Someone outside of the music industry asked me recently why there are such “negative vibes” attached to the Hong Kong music scene.
Well, for starters, “scene” is way too “big” a word for a few events, some under-publicized gigs and the occasional recording.
There is also a “status symbol” approach to Hong Kong and its artists.
There are, for example, the “Tier One” artists who have been around since Methuselah: Jacky Cheung, Eason Chan, Aaron Kwok, Faye Wong – though still absolutely stunning – Joey Yung, Grasshoppers, Andy Lau perhaps Twins etc.
They make their money through, mainly, concerts and which are more like one very long TVB variety show.
But their fans love it and can watch the same boring thing for days on end.
Faye Wong, I can watch forever.
There are then the Second Tier artists like Khalil Fong, Justin Lo, Leo Ku etc.
Khalil and Justin are easily the best of them all and should record something together.
It’s simple, uncomplicated music and not any of that bombastic shit we heave heard for years.
There are another tier made up of covers band and who play what the punters want at hotel lounges and bars and clubs like Dusk Till Dawn and Insomnia.
I saw two excellent Filipino guitarists recently at some ungodly hour performing at The Wanch and The Bridge.
Mention them to any local music executive and the answer will be the same:
“Filipinos? Nah, man, they can only copy.”
Then there is Hong Kong’s so-called “Indie” scene which is not an “indie” scene at all.
It is a band scene and every major label has a local band on its roster.
Just one.
One more and it will be one too many as there is a need to focus and make sure that this one band works.
It’s simply all about business and manpower and P&L and not taking on acts for the sake of it.
Plus bands – worldwide – have always been historically difficult to handle – 4-5 different personalities and egos and which makes dealing with them a pain in the arse.
Also, signing a band – one – is almost a token gesture.
It also comes in handy to tell Head Office, sure, we have “bands” on our roster.
And, sure, they can open for any of our International bands passing through.
Universal Music Hong Kong has the band called Mister.
Warner Hong Kong has Dear Jane – one of my few fave local Canto-bands.
Gold Typhoon Hong Kong has Rubberband – a good band that has been knocking around for so long that they should know how to make better videos than this.
Sony Music has a mess on its hands and which is not the name of any band.
Under this “tier” are other bands – unsigned and, largely, unknown and left to their own means to make themselves heard.
Yes, the “indies.”
This same person who asked about “negative vibes” also asked why people look down on Hong Kong artists.
Why they are labeled as “crap” or “too old” or “egomaniacs.”
And ”copycats”.
Well, many who put themselves out there are actually all of these things.
Believe it or not, while in the UK, Europe or the US, a new indie band is in their early Twenties, an “indie” band in Hong Kong is either in their Thirties or even pushing Forty.
All of which makes the word “Indie” and “band” somewhat of a weird oxymoron.
A “thirtysomething indie band” which still hasn’t made it?
Who’s gonna take them seriously except for their friends and family?
And even their families want them to “get serious” and get a “real job.”
This is where Hong Kong has let itself down.
Though passionate people like Chris B try to promote local “Indie” bands and there are the plethoras of “battle of the bands” events, none work to create any impact.
None work to advance and better the music.
Why can’t Hong Kong have a singer-songwriter-guitarist-pianist like Taiwan’s Cheer Chen?
Now I know why I have always had a soft spot – soft?- for women who can play instruments.
Or why can’t Hong Kong have a band as original as Beijing’s Lonely China Day?
If Bob Ezrin who has worked with Pink Floyd, Alice Cooper, KISS, Peter Gabriel etc finds them interesting to work with them, they can’t exactly be mediocre.
Is it something in the water over there and the pollution in Hong Kong which is stopping creativity?
A Hong Kong band making it overseas?
As a novelty act “from China”, maybe.Preview
Sorry, but they have to get to the back of the bus and the end of a very long queue of far better acts from the US, Europe, the UK, the Philippines etc.
Simply put, 99.9% are not good enough.
They have not earned their chops.
As with anything, Hong Kong bands, especially, need mentors – and have never had any.
They were born into a DIY world before anyone else had thought of what DIY meant.
They were asked to sink or swim and with no one telling/teaching them how to write a strong chorus.
Or the importance of having a strong intro, knowing how to work out harmonies and the importance of a strong lead vocalist.
Sorry, but not everyone can sing and some of the singers in many local bands today are simply not good enough.
Okay, they’re crap and should pack it in.
These are bands that have learnt along their way and perhaps picked up some good “bits” and have also picked up some very bad habits.
Being legends in their own lunch time is one huge bad habit.
Ego is not music to anyone’s ears and many-a-good local band has come-a-cropper because of this big fish in a small pond syndrome.
Today, apart from the duo of Jeff and Leora Caylor called The Weathering and local band Killer Soap – who recently played to 700 people for their new CD launch – I don’t hear much else.
But, this is my fault: I shy away from hearing local acts.
It’s the one-time music executive in me – mixed with apathy and laziness.
This is my “bad”.
I have yet to hear – ‘live’ – local bands – a YOUNG band- like Hungry Ghosts- which has received rave reviews from people whose musical tastes I trust.
YouTube links of ‘live’ performances never do any band justice.
Then again, where does one go to hear these acts?
One tends to hear about them after the fact.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97vcBfw_HvE
There might be a Lonely China Day lurking around and playing their ass off in some industrial building in North Point or the boonies of Kowloon.
But who’s to know?
Somewhere, there’s a missing link.
I hope to find it.
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