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Sweet Electro
The name Emilie Simon may not mean much to those who think electronic music is the funny noises the computer makes when you push the ‘on’ button. But to all others, it’s a name that is having a startling effect in the worlds of movies and music. For her debut album the singer/songwriter won France’s equivalent of a Grammy and then she made a big splash on the soundtrack of that movie about penguins that became an overnight hit. We are about to see her in Hong Kong on May 8 as a rare highlight of Le French May – and we are ready to bet no one will in HK will compare her to Bjork after that…
Your debut album brought you ‘Best Electronic Album’ in the Victorie de la Musique – were you surprised, as it was only a first album?
I didn’t expect it at all. I made the album at home and never thought it would become so big. For me I just wanted to enjoy making some music at home. It was so surprising.
So there must be a lot of pressure when making the second album?
I guess you have some pressure for a second album but for me it is different, because when I work on the second album I already have La Marche de L’empereur. It is a bit different when people wait for an album and you come with a soundtrack, you know. I didn’t expect the movie to be so successful as well. It was just my first experience in the cinema documentary world.
Would you like to score for another film again?
I have had a lot of propositions to do another movie, but the problem is making a movie takes a lot of time. La Marche de L’empereur took me almost three years. It’s good if you have the passion and time to work on it, but for now I am too busy doing my album and I want to tour. So, yes, I do want to work on movies again but for now I want to focus on other things in my life. But if you asked me years ago I would have never told you I would work on a movie about penguins. It’s life. Things just come up differently from what you’ve planned. So now I don’t plan anything.
Have you seen a penguin yourself?
I’ve seen one in a zoo in Canada. I’d love to go to Antarctica some day but that is a big, big thing to do!
Who is your biggest influence in music?
I kept listening to all the Beatles’ records when I grew up. They are interesting because they have so many faces and [their music] is so rich. And in terms of production, they are a main influence on me too. When you listen to the orchestral work with George Martin it is very original for the time.
The name ‘The French Björk’ – love it or hate it?
I think it is an easy name. It is very easy to compare us as we are both female musicians playing electronic music. I am not offended or particularly happy about it. I really like Björk’s work. But it is a bit strange to compare two human beings.
Your last album Végétal was closely related to plants and your music videos are often utterly fantastic. Do you have any particular ambition in your music?
I don’t think it’s necessary to have a message in one’s music. What is interesting is to create expressing your feelings, the best of you. Of course there is a lot of [subtext] to my songs, but, and this may sound a bit selfish, the first thing is to express myself.
What do you do when you are not making music?
When I am not writing music, I produce my music. When I am not producing music, I play my guitar… (Laughs). I can be playing music and doing an interview at the same time. Actually I do like shopping, going to the cinema and museums, but I’ve been too busy with my music.
Which album you’ve been listening to lately?
Arcade Fire’s Neon Bible. We actually played in the same festival in Paris last year. I like the band a lot!
Emilie Simon plays on May 8 at Hong Kong City Hall Concert Hall. The show starts at 8pm. Tickets are $150, $200 and $250 from URBTIX, 2734 9009.
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Massive Attack
The line-up for the Let’s Fight concerts is so long it is breathtaking (literally), but local rock guru Paul Wong says more are yet to come. So vacuum your ears and gather your breath for Josie Ho, Qiu Hong, Tats Lau, Ryan Hui, Dear Jane, Seasons Lee, Audio Traffic, Family, Hardpack, Kinglychee and Sonic Temple just for a start. It’s going to be an exhausting weekend. We talked to Paul before both of us depleted our lung space….
Any master plan behind this huge event?
It’s quite spontaneous actually. But it is one of the things I have always wanted to do. There are more bands in Hong Kong than in the past but less well-organized band gigs. So I thought if no one else wants to do it, why don’t I put [a show] on myself? All the bands involved are very united and it will be a good experience for all of us to learn and push the boundaries.
But you’re like the big brother of the local music scene already. Do you feel like you should use your influence to change things around?
I wouldn’t say I am influential or whatever, I think I am more like a cow. Just keep trying. Instead of just complaining about people’s ignorance in the local band scene, why don’t we take the first step? I think I can put on a good show not because I am Paul Wong; it’ll be because of the efforts of all the bands and musicians.
So it’s like one big family gig.
I did choose the bands actually, because I want to include music of different genres. I hope to have a bit of everything because that is exactly what we have in the city. But I’ve been getting calls from friends scolding me for not including them in the line-up. (Laughs). So I told them to come if they want to play too. There will be more musicians on the day of performance I am sure.
And you’ve recorded a theme song, Let’s Fight.
Yep, and all of us will perform the song on stage together. We have dozens of people and the stage may collapse, actually… pretty scary now when I think of it. But it should be fun.
What does Paul Wong still need to fight for in music?
Space for all kinds of music to develop in Hong Kong. I see no point in pop acts selling a few thousand CDs and then making it a big deal with make-up crew, bodyguards and stuff, while other bands who can sell the same number of albums are being labelled as alternative. Kinglychee got invited to tour in Germany and many pop acts can’t even make it to the mainland.
Let’s Fight will be on May 11 and 12 at HITEC Hall B. Shows kick off at 8pm on both nights. Single-day tickets cost $250 and $400 for both days. Get tickets from Tom Lee Outlet (TST, CWB and Shatin) and Double Park or call 6677 1165 for enquires. |
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5 Favourites
 Tha Pancakes as know as Dejay
Favourite song at the moment?
Teach Me How to Pee from the OST of Prince de la Bun. The original melody was from Historia de un Amor, which many people already know. Brian Tse re-wrote the Cantonese lyrics. I have a song in this soundtrack too but I never paid attention to this song until a week ago (i.e. more than 2 years after I got this CD). The lyrics seem to be very funny but the story is so sad!
Favourite artist of all time?
Hoff Dylan from Japan. Their songs always make me feel so good because there is such beautiful music in this world to listen to. I always try to buy all of their products whenever I see them.
Favourite reading at the moment?
Kamakura Monogatari by Saigan Ryouhei. His short stories are often related to ghosts, spirits, outer space creatures and monsters in a nice way, with warm, touching or sad but positive endings. The characters are very lovely and the background is usually Japan several decades ago.
Favourite film at the moment?
I watch very few movies. I spend more time watching British TV comedies. Recently I like Green Wing very much. It is very funny and rude and we laughed a lot but to my disappointment I learnt from some websites that it has a sad ending so I refused to buy the DVD with the ending.
Favourite city?
Hong Kong. It’s where I grew up. I know this place so well that I can feel comfortable, safe and happy here, and I always know, or at least my friends know, where to go to when I need anything.
Dejay will play along with Atomic Bubbles, Band Band and The Pullover in Tototototonight gig on May 12 at the Fringe Club. Show starts at 10:30pm and ticket costs $100 including one drink. |
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 Brit Breeze
A bit tired of the punk rock/hard rock gigs we see every week? Two melodic and more atmospheric bands will be a nice contrast care of the British Post Rock night. The Dummy with Chung on guitar and vocals, Yip on keyboards, bassist Yin and drummer Don, play Cantonese post-rock songs and the experimental trio Hamster returns with their trademark poetic and melodic tunes ‘as gentle as an autumn breeze’. Guess it is an early autumn. Catch the two bands at Fringe Club on May 11 at 10:30pm. Tickets costing $90 include one standard drink. |
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New Wave
 Bonjour Nouvelle Vague is a band that turns dark and gloomy post-punk/new-wave classics into happy sassy tunes. Other than two well-received albums and concerts in more than 20 countries, their songs have been used in various TV dramas, movie blockbusters and commercials. Recentlytheir cover of The Dead Kennedys’ Too Drunk to Fuck was included on the soundtrack of the much anticipated new Tarantino film Grindhouse. Before we find out how such a lovely voice fits into such a bloody, violent flick, catch the band in Hong Kong as part of the Le French May programme. The show on May 13 at HK Convention & Exhibition Centre starts at 8pm. Tickets are $288, $488 and $688 from HK Ticketing, 31 288 288. |
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