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SCMP Reporter

This week Musician Steve Wong reflects on the birth of his first child

Steve Wong, the younger brother of the late Koma Wong Ka-kui, the former lead singer of the now-defunct Beyond, is often seen by fans as the 'little brother' of the band.  His strong-minded brother was the driving force in  the band's rise  to one of the city's most influential acts.

But two incidents prompted Wong to toughen up. The first was a tragedy:  while rehearsing for a TV game show in Tokyo in 1993, Koma fell off the stage, landed on his head and died after six days in a coma.

The second  was good news: in March, Wong's son was born.

'He [the baby] enriches my life. In the past, my life was about pursuing the dreams of one person. Now my life is about pursuing the dreams of three people: me, my wife and the baby,'  says Wong.

Wong's  Mandarin debut Tata  was released last month, although he  recorded most of the songs in 2006.

'I didn't release  anything over the past two years because I knew if I were to release a Mandarin album, I'd have  to go to the mainland to promote my music.  My wife was pregnant and I was worried about leaving her at home alone.'

But the delay is a blessing in disguise.  Inspired by the  fact that he  would soon become a father, Wong reworked  the album and penned inspiring new songs about life and family.

The  result is a melodic rock album rich in style and content.

'I don't see there's a clash between being a father and a rock musician. Music stems from life, and musicians have their own life and family.

To me it [being a father] means entering another stage of life.'

The newborn child also  inspired Wong to reflect on his relationship with his parents.  Opening song Nezha Returns Home,  about a man who regrets neglecting his parents, is  dedicated to  Wong's parents.

In Chinese mythology, Nezha is a deity but a trickster.

'As a child I was wild. I didn't like to stay at home and I  drove my dad up the wall ... I didn't understand my dad, who was  always worrying about me. Now,   as a father myself, I finally understand how he felt.'

The album closes with Nezha Leaves Home. 'Nezha Returns Home expresses my wish to spend more time with my dad, while Nezha Leaves Home reflects my worries as a father that my son may leave home  one day,'  says Wong.

Wong also has a song  dedicated to orphans called  Cries from a Faraway Place.  It was inspired by Wong's experience during a charity trip  to Cambodia where he witnessed the plight of  children living on the streets.

'We need to care more about the future of children. I am blessed with  a happy family, but some families are torn apart by violence,'   says Wong.

'Family violence is not a new issue, but now  that I'm a father, I'm more sensitive to it. It's  painful to think what these families go through.'

Wong says it was love  that motivated him and his wife to have a baby,  despite the fact our world  is far from perfect.

'Not everything in this world is negative,' says Wong. 'We can convince people to stop wars and protect the environment. We have the ability to change.'



From wild child to loving father