Band heads back to studio to record message of balance - all work and no funk is unhealthy
It's back to the studio for the band Mr, which was the first of the city's bands in 10 years to get a record label after receiving the nod from singer Alan Tam Wing-lun. Signed by Universal for their first recording, they're now working on songs for their second. Between creating the material for demos to give to Universal, bassist Dash Tam Kin-men, 28, hinted at what could be expected on the next recording, set for release in summer. 'We will be recording songs that are a bit funky, but the lyrics will sometimes concern Hong Kong issues,' he said.
'Hong Kong people work day and night and don't have a way to release all that tension. If anything, they go to a club and drink all night and then they get up the next day and start working again. In the same way, students are under pressure and the stress is like a tonne of rock on their shoulders.'
So, Tam wants Hongkongers to assess their lives and strive for more important things. 'They need to give themselves a chance to enjoy the environment and time and have fun.'
On Friday night, Mr joined university bands at City University for a concert in aid of the Chi Heng Foundation, which helps young mainlanders affected by Aids. 'It's important to support children, as they are innocent ... [and] because they are the future of society. It's also important to get the message out about HIV awareness and safe sex.'
While their first recording has brought the band success, Tam says he prefers playing with the band to all the hoopla involved in promoting their music. 'I enjoy it very much when the five of us get together in the studio and we focus on the drums and guitar. We'll have to see which demos Universal likes.'
