The story of electronica duo Snoblind is not your typical boy-meets-girl tale. The boy, Vincent Wong Wai-yiu, grew up in North Point listening to classic American rock on the radio. The girl, Regina Chang Ming-lai of Cheung Sha Wan, watched MTV and listened to Nirvana. Wong formed a jazz band in his university days in Australia. Chang played bass in an all-girl teen punk band.
But adult life set in after graduation - the bands ended, and Wong and Chang found jobs - as self-described 'cubicle drones' - in government. They met eight years ago when, during a routine work chat, Chang noticed Wong had a pile of rock show fliers and ticket stubs on his desk. 'Hey, I'm a band yao [Cantonese slang for musician] too,' she said.
The alternative music scene - anything that isn't Canto-pop - in Hong Kong is interesting in that non-Canto-pop fans are so used to their minority status that once one spots another, it's almost obligatory to bond. And once that connection is made, it's just a matter of time before one pops the question: 'Want to jam sometime?' Wong asked. Chang nodded.
The two initially played with friends, but both realised their 'musical wavelength was the most compatible'. And so began the story of Snoblind - a love story, not between boy and girl, but a love of music.
Today, Wong and Chang are in a stylish cafe tucked in the corner of Star Street in Wan Chai, and they look uncomfortable. The photographer has asked them not to smile for the next set of shots. Despite eight years of playing in front of packed crowds around Asia, they still see posing for photos as an alien concept. 'We're not a photogenic group,' Wong says.
He uses self-deprecating humour often, perhaps to make light of the fact that Snoblind look nothing like their peers in the indie music scene. While many bands perhaps pay too much attention to their appearance and aim for a specific style, Wong and Chang dress like typical thirtysomething Hongkongers at a Sunday dim sum lunch - casual and comfortable.