Why is your name written without capital letters?
One, being humble is always my life philosophy and, two, I can type it easier like that.

Can you tell us what is chi chung’s choice?
It’s the name of the radio show I have presented since the ’90s. I’ve recommended a wide spectrum of music and culture to the local audience in the past two decades. It is also my belief that each and every one of us should have a choice of music.

What do you think of HK as a place for DJ-ing?
In the mid-’90s the global DJ culture started to kick-start here. World-famous names like Pete Tong, Paul Oakenfold, Boy George, Fatboy Slim, Shadow, Krush, UFO, Gilles Peterson, Ken Ishii, Takyuu Ishino, etc made debut visits. Then local heroes like Joel Lai, Teng Boon, etc paved
the way for today. It’s getting more diverse and interesting now.

You have worked with many famous and different artistes. Do you have any favourites among them and any fun stories to share about them?
Among the people I have had the pride and honour to have worked with are David Bowie, David Sylvian, Ryuichi Sakamoto and Peter Gabriel.

Bowie: I worked on the project concept of his groundbreaking Mandarin single, A Fleeting Moment, in 1997 before Hong Kong’s handover. I met him in London for a TV interview after July 1, 1997.

Gabriel: I led some 40 local artists and UK musicians to record the Popo Song in his Real World Studios in 2004. We had lunch and a photo session together too. The place is like heaven for musicians. He makes dreams come true.

You were a radio DJ before moving to Pop Bites. What is the difference between being a DJ at Pop Bites and on radio?
Anywhere can be a music platform or medium to gather music lovers. Pop Bites Radio is now developing my weekly show and I have done some crossover with media, like Live Earth Marathon with CR2 and we will have something with Moov soon. Nevertheless, a venue to meet with people to share music in this internet age has given us back some of the human touch we lost.

Do you think music is a global language? Either way, why?
It is everywhere. Music is more popular than ever.

Can you share with us your thoughts about the local Cantopop industry?
This is my PhD thesis, and it’s ready to be finished… ha ha ha. Well, people are struggling to survive and to make more revenue from digital, merchandising and management, etc worldwide. Cantopop is no different. Given the hard facts, I think there are more creative and independent musicians and artists rising these days. As I said in my book published by
HAB this February, ‘HK Pop’ is the future, which means there should be more local pop music than Cantopop, for instance, indie rock, Canto hip-hop, HK DJ culture, etc.

Your baby daughter is a real cutie pie! How has life changed after you became a father?
Playing with my lovely baby girl is also an exercise requiring lots of energy but, I must say, that it is by far one of the most gratifying things to me. I miss surfing in Hawaii, our second home… coming soon in Christmas!

Check out chi chung’s choice at 9pm and his DJ-ing at 10pm at Popbites every Saturday!

Angel XXX