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Whence He Came Interview
One of the most recognizable bands in Hong Kong, Whence He Came, is releasing a brand new album, “The Shorter Story”. As we talk to lead singer Joshua and lead guitarist Ephraim, to catch up with what they’ve been doing through the years, and their advice on young-hopefuls in Hong Kong. Read more...The people in the Interview room are as follows:
A: Alyson (HKClubbing.com/CityVibe)
J: Joshua (Whence He Came)
E: Ephraim (Whence He Came)
A:I remember the last time I saw was at the Starsailor concert, but the last time I talked to you was when you were promoting “Still Amidst The Traffic”…
J:Wow! 3 years ago!
A:What have you been doing for the past 3 years?
E:Recording this record… (giggled) I guess like playing shows and stuff…we’ve done a couple of tours outside of Hong Kong…
J:Done lots and lots of shows… we started recording the new album last September… and yeah, it’s coming out next month!
A:So where did you guys go for the last couple of tours?
J:We toured Japan twice, and we’ve done Singapore a couple of times, but Japan’s been the biggest for us, every single time we’ve gone over, we’ve got more and more… like bigger and bigger response. We don’t even understand why people like us, because bands over there are so good…
A: So what do you think of the fans in Japan?
J: People that come to our shows are really really supportive. I mean it’s just really amazing playing for Japanese people, coz they’re really appreciative, except, in between songs it’s dead silence…
A:Really?
J:Yeah… at the Japanese shows… I mean it’s loud and crazy, and then they applause, and then if you have too much of a gap in between, then it’s complete silence, nobody says a thing…
E:I don’t know if that’s such a respect thing, or… just that… they probably don’t like us… (LOL)
A: Tell us about the new album!
J:It’s called the “Shorter Story”, it will be available in stores starting from the 1st of May.
E:It runs for about 40 minutes, and songs that we’ve been playing them through our shows in Hong Kong for about 2 years now. Most of them are new songs… I guess it’s a lot of big stuff compared to “Still Amidst The Traffic”, coz we’ve progressed a lot. Like we’ve got 2 new members for the band. And yeah… so much better than the first one!
J:We were able to get a really amazing producer from Holland, his name is Martin Groeneveld. And he’s worked with bands like This Beautiful Mess, and The Spirit That Guides Us… some incredible Dutch bands and European bands, so he flew over here and produced the album, and we mixed and mastered it in Holland. So… it’s an amazing experience.
A:Do you feel like sometimes it’s hard to put your own experience into the songs?
J:Yeah, totally! In fact, I haven’t written a single song for Whence He Came which used the word I in it, coz I just feel really weird writing about myself or writing about me.. so I usually try tot make all the songs stories of somebody else, maybe me, or may not be me… at least it doesn’t sound like I’m arrogant and writing about myself.
A: How would you encourage people, especially young people to stand up and do their thing like you did?
J:Phew… that’s an interesting question…
E:Go for it! I guess… do it while you’re still young… and just grown you get old, and you have a family… how much of a choice of doing it coz you’ll have to sacrifice a lot…
J:Like you said were still young, we still live with our family, we don’t really have… you know, not really have entered the whole real world…
E: We don’t have mortgage and rent and all that stuff…
J:Just go for it… if you enjoy music, do it. If you enjoy art, do it. Hong Kong is pretty hard if you’re doing art stuff, but as long as you enjoy it, then just do it.
A: Have you ever got to a point where you’ll go, “Uh, I regret doing this…”?
J: To be honest? Not really.
E:No, never.
J:I can say firstly it’s been the biggest step in my life, the most life changing experience, like starting a band and getting elsewhere and stuff. I never really pictured myself when I was 18, like… you know… touring places and playing shows and playing for fantastic people. I’ve been having the ride of my life.
E: Yeah!
J:I think one thing that I’ll say to most kids is that, figure out what you really love in it. And if you really love it, then give everything for it!
The new album is in stores from the 31st May, while the band will be doing more touring in Europe later this year.
Check out their website at:
www.whencehecame.net
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