/article12/115966.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| death_date       =
| death_place      =
| genre            = [[Buddhist music]]
| occupation       = Composer, record producer, singer
| instrument       = Piano
| years_active     = 1999–present
| label            = I.M.M. Musicworks
| associated_acts  = [[Ho Lin Huay]]
| website          = {{URL|http://immmusic.com/}}
}}
{{Infobox person
| module      = {{Infobox Chinese|child=yes|hide=no
| t           = 黃慧音
|poj=Ûiⁿ Hūi-im
|tl=Uînn Huī-im
|j=Wong4 Wai6 Jam1
| p           = Huáng Huìyīn}}
}}
'''Imee Ooi''' [[FRSA]]{{fact|date=January 2022}} ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|iː|m|iː|_|ˈ|w|uː|i}} {{respell|EE|mee|_|WOO|ee}}; {{zh|c=黃慧音|poj=Ûiⁿ Hūi-im|j=Wong4 Wai6 Jam1|p=Huáng Huìyīn}}) is a Chinese-Malaysian record producer, composer, and singer who composes and [[Arrangement|arranges]] music for classic [[Buddhist chant]], [[mantra]], and [[dharani]]. She performs her compositions in [[Sanskrit]], [[Pali]], [[Standard Tibetan|Tibetan]], and [[Mandarin Chinese|Mandarin]]. In 1997 she founded a record label, I.M.M. Musicworks, to publish her music. She has released more than 50 albums (55 between 1998 and 2020<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.immmusic.com/imee-ooi |title='Imee Ooi's Musical Works & Dharma Concert Production', 2020 |language=English|website=www.immmusic.com |date= |accessdate=5 March 2021}}</ref>).
Ooi also composed and [[Musical director|directed]] three highly acclaimed [[Musical theatre|stage musicals]]: ''Siddhartha'', ''Above Full Moon'', and ''Princess Wen Cheng'' (aka ''Jewel of Tibet'').
==Biography==
=== Early life ===
Ooi was born in [[Taiping, Perak|Taiping]], [[Malaysia]] to a musically inclined [[Hoklo people|Hoklo]] family. Her grandfather, who was a writer and dramatist, emigrated to Malaysia from [[Guangdong]], China. Ooi's mother was a piano teacher; Imee and her four siblings all learned piano{{fact|date=April 2022}}. Ooi continued her study of piano and trained as a [[classical pianist]].<ref name="Noel Achariam">{{cite web|author=Noel Achariam|title=Meet Imee the mantra musician |url=https://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=11,4338,0,0,1,0 |website=buddhistchannel.tv|date=18 December 2017|accessdate=4 December 2023}}.</ref>
=== Career ===
In the early 1990s, after training as a classical pianist, she followed her mother's example and in turn became a piano teacher, before moving into composition, creating [[film music]] for cinema or television series.<ref name="Dennis Chua">{{cite web |author=Dennis Chua|title=Musician Imee Ooi prepares her first major showcase|url= https://www.nst.com.my/news/2015/09/musician-imee-ooi-prepares-her-first-major-showcase|website=www.nst.com.my|date=2015|accessdate=4 December 2023}}, published in the [[New Straits Times]], Kuala Lumpur, article of  the 27 July 2015.</ref>
Buddhist vegetarian,<ref name="ecentral1">{{cite web |url=http://ecentral.my/news/story.asp?file=%2F2012%2F10%2F4%2Fsoundnstage%2F12114458&sec=soundnstage |title=Soaring scores |publisher=Ecentral.my |date= |accessdate=6 December 2023 |archive-date=3 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203015537/http://ecentral.my/news/story.asp?file=%2F2012%2F10%2F4%2Fsoundnstage%2F12114458&sec=soundnstage |url-status=dead }}</ref> she decided to specialize in [[Buddhist music]],<ref name="Dennis Chua"/><ref name="Noel Achariam"/> creating from sacred texts ([[dharani]]s, [[mantra]]s, [[sutra]]s) which she performs in [[Sanskrit]], [[Pali]], [[Lhasa Tibetan|Tibetan]] and [[Mandarin (language)|mandarin]],<ref>{{cite web|author=Stanford University. The Ho Center for Buddhist Studies |title=Imee Ooi|url=https://buddhiststudies.stanford.edu/imee-ooi|website=buddhiststudies.stanford.edu|accessdate=4 December 2023}}</ref> some are translated into English. She also composes musicals and performs in concerts{{,}}.<ref name="Dennis Chua"/>
In 1997 she founded a record label, I.M.M. Musicworks, to publish her music.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.immmusic.com/imee-ooi |title='Imee Ooi's Musical Works & Dharma Concert Production, 2020 |language=English|website=www.immmusic.com |date= |accessdate=4 December 2023}}</ref><ref name="Dennis Chua"/>
In 2015, she formed the male vocal group (8 singers aged between 25 and 38), named the ''Jing Shi Jin Gang'' which means "Guardians of the [[Dharma]]" with whom she toured internationally in [[Malaysia]], Hong Kong and Shanghai.<ref name="Dennis Chua"/>
Imee is a discreet person. Her private life never comes up in the interviews she gives, preferring to talk only about her art and her spiritual path:{{blockquote|The power of music is very strong. We are trying to use music to convey positive messages. I’m a person who don't plan ahead. It is very much like Buddhist teaching – live for now, don't let the future tie you down, don't let the past trouble you and things will turn out well<ref name="Noel Achariam"/>}}
==Filmography==
===Musicals===
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Year !! Title !! Notes
|-
| 1999<ref name="ecentral1"/><ref>{{cite web|last=Yoke |first=Yip |url=http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?sec=central&file=/2009/5/13/central/3873346 |title=Archives &#124; The Star Online |publisher=Thestar.com.my |date=13 May 2009 |accessdate=25 November 2013}}</ref> || ''Siddhartha'' (or 'Prince Siddhartha') || Music producer, arranger, composer, music director<ref name="alyta1">{{cite web |author= |url=http://www.alyta.com/SiddharthaMusical.html |title=Products (CDs, Tapes) – Siddhartha The Musical (in Mandarin) |publisher=Alyta.com |date= |accessdate=25 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100102060714/http://www.alyta.com/SiddharthaMusical.html |archive-date=2 January 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="asiamusicalproductions1">{{cite web|url=http://www.asiamusicalproductions.com/creative-team.html |title=Creative Team – Imee Ooi 黃慧音 |publisher=Asia Musical Productions |date= |accessdate=25 November 2013}}</ref>
|-
| 2004<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.paulwaychew.com/timeline.html |title=(Timeline) – 2004: 'Above Full Moon the Musical' Original Cast – Lead Actress – Kuala Lumpur & Singapore |publisher=Paulway Chew |date= |accessdate=25 November 2013}}</ref><ref name="ecentral1"/> || ''[[Above Full Moon (musical)|Above Full Moon]]'' || Composer, music director<ref name="asiamusicalproductions1"/>
|-
| 2005–2006<ref name="ecentral1"/> || ''The Perfect Circle'' || Composer, music director<ref name="asiamusicalproductions1"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.klpac.org/?p=9429 |title=THE PERFECT CIRCLE 2013 – EARTH EPILOGUE (Musical) (12th – 21st Apr) |publisher=KLPAC |date=1 February 2013 |accessdate=25 November 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130704042720/http://www.klpac.org/?p=9429 |archive-date=4 July 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=May |first=Sarah |url=http://www.sarahlow.net/2013/04/the-perfect-circle-2013-earth-epilogue.html |title=THE PERFECT CIRCLE 2013 EARTH EPILOGUE in KL, MALAYSIA, posted on Thursday, April 4, 2013 |publisher=Sarahlow.net |date=4 April 2013 |accessdate=25 November 2013}}</ref>
|-
| 2007<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/560036_627228097304444_77447076_n.jpg |title=Lending voice to Mother Nature |publisher=Fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net |accessdate=25 November 2013}}</ref> || ''The Perfect Circle II'' || Composer, music director
|-
| 2008<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.violetvoon.info/2008/03/jewel-of-tibet-musical.html |title=Jewel of the Tibet, The musical, posted on Thursday, March 13, 2008 |publisher=Violetvoon.info |date=13 March 2008 |accessdate=25 November 2013}}</ref><ref name="ecentral1"/> || ''[[Princess Wen Cheng (Malaysian musical)|Princess Wen Cheng]]'' (alternative title: Jewel of Tibet)|| Composer, music director<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.paulwaychew.com/timeline.html |title=(Timeline) – 2008: 'Jewel of Tibet the Musical' (Princess Wen Cheng) Original Cast – Leading Role – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |publisher=Paulway Chew |date= |accessdate=25 November 2013}}</ref><ref name="asiamusicalproductions1"/>
|-
| 2010<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/9/8/nation/11991003&sec=nation |title='Chinese musical Princess Wen Cheng takes centrestage again', written by (author unknown). Posted on September 8, 2012 (Saturday). Published by The Star |publisher=Thestar.com.my |date=8 September 2012 |accessdate=25 November 2013}}</ref> || ''KITA''|| Composer, music director, music arranger<ref>{{cite news|url=https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/231101_223179751042616_7467383_n.jpg |title=Akademi Fantasia 7's versatile champion will add musical theatre to his list of accomplishments when Kita opens next month | first=Dennis | last=Chua | newspaper=New Straits Times | date=23 May 2010 |accessdate=25 November 2013}}</ref>
|-
| 2013 || ''The Perfect Circle III: Earth Epilogue – The Call Out of Naimisayana'' || Composer, music director, arranger
|}
{{Expand section|date=May 2013}}
==Discography==
All songs composed, produced, and some performed by Imee Ooi arranged by Praveen maddhali
===Solo albums===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Title
! Language(s)
! Year of release
! Catalog number
|-
| ''The Chant of Metta 慈經 （中文解述）'' || Pali, English || 1999 || IMM 1000
|-
| ''The Chant of Metta 慈經 （英文解述）'' || Pali, Mandarin || 1999 || IMM 1000C
|-
| ''Jayamangalagatha'' || Pali || 1999 || IMM 1001
|-
| ''Heart Sutra'' || Mandarin || 2009|| IMM 1002
|-
| ''Nilakantha Dharani'' [The Great Compassionate Mantra] || Sanskrit || 2000 || IMM 1003
|-
| ''The Great Mercy Mantra'' (alt. ''The Great Compassionate Mantra'') || Tibetan || 2000 || IMM 1004
|-
| [[Om Mani Padme Hum]] 六字大明咒 || Tibetan || 2001 || IMM 1023
|-
| ''The Guan Yin Mantra'' || Mandarin || 2002 || IMM 1008
|-
| ''Ratana Sutta'' || Pali, English || 2003 || IMM 1010
|-
| ''Mantras of the Sanskrit''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.immmusic.com/product/eng/1011.htm |title=''Mantras of the Sanskrit'' |publisher=I.M.M. Musicworks |date= |accessdate=25 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140908022114/http://www.immmusic.com/product/eng/1011.htm |archive-date=8 September 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> (alt. ''Mantras in Sanskrit'')<ref>{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/mantras-in-sanskrit-single/id592395436 |title=''Mantras in Sanskrit'' |website=[[iTunes Store]] |date=8 January 2013 |accessdate=25 November 2013}}</ref> || Sanskrit || 2003 || IMM 1011
|-
| ''Heart Sutra'' || Cantonese || 2003 || IMM 1012
|-
| ''Mantra of the Green Tara'' || Tibetan || 2003 || IMM 1013
|-
| ''Tisarana'' || Pali || 2004 || IMM 1014
|-
| ''Namo Amitabha'' || Mandarin || 2004 || IMM 1017
|-
| ''The Diamond Sutra: Vijracchedika Prajna Paramita Sutra 金剛經'' || Mandarin || 2005 || IMM 1018
|-
| ''The Wisdom of Manjusri Bodhisattva'' || Sanskrit || 2005 || IMM 1019
|-
| ''Medicine Buddha Dharani''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.immmusic.com/product/eng/1020.htm |title=''Medicine Buddha Dharani'' |publisher=I.M.M. Musicworks |accessdate=25 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221155726/http://www.immmusic.com/product/eng/1020.htm |archive-date=21 February 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> || Sanskrit || 2005 || IMM 1020
|-
| ''Arya Ekadasa: Mukha Dharani'' || Sanskrit || 2006 || IMM 1021
|-
| ''The Series of Ten Short Mantras, Volume 1'' || Sanskrit || 2006 || IMM 1022
|-
| ''Karaniya Metta Sutta'' || Pali || 2007 || IMM 1024
|-
| ''The Series of Ten Short Mantras, Volume 2'' || Sanskrit || 2007 || IMM 1025
|-
| ''The Mantra of Guru Rinpoche'' || Tibetan || 2007 || IMM 1026
|-
| ''The Series of Ten Short Mantras, Volume 3'' || Sanskrit || 2007 || IMM 1027
|-
| ''The Series of Ten Short Mantras, Volume 4'' || Sanskrit || 2008 || IMM 1028
|-
| ''Chants from Heart to Heart: The Heart of Prajna Paramita and Hannya Shingyo'' || Pali || 2008 || IMM 1030
|-
| ''Ksitigarbha: Mantra of the Earth Store'' || Sanskrit || 2008 || IMM 1031
|-
| ''Message in Music, Volume 1'' || Meditation Music || 2008 || IMM 2000
|-
| ''Sakyamuni Buddha Mantra 釋迦牟尼佛心咒'' || Sanskrit || 2009 || IMM 1032
|-
| ''Message in Music, Volume 2'' || Meditation Music || 2009 || IMM 2001
|-
| ''Heart of Repentance'' || Mandarin || 2009 || IMM 1033
|-
| ''Hymns of the Pureland'' || Mandarin || 2009 || IMM 1034
|-
| ''The Shore Beyond: Prajna Paramaita Hrdaya Sutram'' || Sanskrit || 2009 || IMM 1035
|-
| ''Universal Door Chapter: The Lotus Sutra'' || Mandarin || 2009 || IMM 1036
|-
| ''The Mantra of Vajrasattva: Om Benza Sato Hum'' || Tibetan || 2009 || IMM 1037
|-
| ''Message in Music, Volume 3'' || Meditation Music || 2009 || IMM 2002
|-
| ''Shurangama Mantra'' || {{Dunno}} || 2009 || IMM 1039
|-
| ''Maitreya: The Buddha of Loving-Kindness'' || Tibetan || 2011 || IMM 1041
|-
| ''The Sounds of Protection'' (alt. ''Mantras in Tibetan'') || Tibetan || 2011 || IMM 1042
|-
| ''Message in Music, Volume 4'' || Meditation Music || 2012 || IMM 2003
|-
| ''Mantras of Illumination'' || Tibetan || 2013 || IMM 1044
|-
| ''White Tara Mantra'' || Tibetan || 2014 || IMM 1045
|-
| ''Message in Music, Volume 5 – Colours in Music''|| Meditation Music || 2014 || IMM 2004
|-
| '' The Six Word Great Bright Mantra-Chai Yu'' || Tibetan || 2014 || IMM 1046
|-
| ''Hymns of Buddhist Festivals'' || Mandarin || 2015 || IMM 1047
|-
| ''The Amitabha Sutra 佛說阿彌陀經'' || Mandarin || 2015 || IMM 1048
|-
| '' Sound of Wisdom'' || Mandarin, Pali || 2015 || IMM 1049
|-
| ''World of Medicine Buddha'' || Tibetan || 2016 || IMM 1050
|-
| ''JSJG 淨世金剛'' || Pali, Sanskrit, Tibetan, Mandarin || 2017 || IMM 1051
|-
| ''In Metta'', A collaboration with Dewa Budjana || Tibetan, Pali || 2017 || IMM 2017
|-
| ''Message in Music, Volume 6 – Six Paramitas''|| Meditation Music || 2017 || IMM 2005
|-
| ''Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Purvapranidhana Sutra 地藏菩薩本願經'' || Mandarin || 2017 || IMM 1052
|-
| ''Tibetan Heart Sutra 藏語心經'' || Tibetan || 2018 || IMM 1053
|-
| ''Message in Music, Volume 7 – Sound of the Universe''|| Meditation Music || 2020 || IMM 2006
|-
| ''善導祖師淨土詩偈專輯 – 彌陀頌'' || Mandarin || 2020 ||-
|-
| ''Manjushri Bodhisattva Eight Word Mantra 文殊菩萨八字真言'' || Tibetan || 2024 ||-
|-
| ''Holy Name Mantra that Fulfill Wishes 能令如願之名號真言'' || Tibetan || 2024 ||-
|-
| ''Vajra Armour Mantra 金剛鎧甲心咒'' || Tibetan || 2024 ||-
|}
===Soundtracks===
{| class="wikitable" <!-- to use sortable requires eliminating all use of rowspan -->
|-
! Year of Release
! Released Title(s)
! Date of Release (if applicable)
! Notes
|-
|| 2002
| ''Siddhartha: The Musical''<ref name="alyta1"/>
| May 2002<ref name="alyta1"/>
| in Mandarin, 2 CD'S<ref name="alyta1"/>
|-
|| 2004
| ''Above Full Moon The Musical''<ref name="asiamusicalproductions2">{{cite web|url=http://www.asiamusicalproductions.com/shopping.html |title=Shopping – Soundtrack |publisher=Asia Musical Productions |date= |accessdate=25 November 2013}}</ref>
| N/A
| 2004 version
|-
|| 2009
| ''Siddhartha: The Musical''<ref name="asiamusicalproductions2"/>
| N/A
| 10th Anniversary Special Edition, 2009 version
|-
|| 2010
| ''KITA The Musical''
| June 2010
| Limited (did not have a widespread distribution)
|-
|| 2011
| ''Princess Wen Cheng: The Musical'''<ref name="asiamusicalproductions2"/>
| N/A
| 2011 version<ref name="asiamusicalproductions2"/>
|}
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
* [http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=11,4338,0,0,1,0 Meet Imee the mantra musician]
* [http://www.immmusic.com I.M.M. Music Works]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20081213001903/http://www.buddhistcompassion.org/107coverstory.htm An interview by 劉潔芬 in Chinese: 俗世慧音]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ooi, Imee}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Malaysian Buddhists]]
[[Category:Malaysian people of Chinese descent]]
[[Category:21st-century Malaysian women singers]]
[[Category:20th-century Malaysian women singers]]
[[Category:Performers of Buddhist music]]
[[Category:Malaysian composers]]
[[Category:Malaysian women composers]]
[[Category:1964 births]]