Ginalina: Bridging Culture Through Music 林佳君：平凡人成就不平凡

ENGLISH 英 : Leona Lai | CHINESE 中 : Maggie Ho

VENUE: Chinese Canadian Museum
ART DIRECTION: Deborah Lau-Yu · PHOTOGRAPHER: Chris Chong, Butter Studios
VIDEOGRAPHER: Erik Richard Andersen · Fashion Director: Ashley Galang
MAKEUP & HAIR: Margaret Lai · COORDINATION: Rhonda Lam, Barbara Liu

Ginalina, the stage name of Vancouver-based musician Gina Lam, weaves a tapestry of sound that bridges cultures and generations. Her latest album, All The Earth Speaks, released last fall, is a testament to her artistic vision—a fusion of traditional Chinese and Taiwanese folk music with contemporary Western influences.

Born in Toronto to Taiwanese immigrant parents, Ginalina's journey from a child encouraged to blend in to an artist celebrated for standing out is a narrative of personal and cultural resilience. “I’m cultivating the next generation to be slightly more extraordinary,” she says, acknowledging the weight of her second-generation background.

Her father, a top university graduate in Taiwan, came to Canada on a scholarship to study marine biology in Newfoundland.

Her mother, a professional dancer and teacher in Taiwan, took on various jobs in Canada to support the family. “I have a lot of admiration for my parents,” Ginalina says. “They had a vision for what they wanted the next generation to be.”

Music became Ginalina’s form of expression during her high school years. “I found that I just needed an outlet,” she recalls. “Without thinking much of it, I asked my brother if I could use his guitar and bought myself a book of chords.” This personal escape gradually evolved into a professional calling.

Rachel Ruffle Top, Celeste Midi Skirt from EVER NEW. Earrings from FENDI.

聚小變成了不起

「好一朵美麗的茉莉花……芬芳美麗滿枝椏……Lovely and beautiful Jasmine flower … Fragrant blossom fills the air …」經典的中華童謠，經過重新編曲，以中英文歌詞分段唱出，聲音輕柔愉快，令人如沐春風。

唱作出這歌的是卑詩省音樂唱作人、兒童繪本作家林佳君(Ginalina)。Gina出道至今出版了五張音樂專輯、三本兒童繪本，當中曾四度獲提名Juno Awards及加拿大西岸音樂獎。她的作品風格清新，內容圍繞家庭生活、大自然風光，用字簡單且帶點童趣，在輕快的旋律中總帶出正面的訊息。正如其專輯名稱《Small But Mighty》，她坦言自己不過也是個平凡人，但「人與人之間，透過每次互動、交流，就會進步一點點，聚少成多，就可以把平凡變成了不起！」

Growing up, Ginalina primarily spoke English despite her parents speaking Mandarin and Taiwanese at home. They did not enforce language practice outside their conversations, allowing her to develop fluency in English naturally. Although surrounded by Mandarin, her fluency in the language developed later in life, particularly after a transformative year studying in Nanjing.

This experience encouraged her to write songs in Mandarin without worrying about audience reception, focusing instead on expressing her true self.

Lydia Oversized Linen Shirt, Annie Tie-Front Top, Patricia Wide-Leg Pants from EVER NEW. Hat from Ginalina's Personal Collection

A pivotal moment occurred during her engineering studies at the University of Toronto. An elective course in Asian Heritage Studies led to a scholarship to study culture and Mandarin in Nanjing, China. “That course turned out to be so fascinating," she says. “I ended up going to the University of Nanjing for one year on a full scholarship to study culture and Mandarin.”

記錄生活

Gina自小就喜愛音樂。小時候，兩名哥哥會拉小提琴，而她就埋首於自己的小天地中盡情透過音樂、寫作，抒發心中所想。大學時期，因為在課堂上對亞洲文化展現出的濃厚興趣，她獲教授推薦，持獎學金到中國南京大學交流一年，並開始創作中文歌。期間為了賺取生活費，她曾在當地餐廳駐唱。「那是一個很有趣的經歷，每個周五的晚上，我就會演唱自己的原創作品，有英文歌、中文歌，外國人、本地人都會拍掌支持。我作曲時並沒多理會觀眾會作何反應，反正那時我正開始寫中文歌，就當是練習吧！」

This experience inspired her to write her first songs in Mandarin while singing at local venues as a side job. Today, Ginalina's music serves as a bridge between her heritage and her Canadian identity. Her work has garnered significant recognition, including four Juno Award nominations, five Canadian Folk Music Award nominations, and two Western Canadian Music Awards.

Ginalina’s collaboration with the Vancouver Chinese Music Ensemble marked a significant moment in her musical journey, allowing her to reconnect with her roots and blend her artistic vision with cultural heritage. “We all spoke in Mandarin, and that was exciting to me; it brought me back to my time in Nanjing when I needed to speak Mandarin all the time,” she says. This partnership opened new avenues for creativity and collaboration, especially with her parents involved in the project.

音樂亦記錄了Gina在不同階段的所思所想；生命中的不同時候遇見的不同人及經歷，例如法語老師、遊學時期的女同學，統統都是她的創作靈感。在學期間及初入社會工作時，音樂是她平衡工作與生活的渠道。當她成為四個小孩之母，辭去工程師工作而當上全職媽媽，亦因緣際遇地創作出一系列兒歌：有歌頌自信、勇敢精神，靈感來自其母親的《I’m Brave》；亦有生動描寫家庭生活的《Wild and Wonderful Cedars》、《Pancake for Breakfast》、《When I Grow Up》，歌詞中混合中、英、法文，亦有刻意加入拼音，淺白容易且令人朗朗上口；而且歌唱及演奏部分，亦集結了Gina與子女的合唱、對話，十分溫馨窩心。

Her parents’ engagement in her music evolved over time. Initially cautious about her career choice, their involvement grew when Ginalina began working on a project remixing Chinese folk songs. Her mother, who had never sung to her as a child, became involved in recording songs for the album. “Mom, I would love to record your voice because one day you will not be here,” Ginalina says. This collaboration was deeply moving for her, as it allowed her to capture her mother’s voice for posterity.

Her father’s role evolved as well, becoming a cultural context expert, sharing valuable insights about the songs and their meanings. “He would offer lessons on the cultural significance of certain melodies and stories behind them, enriching my music with depth and authenticity,” Ginalina says. This project, which led to the album Going Back: Remembered and Remixed Family Folk Songs, brought a new level of engagement and connection with her parents.

Dress, Boots, Necklace, Bangle, and Earrings, from FENDI

為傳承而作

家庭生活一直是Gina的創作題材。她自言作為移民二代，其父母積極、努力向上的人生觀對其影響深遠。「爸爸在台灣修讀海洋生物學，成績優異，考得獎學金來到加拿大Newfoundland進修，媽媽本來是個專業舞者及教師；來到陌生的國度，他們為了維持生計，各種各樣的工作也做過：研究助理、文員、裁縫、幼兒園……我非常感恩父母當年為了讓我哥及我得到更好的成長而移民到加拿大。」

養兒方知父母恩。成為人母後的Gina，不時回想與父母的相處及對話，同時思考更遠大的育兒和社會責任。作為移民家庭，為着適應新環境，Gina的爸爸媽媽當年專注於讓孩子吃得豐富、生活得舒適，少有餘暇向其介紹中華的文化。當培育自己的小孩時，她渴望在照顧其溫飽的同時有足夠時間陪伴他們的成長，因此決心在家教育孩子，自訂更靈活更貼身的課程，當中包括對自身環境及文化的了解。「當我要向孩子解釋有關中華文化時，我發覺其實自己也不太了解。上一代的文化、藝術、語言，來到我們這一代已被慢慢沖淡、逐漸消失。」

As a mother of four, Ginalina draws immense inspiration from her children, embracing unconventional approaches to education that inform her songwriting. From the Fraser River to the Pacific Spirit Regional Park, she finds inspiration in the natural world around her, themes that are prominent in her latest album. “The songs I wrote for my children captured the ordinary moments, the hope, the curiosities, and everything that was so joyful,” she says. “The purpose for my writing was always to capture our happy memories and document our lives in a musical way, but also to inspire myself to remember that.”

Her path through the music industry has been marked by significant milestones, including multiple award nominations. “The first nomination I got was for a Canadian Folk Music Award, and I was thrilled,” she recalls. “To have music that fell into a category with artists I admired was beyond words. It made me feel like I had something meaningful to give to the community.”

為了解及承傳有關父母及其上一代的過去，Gina在專輯《Going Back》包含不少傳統中華文化元素，例如首次加入台語、《兩隻老虎》及《茉莉花》等古曲調。《Going Back》的創作源於新冠疫情期間，Gina與父母依靠電話聯繫，談完一輪家常對話，Gina問起父母的童年，起初他們都推說想不起，後來被追問童年時所唱的歌，卻變得雀躍起來。想不到原本對於她歌唱事不太熱衷的父母，竟被勾起各種回憶及話題，更成為她新創作的文化顧問，教導及糾正她的台語發音；Gina甚至大膽提議媽媽參與唱片的合唱部分。「我跟她說：『有天你不在的時候，我可以憑錄音聽到你的聲音。』」

Gina用歌聲和繪本延續了父母的教育，亦弘揚了加拿大重視多元文化的精神；近期正努力埋首兩張唱片及繪本的創作、參與溫哥華中華樂團的音樂創作，和計劃2025年的巡演。「我的世界在不斷轉變，但始終紥根於創意、同理心及對身邊社群的關注。我非常感恩，作為加拿大藝術創作的一份子，不斷為藝術、文化傳承，以及聯繫社群而努力。」Gina的藝術創作反映自我不斷的探索，溯古追今，寫出了當代加拿大華人後裔獨有的聱音。

Dress, Shoes, Earrings, and Ring from Ginalina

Currently, Ginalina is in a prolific phase of her career, working on new albums, collaborating with the Vancouver Chinese Music Ensemble, and preparing for her third Asia tour in 2025. Her commitment to creating music that resonates with both children and adults remains unwavering. She is also exploring new opportunities, such as working for the Chinese Canadian Museum, to continue her mission of fostering a deeper appreciation for community, culture, and diversity.

As she continues to evolve as an artist, Ginalina remains dedicated to honouring her heritage and inspiring future generations. Her work stands as a testament to the power of embracing one's roots while pushing the boundaries of contemporary folk music. She attributes her ability to push these boundaries to the strong foundation her parents provided. “If there's a hero to my story, it is my parents,” she says. “Their generosity and spirit infuse everything I do. If I do anything that is lovely, it started with them.”

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