Kollaboration is a collaborative (like the pun?) effort of Asian Americans trying to pave themselves into the American dog-eat-dog mainstream world. Kollboration’s slogan is: “Empowerment through entertainment.”

THE POP FIX went exclusively to Cafe Bleu in Los Angeles’ Koreatown, where most of the contenders for the Feb. 21 Kollaboration show at the Shrine were graciously answering questions from the press.

Among those there were YouTube sensations: David Choi and Kina Grannis, along with Jane Lui (featured in Audrey) Paul Dateh (Hip hop violinist) and groups Nylon Pink (self-described as “Hello Kitty on acid”) Jazmin (of NBC’s “America’s Got Talent”) and soloist, Lilybeth Evardome.

Many of the contestants performed, including:

Jane Lui

David Choi + Kina Grannis

JAZMIN

Roy Choi, who, along with PK (Paul Kim,) puts on the show, said that he wanted to:

inspire the future generation to pursue entertainment.

The show’s in it’s ninth year, having started in 2000 and is now hosted in six different cities. Overall, it’s Kollaboration’s 25th show.

“This year we have such an amazing line-up of talent and they’ve had the biggest following,” said Choi.

Each of the competitors said they were proud of representing Asians, but did not feel that their music was based on their identity.

“As long as we get to speak on the common ground of music, that’s all that matters to me,” said Paul Dateh.

David Choi agreed, and said, “I do understand that I’m Asian and that’s who I am, but it doesn’t have anything to do with my music.”

Catch each of the performers compete at Kollaboration held at The Shrine; Feb. 21, 2009; 7:00 PM; 665 W Jefferson Blvd, Los Angeles, CA. 90007-3626; Tickets can be purchased here