words rachel mok

Evan Steer is the creative brain behind gay hub Volume and his alter ego DJ Stonedog takes charge of the dance floor when night falls. He talks of new plans for the club, the new house anthem No I Won’t and a gay icon for HK.

The new Volume web site What we’re really trying to do is provide Hong Kong’s gay community and travellers to our city with a focus point that can be experienced not just in the cyber world but which can connect back to the real world. Our vision is to take the current Volume concept of just a venue and elevate it into a fashionable lifestyle and music brand that’s fun, clubby, contemporary and relevant to Hong Kong’s gay community. It will have a decidedly trashy tabloid kinda tone to it through exclusive interviews and blogs by some of gay HK’s most colourful characters, yet take on a serious approach to promoting undiscovered electronic music. Essentially, we want to be Asia’s version of Ministry Of Sound or Hed Kandi – but from a queer perspective. The new Volume site will have its own music download store – a first for a nightclub venue in this region – containing original, locally made dance music.

New single No I Won’t is the ultimate break-up song It’s a powerful tribute to making a difficult decision and having the guts to follow through. In the lyrics it tells the story of a woman who refuses her cheating partner when he begs to be taken back for a second chance. Most people in love find it hard to walk away from something like that with dignity and self respect. A lot of us end up in these on/off relationships and this song is about finding the inner strength not to go down that path. It’s self-empowering and definitely relatable for the gay community.

Create a HK gay icon In karaoke-obsessed Hong Kong? Are you kidding me? Absolutely! This will definitely happen. In fact, I have already figured out how I will find them, so when I do, that person will become a bona fide star in the gay community and beyond. That would be my dream, to find someone amongst us who is not afraid to represent us and show the younger generations of our gay community that success is not limited by our sexuality or local Chinese traditions.

The good, the bad and the heroes of HK gay scene There seems to be a lack of people willing to step up to the plate and make a difference and an indifference towards those who do from our community at large. So I admire the few people like HK gay activists Roddy Shaw and William Leung, photographer Norm Yip, Betty and Abby from Les Peches, Floatilla’s Greg Pearce and the unsung heroes who work tirelessly behind the scenes at charity organizations like Hong Kong Aids Concern and Horizons etc. Our community needs to come together better and more efficiently to encourage individuals and organizations like this to flourish. The first gay pride parade last year was testament that times are changing, but there’s still a long way to go. If only we didn’t have to go to court almost every time we get represented on TV, we could be more visible without repercussions! As for the best thing, well, that’s easy – we look stunning, radiate fabulousness and party like rock stars.

Absence of international DJs in HK’s gay clubs The simple truth is because we’re not used to it! Possibly because there was this stupid belief our scene wasn’t good enough to support them. Perhaps we’ve been suffering a collective rut of low self-esteem, or maybe we got burnt out and jaded into thinking nothing would change. But our scene is expanding, what with a bunch of new venues recently opening. To compete, we have to get creative and, when we do, the whole community benefits because it puts us on an even international playing field. Just this year alone, HK has had some of the biggest name DJs on the gay circuit come to town. Tony Moran’s recent gig [at Sugar] was a huge success. Manny Lehman is coming and on May 27 Volume is proud to host DJ Kimberly S on the opening night of her 2009 Dhamanation Asia Tour. So sorry, I don’t accept that it is not necessary. It is if we want our scene to be taken seriously abroad.

When people try to hit on me behind the deck I’ll say Step right up! Just don’t then ask me to play Mariah’s Touch My Body. I can’t stand that song. Seriously, ask to touch my body, not hers! (laughs)

Party at Volume on May 15 in celebration of the new volume.com.hk – email info@volume.com.hk for an invitation. On May 27, California house queen DJ Kimberly S will kick off her Asia tour at the newly launched Volume Circuit Sessions – stay tuned for updates.