From Radio Station DJ To Successful Musician: How One Woman Went After Her Dreams In Mid-life

FRANCE. Paris. One often says that a dream does not become a reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination, and hard work, and that’s exactly what Doriane Woo did to make her dream a reality. A singer, songwriter, voice-over artist, and now a trained martial artist, Dorian proves that “For a valiant heart, nothing is impossible.”

Early life and childhood. Born in a family of music enthusiasts, Doriane’s love and passion for music started quite early, and it soon became an integral part of her life. Practicing piano with her mother and sister became a daily habit. Growing up, she used to be a very shy girl, but learning new languages and new cultures made her feel more confident and empowered.

A woman of many talents. A guitar in her hand and boxing gloves in her bag, Dorian can be found singing and kicking wherever she goes. Whether she is performing in a different country or sitting in a coffee shop sipping her favorite coffee, Doriane makes sure to carry both everywhere. She can play the ukulele, piano, guitar, and many other musical instruments with equal grace and perfection. But her favorite instrument is piano, and she has composed many soulful renditions using the instrument. She is also a voice-over artist and has lent her voice to many projects. Talking to Transcontinental times, she said,” Whether it is martial arts or music, practice is important.” She believes that “practice puts brains in your muscles.”

Her passion and love for music. Doriane worked as a radio jockey in her early life, but deep down in her heart she always wanted to be a singer. Listening to her favorite songs every day, she always thought about writing a song one day. There was something about the music that she found magical, something that made her feel complete. She didn’t think about taking music seriously until she reached the age of 40. One day, while living in France, she got an invitation from her friends who were going to get married. They wanted her to perform at their wedding, and that’s how her music career started. Different people from various parts of the world helped her to become a better singer, musician, and songwriter. She made a documentary with two of her friends from Taiwan named “Island” which was nominated as the best short documentary at l’Hospitalet de Llobregat International Film Festival 2020. Doriane proved that when it comes to pursuing your passion, age is just a number.

The tale of two cities. London and Paris were two cities where Doriane performed most of her gigs. While talking to Transcontinental times, Doriane said “ London is like a gentleman for me and Paris is a strict mom.” Living in Paris for the past 15 years made her realize that there’s something in Paris that always held her back, something that wanted her to stay. Paris was like a strict mother for Doriane which kept her protected and safe from everyone. The people were always warm, and performing in Paris felt like performing at home. London, on the other hand, was referred to as a gentleman because this city was welcoming and it appreciated talents from different parts of the world.

Zen and martial arts. Martial arts requires patience, discipline, and perseverance. Doriane decided to train herself in martial arts to become more strong physically and mentally. She said, ”I chose to take martial arts because I wanted to gain enough strength to carry my musical instruments everywhere without taking any help from anyone.” This helped her achieved a zen state of mind and made her more confident. She is a certified martial arts teacher and coaches young boys and girls across the world. Good teachers teach, great teachers transform, and that’s what Doriane is doing by teaching her art to everyone.

Given her numerous achievements and commendable works, Doriane has inspired many people around the world. A message that she wants to give to all the young people who are willing to follow in her footsteps is, “You can carve your own niche, believe yourself and the rest will fall in place. Have faith in your abilities, work hard and there is nothing that you cannot accomplish.”