HONG KONG'S NEWEST record label, Harbour Records, is the latest in a growing number of initiatives by young bands to stamp some originality on the local music scene. Like others, including People Music People Sea, the label was set up with minimal funds in April by a group of indie outfits that would most probably be overlooked by mainstream labels, who consider them too niche and unmarketable.
Five bands - My Little Airport, 22 Cats, JoyTrendySound, False Alarm and Human head Horse - have an equal share in the label, which has released several albums and hosted numerous live shows since its inception.
Although not the first, Harbour Records is one of just a handful of recording outfits to be operated by the bands themselves in an attempt to cater for non-mainstream tastes and snub the sugary world of Canto-pop.
The new endeavours have many traits in common, not least that they're run by young, enterprising musicians with an aim to make music for an audience largely neglected by the mass media.
Noble ambitions, but are they naive? Perhaps not, as few of the musicians claim to have illusions of mass success or fame, or even of surviving on the earnings from their music - just going out and having a go seems the nature of this underground movement.
Rockit Festival founder Nimal Jayawardena says the label is on the right track. 'Harbour Records is a great idea. We support them and what they are trying to do. Like the festival, these people have had to go out on their own to try to make what they want to happen. They don't go around boasting about what they do for HK music, and how important they are, they just get on with it with what they have, and do a very good job.'
