Meet Three Local Bands Performing at Clockenflap 2013
Clockenflap isn’t just about the big acts: it’s also committed to promoting local sounds. These three bands are playing the festival for the first time: get to know them before your friends do for a hefty dose of Hong Kong hipster cred. By Yannie Chan.
Independent electronic music producer Ariel only started performing last summer.
HK Magazine: How would you describe your music?
Ariel Huang: I’d describe my style as “adventure groove music.” My drums sound like dubstep. My melodies come from video game music and post-rock. My editing techniques come from electronic glitch sounds—so I like to cut things up, mangle them and reverse them. Some musicians have so much significance behind what they do. Dude, my stuff is just hype. It’s got energy, and it gives me life. There’s nothing too deep about it. I’m not a shallow guy—but in this aspect of my life, it’s something enjoyable and wonderful.
HK: What inspires your music?
AH: I’m generally an introvert. I don’t really go to parties, and making electronic music for me expresses that energetic side of me. When I’m making music in my room, I dance really hard. The reason I make music comes from that party side of me.
HK: What sets your music apart?
AH: Most electronic music is quite loopy. I try to make it so that every single bar or measure is different from the last one in some way. It takes me two months to write a song!
HK: You published an EP for free. Why?
AH: I’m as underground and independent as you can get. I didn’t even go to anybody. I found Bandcamp, a website that helps you distribute your music and lets people pay whatever they want. I encourage everybody to pay zero. Sure, music is a lot of work, but I don’t want to put a price tag on it. It cheapens it. It’s like, for 99 cents you get this song: it’s weird. I don’t plan on selling my music. But I will do shows and performances. I mean, if Clockenflap decides to pay me a lot of money, then sure!
HK: What are your plans for your music?
AH: I definitely would like to expose my music to more people. But making music as a career, that’s probably not going to happen. If it happens, that’s awesome. But I don’t generally agree with how entertainment is consumed, how money is generated, and the things you have to do for a label. That stuff scares me and bothers me. There’s an analogy that going into the music industry is like selling your soul. You become an entertainment machine, and you crank out products for them to sell. Of course there are more independent labels that allow for more creative freedom. But still, they expect you to produce. I like doing things on my own terms. If the song is ready, I’ll release it. If it isn’t, I’ll let it sit for two years. I don’t care. I’m doing a Masters in creative media at City University, and I’d like to teach music in future.
