Glory Return
London-based singer-songwriter Emma-Lee Moss – more widely known by her stage name Emmy the Great – has been tagged the ‘pride of Hong Kong’ for her homecoming gig next month.

That may be too easy a label – the girl beneath the dark hair and big eyes, still seems to have a lot in common with the 20-somethings you can see around the city. For instance, she used to fancy Aaron Kwok and Leon Lai when she was a child. ‘Who didn’t?’ she says. ‘I even got that bold haircut of Aaron Kwok.’ And she bursts into laugher and starts humming the pop king’s breakthrough hit Love You Endlessly. Then says, ‘I didn’t know any indie music in Hong Kong but I liked Faye Wong a lot – more than anyone I know.’

Moss started her career playing solo acoustic shows but by the end of 2007 she had formed her own ensemble with friends guitarist Euan Hinshelwood and pianist Tom Rogerson, playing and recording under the name Emmy the Great. Their debut album, the folksy (though Emmy would describe their music more as ‘anti folk’) and intimate First Love, was released earlier this year. Yet the first album she bought was nothing like what she plays now. It was a Metallica album, something she heard on the radio and thought interesting. Imagine the scene: A nine-year-old grabs a Metallica album and takes it to the cashier; as she read through the lyrics, she comes across a difficult word and runs to her father for enlightenment. That word is “cunt”. ‘He just didn’t know what to say. But he didn’t ban me [from listening to it]. He is very understanding.’

She grew up listening to a variety of music, from classic rock (she covers The Pixie’s Where is My Mind in the HK edition of her album) to Ace of Base and the Smashing Pumpkins, and later American college rock like Green Day. But she is ‘re-educating’ herself in music these days, listening to the Cocteau Twins and Henry Nelson. ‘Uh, I am sick of Green Day. I am done with them. Green Day can eat my puke,’ she laughs again. And that is Emmy the Great – straightforward, cheerful, bold but innocent at the same time. What led her to music in the first place? ‘I went to a Chinese school in the New Territories but I knew there were lots of punk bands formed by the older boys at German Swiss International School. I got into music because I wanted to be a part of them and make them notice me. When I went to England I had a great interest in music but I started my band for boys basically.’ Does it work? ‘Well, who knows? I don’t have a boyfriend now,’ she laughs. ‘Being in a band takes up a lot of time and there is no time to see friends. Now it is about making music and the songs. I want time for a boyfriend but friends are more important to me.’

Being at the core of the group, Emmy’s lyrics are often cited by critics as the soul of the band’s music. ‘I guess without the lyrics it won’t be me but really I don’t give a shit about what [the critics] write.’ A band mate once said their music was ‘harmless, unless you start really listening to it’. Emmy calls it ‘passively aggressive’. Her lyrics are like a needle hiding in cotton, and can pierce your heart when you are most unprepared. ‘I never tell people how I feel – I write a song about it and then people will know.’ In the song 24 she says, ‘I would marry you for money but I don’t suppose you’ll ever have enough.’ Now she jokes, ‘I’d love to marry someone for money but unfortunately I am holding out for a visa wedding for America.’ Then again in Easter Parade, she writes that there is no hope and no Jerusalem in a song inspired by religious hate mail from an angry mum. ‘She said she didn’t like her daughter to listen to my filthy mind and I was like, “Wow, if you think this is offensive, you got to hide. There is a lot of offensive stuff out there.”’

For her homecoming show, Moss will be playing solo – it will be the first time her family in HK will get to see her play. Talking of her hometown, she misses ‘the noodles, Pacific Place, taxis, Renfrew Road, 7-11’. Yet she is most anxious to know if Tower Records in Central is still there. She screams when she finds out it isn’t. ‘No! That was like my Mecca… my church. What a nightmare!’
Emmy the Great is playing at Grappa's Cellar on July 3, 8pm. Electro duo Pixel Toy supports. Tickets are $200 from Hong Kong Records, Grappa's Cellar, Love Da Records and Bar65 or $250 at the door.

Closed Pleasure
Hong Kong-born cellist Trey Lee gained fame winning first prize at the International Antonio Janigro Cello Competition in Croatia, yet before that his music career had stalled for five years while he studied economics at Harvard and later worked on Wall Street. But it was during this break that he found what mattered. ‘The five years away from the cello gave me a very good perspective on life and what is important to me, and in the end, I realized cello and music is what matters most to me. Being away from the pressures of studying and practicing music was probably the best way for me to get that perspective. I simply had a lot more time to enjoy listening to music.’ He now has a deeper sense of what music means to him and his surroundings – it not only entertains but also soothes and comforts. ‘That’s why one hears music not only in concerts and weddings, but also at funerals and memorial services. There is also a reason why people want to sing when they are happy - because there is no better way to express their joy than through music!’ he says.

And as the musician improves what he does, his aspirations have swelled. After recording a few acclaimed CDs, making his film debut playing the film score for The Drummer and working with Cantopop star Leo Ku on his new EP, Lee is organizing the inaugural International Chamber Music Festival from June 25-28. ‘Chamber music is one of the most enjoyable ways of making music, and I simply thought HK would be a great place to do it. I have played a lot of solo concerts in HK, but never this type of chamber music performance before,’ he explains. ‘It is also very engaging for an audience to listen to and watch a chamber music performance live. I think everyone can get a lot out of the whole experience.’

He has been careful to choose a programme that will both introduce chamber music to newcomers and satisfy seasoned connoisseurs: From masterworks from Slavic masters like Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff and Stravinsky to a night dedicated to JS Bach, performed by an invitational of 10 international artists, it includes something for everyone. ‘Each artist who will be performing has a unique personality that I think will add tremendously to the excitement and intensity of the festival. The mix of all of them together is what is most interesting.’ Two late-night concerts will be held at 10pm on June 26 and 27 – something quite unique to conventional classical concerts. ‘Their purpose is not only to provide more great music, but also to create an atmosphere that chamber music goes on more than just once a day – thus the idea of a festival rather than simply a few concerts strung together,’ Lee explains.

Lee is currently based in Berlin, the best city in the world, he believes, to meet other classical musicians. ‘The only problem is finding enough time to go to all the concerts I want to hear!’ And he can’t quite decide which he enjoys most – playing chamber music, with an orchestra or solo. ‘As a soloist, one can dive very deeply into one’s own emotional core without having to worry about someone else’s musical impulses. Playing with an orchestra allows one to experience the exhilaration of the sonic power of a massive group of musicians on one stage. However, chamber music is everything from being the most raucous gathering of friends to a whispered exchange between musical soul mates.’ Is ‘surprise’ a keyword in playing chamber music, because of the absence of conductor? ‘Surprise is absolutely right! I don’t think of it as difficult, but rather just challenging. But it’s also why it can be so rewarding – as if one has just climbed a mountain.’

The International Chamber Music Festival will run from June 25 to 28 at the HK City Hall Theatre. Tickets range from $600-$160 from URBTIX, 2734 9009. Visit http://pphk.youdomain.com/ hkicmf.html for a full schedule.

Ever Green
words rachel mok

John Ford Coley, of the Grammy-winning England Dan and John Ford Coley, produced some of the timeless pop songs of the ’70s – the most popular probably being Just Tell Me You Love Me, as covered by the then Cantopop king Alan Tam. He talks about his legacy and God to bc before his local concerts.

It has been 30 years since your last concert in HK. What was your impression of it?
Well, actually I played a low-key event in Hong Kong last year. I really loved Hong Kong. It’s a very active city and the people I met were very friendly. I walked all around the area I stayed in at all times of the day and night. One night Steve, the Asian tour co-ordinator, and I walked down to the flea market and stayed there most of the night. I’m a camera freak so I’m always looking for something new to photograph and there’s a lot to take photos of. I really enjoy foot massages and there are plenty of places that give very good ones.

Sadly England Dan Seals, your long-time working partner and friend, passed away earlier this year. How does his departure affect you, if you don’t mind talking about?
Dan and I had the opportunity to speak with each other a couple of days before he passed away. It was quite special and we revisited some of the old days and got to tell each other how much we loved one another. It was a great relationship, even though we hadn’t seen one another in many, many years. We started off together in high school in Dallas Texas and ended up touring the world together. His dying didn’t really give me any more insight into life and living than I already had. Life is fragile. It’s precious and you hold those that you love close. Death comes to us all eventually and it’s what you’ve done to better other people’s lives that will be remembered. That I constantly think about.

I have read that you converted to Christianity after moving to Tennessee. Did it have anything to do with the place itself, and does that change influence your music?
I had been involved in another religion for about 28 years prior to that. My conversion back to Jesus didn’t really have anything to do with moving here, it’s just that a friend of mine kept asking me to go to church with him. Every time he’d ask, I’d try to avoid the subject. He persisted, so I finally told him that I’d go with him if he’d leave me alone about it after that. He said he would. I thought that would be the end of it. When I went to the church I walked straight into the presence of God. I’d never felt that before in my life and remember, I’d been around what was considered religion most all of my life. My wife and I literally sat in the back of that church for about two months and did nothing but cry. I’d never felt the closeness of God before. I couldn’t explain it to you if I tried but it hasn’t changed since.

Religion is a very important part of your life isn’t it? Otherwise you wouldn’t be writing a book on your change in religious beliefs and speak in churches about your experience.
Wow. So many questions on religion. This is cool because I don’t get asked about this that often and it’s something that I love to talk about. Actually, religion itself isn’t important to me at all. However, God and Jesus and my relationship with them are extremely important to me. Historically religion can be the cause of strife and contention and that’s when it becomes quite obvious that [people] are not reading the Book. It’s really simple for me, read and live. I just try my best to live by what I read in the Bible and that produces understanding and love. This is a subject that I will not argue about. Choose life or death. Death and life are in the power of the tongue. I spend a lot of time in the Bible learning and re-learning and undoing some of the false teachings that I had learned in the religion I had spent 28 years in. I even go to one of the Jewish synagogues here in Nashville and learn from them. I love going to the synagogue. I’ve learned so much. I also went to a Baptist church when I was in Hong Kong last May. It was terrific. I just got to go in, sit in the back and worship God.

Now when you write, what sort of issues would you like to address the most?
Generally when I write, I just write and let the spirit take over. I don’t usually have some hidden agenda nor am I out to save the world. I’ve always been of the impression that when people come to listen to music they are there to escape a little of the world’s situations and difficulties. Although I’m very political and have deep spiritual convictions, I don’t believe that people have come to my concert to hear any of that or watch me poking holes in the air with my finger. And they don’t. We’re just there to hear some music, have a little fun and maybe remember when times were different. Sometimes some of my newer songs can get a little deep or touch on subjects I’ve been involved in, but I generally try to stay in the range of emotion we all feel. I would never want anyone walking out of my concerts feeling depressed. Can music make a difference in the world? Perhaps, but personally I believe it’s people that make the real difference.

What artists/kind of music are you listening to these days?
I listen to many different artists and especially some of the older artists like Joni Mitchell or Dan Fogelberg. I draw great inspiration from people like this. I love songs with strong melodies. I recently produced four sides on Eddie Money, the ’80s rocker. We did some remakes like Two Tickets To Paradise and then some new songs as well. We even had Vince Gill come in and sing with us. I had a blast doing that. Also, I’ve produced a young man named Tom Wurth. Tom is more pop country. Great voice and great songs. I really love listening to Josh Groban, especially since he sings so many operatic songs. I work with many different artists ranging from Ambrosia, Terry Sylvester – formerly of the Hollies – Orleans, Lou Gramm, Jimi Jamison of Survivor or Christopher Cross and America. I love playing with everyone.

John Ford Coley will play with special guest Scottish songbird Julienne Taylor at the HK Arts Centre Shouson Theatre on June 19 at 8pm. Tickets are $450 and $350 from URBTIX, 2734 9009.

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
Britain’s Got Talent winner Paul Potts will visit HK as promotion to his Passione album. Buy a copy from any CD Warehouse outlet or shop for $500 or above at Miramar Shopping Centre, and you may get into the signing session on June 19 at 6pm at the shopping mall. Swedish indie-pop sensation The Radio Dept will play on July 31 at HITEC. Ticket is $380 from HK Ticketing, 31288 288. Placebo, who have just released their self-funded album Battle For the Sun, will play at the Star Hall on August 3. Local band Mr supports and tickets are $680 and $480. Il Divo land on Saturday, September 26 at Asia World Arena, tickets range from $1,280-$380. Underworld will play Born Slippy at the Asia World Arena on September 30, stay tuned for updates.

Rock and Pop
Taiwanese rock rebel Wu Bai and his band China Blue are staging the HK leg of his world tour for his latest album Spacebomb on June 27 at 8:15pm. Tickets for the concert at the Coliseum are $480, $250 and $180 from URBTIX, 2734 9009. New 26-year-old Cantopop star Vincy will stage her first major concert on June 25 at 8:15pm at HKCEC Hall 3G. Tickets are $320 and $150 from HK Ticketing, 31 288 288.

Indie Round-up
Beijing-based postpunk band Illusion Division, with opening act Very Ape, play at Hidden Agenda Live House (1A, Chun Yip Street, Choy Lee Industry Building, Kwun Tong) on June 20 at 8pm. Tickets are $100 walk-in. China’s bloodiest, cruelest and darkest death rock band, Voodoo Kungfu, will spread their apocalypse on June 27 at 8:30pm at the same venue. Supporting band is Armoth. Advance tickets are $120 from Zoo Records and White Noise Records, or walk in for $150 on the day.

Music Gig’s 5th Anniversary party will be a huge hardcore rock riot – bands playing are BlackWine, Crazimalz, Howler, No Excuse, Never N and Sonic Temple. The gig starts on June 19 at 7pm at Yo Park and admission is $100, including one drink. On June 27, Scream for Silence, Eccentric, Tonick, Milk Shake 7, Grin, Free of All, Sense Less and Sexy Hammer will play at the same venue from 7pm. Tickets to the marathon gig are $80, inclusive of a drink.

Singer-songwriter Chet Lam is set to release his most ambitious work to date, the two-disc set My Lonely Planet, capturing the traveller’s mind, heart and soul and the stories he’s seen on the road for the past 12 years. He will be joining Xiaojuan and the Residents of the Valley, a folk group from the Mainland, for a series of concert from June 24-27 at 8:15pm at the HK Arts Centre Shouson Theatre. Tickets are $299, $249 from URBTIX, 2734 9009.

Seasonal Greeting
The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra recently launched their 2009/10 season with a spectacular press conference, inviting friends, patrons and the press to take part in Mozart’s Toy Symphony using toy music instruments conducted by Perry So. The programme this season is as delightful as its introduction – both So and artistic director Edo de Waart are convinced it is the orchestra’s best programme of the past few years. Titled In Tune with the City, the season will feature 36 concerts. Highlights include the return of Korean soprano Sumi Jo in October, after her debut last November won over the local audience. Two great contemporary musicians’ works will be presented in November: Tan Dun’s Map Concerto, a multi-media adventure inspired by Yoyo Ma’s Silk Road Project, and John Adam’s Doctor Atomic Symphony – the socially conscious composer of Nixon in China has based his latest work on J Robert Oppenheimer, the scientist who helped develop the first nuclear bomb. In December, De Waart continues his Mahler cycle – this time tackling The Song of the Earth with tenor Robert Dean Smith. Next May will see Beethoven’s only opera, Fidelio, as an opera in concert.

To see the full season’s programme, go to www.hkpo.com. The deadline for a season subscription will be July 4.