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A Sea Of Questions
Underground band WhyOceans ponders enigmas
not always beginning with why
The alternative five-piece WhyOceans was one of the bands in Macau Underground One that rocked the East’s Las Vegas back in April. In fact, the band also played Macau Underground Zero back in 2007. bc set out to find out more about the band and why they put so much importance on the question ‘why?’.
Can you tell us something about yourself, like how did you start playing music?
Jase (bass): I started playing music when I was 14 in a big band organized by my school. Apart from playing music, photo shooting and computer programming have occupied most of my free time. Frankly speaking, I’m a workaholic.
Tommy (guitar): I love music! I’ve found that the tone of the guitar is an amazing thing and it touches me very much. Apart from playing guitar, I enjoy listening to music, eating and fashion. Travelling is one of my favourites too.
Jackal (keyboards): I used to play piano when I was a kid. But since secondary school, I started playing in a band with Tommy and Jase as a guitarist. Now, once again I have picked up keyboards in WhyOceans. I like collecting toys and figures, especially those related to guitars, bands and rock icons. I love hanging around toy stores and browsing toy/figure-related websites for fun.
Kev (vocals/guitar): Though I have been playing music only for a short time, I have always been a music lover. I believe music brings happiness and fun. Personally, I like animals and beautiful paintings.
Ellison (drums): I am a student right now and I am the youngest member in my band. I am also a hockey player in Macau.
How would you describe the music of the band?
Jase: Edgy, melodic. Just like a Mini Cooper running on Highway 69.
Tommy: Tastes like coffee.
Jackal: Melodic, glamorous and gorgeous!
Kev: It is cool!
Ellison: Post-modern!
Tell us about your music influences?
Jase: I’m mainly influenced by Kurt Cobain. Radiohead finally inspired me and gave me many ideas about creativeness.
Tommy: Mainly influenced by my dad, as well as John Lennon and Jimi Hendrix. They are awesome! I strongly recommend you guys check out Sticky Finger by the Rolling Stones and The Wall by Floyd.
Jackal: Jimi Hendrix’s Are You Experienced, Pink Floyd’s The Wall and Ryuichi Sakamoto.
Kev: I am strongly influenced by Kurt Cobain, Pink Floyd, The Doors and Metallica.
Ellison: My drum pattern is largely influenced by the drummer of Pink Floyd.
I have heard there are very few band shows in Macau. Is
that so?
Jase: Yes, I can count them with my 10 fingers. For gigs in Macau, the fingers on my left hand will be quite adequate. It’s not really difficult to play music in Macau, but sometimes you get lost and ask yourself, ‘Why I am still playing music in a desert with no music sense at all?’
Tommy: It’s not difficult to play in a band. The most difficult thing, not only in Macau but worldwide, is to form a band. It is really hard to co-ordinate people, to carry the same idea and to achieve the same goal.
Jackal: The hardest thing is that we don’t always have a chance to play in live gigs, largely due to a lack of organizers, budget and locations. We would like to share our atmosphere and messages with all music lovers in Macau, but every time we play we only see the same small group of familiar faces. There is no way for new bands to promote themselves, and it turns out that the same bands (like us) are playing in every show. Can you imagine what the audiences feel when they watch the same bands playing again and again in every show? Very few audiences and organizers are willing to spend money to support band shows; it’s a dead loop. I think we local bands should be more proactive in changing the situation.
What is your most memorable gig so far and what happened?
Jackal: The most recent one is always the most memorable one. I recall Kev trying to give Ellison’s phone number to the girls, but nobody wanted it.
Ellison: The first time I played music with WhyOceans was at a private show. I had to memorize all the songs in a few days. That was amazing!
‘Why is the question of all questions; we are constantly looking for the answer.’ - That is the band’s motto. What is the question you always want to ask but for which you have not yet found the answer?
Jase: What’s our future? An answer always appears in my mind - the future is unwritten. But I’m not sure if it is a good answer for me. So I’m still looking for the true answer.
Tommy: Everyone has his/her own ‘why’ in their head, I’m always looking for these whys.
Jackal: Do we really have an ‘absolute’ answer for everything? I think it’s contradictory to answer either ‘yes’ or ‘no’.
The band is currently preparing material for their debut album, which they hope to release in 2009. For more, check out www.whyoceans.com. |
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Macau Diary Highlights
31 May, 1, 7 & 8 June
This year’s annual Macau Dragon Boat races, taking place at the Nam Van Lake Nautical Centre, have been extended from three days to four and an additional 2000m race has been added. Racing starts each day at 10am and admission is free - for more see www.sports.gov.mo
6-8 June
Air Supply the Australian doyens of the modern soft rock love song return for three nights at the Sands Macau Theatre, Monte Carlo Square featuring all their classics including All Out Of Love, Making Love Out Of Nothing At All, Lost In Love, Every Woman In The World... Showtime is 8:30pm and tickets cost MOP680, MOP580 from www.venetianmacaotickets.com |
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