Sound bites with a dollop of Ketchup
It's debatable whether a lack of venues or a lack of support is to blame, but up-and-coming bands often face an uphill battle to get their music heard in Hong Kong.
The YMCA's Music Breath Shows, however, are breathing a bit more life into the city's live music scene with their strong line-ups of established and new talent. Show organiser Sandy Chan Man-yee is confident of the positive benefits of the concert series.
'Music is so powerful, and is often more expressive of our feelings than words,' she says. 'More and more local youths are turning to bands and music as a way to communicate. We're hoping that people can learn to appreciate the effort and talents of the people on stage, without jumping to criticise. Audience support is crucial in developing the Hong Kong band scene.'
Sunday's show, which has the theme of Using Music to Communicate, promises a crossover between art installations and live music. 'We're hoping that we can gradually develop this idea into an interesting live art show involving music as well as other art forms,' Chan says.
Headlining the show is 30-year-old Ken Tsoi, known as Ketchup. The singer-songwriter was an obvious choice for Chan. 'His music is very good and he's popular among all ages,' she says. 'His profile will attract people, who will then be exposed to new bands and talent. He's so experienced that he also has a lot to teach the other performers.'
The show takes Tsoi back to where it all started. 'I did my first show at the YMCA in 2001,' he says. 'For me, this is something of a homecoming.'
Ketchup started as a musical project spontaneously in 1999 between Tsoi and two school-mates (known only as 'Rock' and 'Sing'). 'We had no idea how to play any instruments, or even what music really was,' says Tsoi. Not knowing where best to start, the trio delegated musical responsibilities according to their respective weights. 'The fat one, Rock, became the drummer,' says Tsoi. 'I was the slimmest, so I took the guitar, and the quietest of us, Sing, became the bassist.'
It soon became evident, that Tsoi was more committed than the others. Rock and Sing departed, leaving Tsoi as a solo artist, although he decided to continue performing and recording under the name Ketchup. He still hopes for a reunion one day.
Taking his influences from The Beatles, John Lennon and Nirvana, Tsoi's sound is refreshingly straightforward and unassuming. 'It's folk rock,' he says. 'I like to go for a very simple style and sound. My inspiration comes from friends and lovers.'
A full-time graphic designer, Tsoi has recorded four full-length albums to date - with a fifth, The Beautiful Things, in production.
Eager to explore fresh horizons, Tsoi is now making his first foray into filmmaking. 'I'm the writer, director and basically everything - although I'm not going to be acting,' he says.
The film, In Love Again, is accompanied by a seven-track soundtrack CD that will be released next month, with the film to follow later in the year.
YMCA Music Breath Live Band Show, featuring Ketchup, Unixx, Ahy, Sensation, Seasons, Sanskrit, Sun, 7.15pm, Lecture Hall,
Space Museum, TST, free. Inquiries: 2268 7714
