Phillip Hong
March 2, 2010
Locus Interview
When I think of Chinese pop music, it's usually this melodramatic mess with digital instruments that seem to spit out quite a cheap sound, combined with lyrics that are created for no other purpose than to entertain to the lowest possible common decimal. In fact, I believe there is a lack of soul in music that is created for the language, because a lot of that market is focused on selling albums as a Olympic sport out of all things.
Locus provides a very different, a more profound point of view into this otherwise failed genre. For those who don't understand the Chinese language, they have also given equal footing by being bilingual with their material. It's a form of pop that isn't corny or ridiculous at all... in fact, a number of genres take an influential role in their music, and that's probably their biggest draw.
I should brush up on my own pathetically amateurish knowledge of this mother tongue before I say anything else. My ridiculous questions have been answered by bandmates Jason Chu and Kaila So.
PHIL: How was the band formed in 2006?
KAILA: We actually didn't think about forming a band at first. It started when Jason and Kelvin began writing music ten years ago as a duo. I came on board in 2005 when Jason and I met while still playing for another band. Eric joined shortly after he began collaborating with Jason in late 2006. This led to a string of collaborations between the four of us, and in a very short time, we discovered we had written about 30 songs! Then we realized it would make perfect sense if we all joined together to contribute to each others' musical journey. Now, here we are, a songwriting group and best friends for life.
PHIL: How did music in general come into your life?
JASON: Kelvin and I started studying piano when we were four years old. Eric is self-taught in guitar and drums. Kaila has previously fronted other local bands and contributed vocals for local acts XYL and Daddy Chang.
Read the rest of this interview at TEA on 148.ca
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There's a very nice feeling involved when you base yourself as an artist with the most abstract of descriptions. Some artists revel and lavish themselves with elaborate tales from tours and sophisticated set ups that rival rocket science, and that sort of identity is well deserved in many instances.
She herself has a wonderful singing voice as does my father. My uncle taught me guitar at the age of 10 and I sang in the choir in public school. It's in my blood!
This artist must have been a very curious connoisseur when it comes to tasting music - in fact, he's compared a good track to a "bit of fine wine" for the ears. What I find very nice about this comparison is that you don't really need to be an alcoholic to truly enjoy a fair bit of gluttony, and your liver doesn't need a transplant if you listen to too much music.
BAIN: In the past I have been known to be sort of a serious songwriter. Not too long ago I turned a corner in my life by surviving some adversity. After that, I decided to write songs that are fun, upbeat and hopefully out there to help people forget (even for just 3 minutes and 5 seconds) the trials and tribulations that life can bring.
