The Swamp
Guangzhou-based rockers The Swamp are a product of their surroundings, chronicling the alienation that's accompanied the economic transformation of their booming home town.
The band wowed Hong Kong audiences recently, and their albums have now been released locally. This month, they're off on a 16-date tour of the mainland.
Liang Hailiang - known as 'HZ' - met Roy Li Chunlai at college. In 2000, they teamed up with Sean Liang Haixun, Jim Si Tu Jinghui and manager Lam Zhang Yelin.
'We're a true independent band,' says HZ. 'We're involved in everything from the music to the design, financial control and everything else. It's the strong feeling of brotherhood that makes us keep going together. We all think music is an important and magical journey in our life, and we enjoy it.'
The band took their name from one of their songs. 'When I was writing The Swamp, I was revelling in its inspiration, which is so conflicting and, at the same time, so integral,' says HZ. 'The swamp is so full of life and vitality, but it's also rotten, mysterious and dreadful. It's similar to our society, our living conditions and even our souls. That feeling is what we'd like to express in our music.'