For the three members of local band Black Box, positive support from the local media has become the driving force for them to continue their struggle in the local music industry.
'In the past, the local music market was not very open to band-sound music, but the situation has changed now, probably because the local media gives a lot more support to us than before,' said bassist Alex Chan Wai-kong.
'I think both the media and the general public are quite fed up with the present Canto-pop scene and they are looking for some new genres to stimulate the market, and this gives us a golden opportunity to promote our music.' Chan and keyboard player Joannes Lam Kin-wah have known each other for more than seven years and had played together in other bands. Lam met guitarist Clayton Cheung Kai-tim in a song-writing contest in 1994 and invited him to help form Black Box.
'After the competition, we found out that the three of us shared the same music style and interest, and when Alex and Joannes invited me to form a band, I said, 'yes, why not',' said Cheung.
Black Box started their career displaying their talent at various underground performances for indie bands. A local independent label spotted them and offered them a recording contract, which they jumped at.
'When the label approached us, we were really flattered because we did not expect someone would spot us. We thought it was a very good opportunity for us to spread our music,' added Cheung.