Whence He Came Interview
One of the most recognizable bands in Hong Kong, Whence He Came, is releasing a brand new album, âThe Shorter Storyâ. As we talk to lead singer Joshua and lead guitarist Ephraim, to catch up with what theyâve 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 âStill Amidst The Trafficââ¦
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 stuffâ¦weâve done a couple of tours outside of Hong Kongâ¦
J:Done lots and lots of shows⦠we started recording the new album last September⦠and yeah, itâs coming out next month!
A:So where did you guys go for the last couple of tours?
J:We toured Japan twice, and weâve done Singapore a couple of times, but Japanâs been the biggest for us, every single time weâve gone over, weâve got more and more⦠like bigger and bigger response. We donât even understand why people like us, because bands over there are so goodâ¦
A: So what do you think of the fans in Japan?
J: People that come to our shows are really really supportive. I mean itâs just really amazing playing for Japanese people, coz theyâre really appreciative, except, in between songs itâs dead silenceâ¦
A:Really?
J:Yeah⦠at the Japanese shows⦠I mean itâs loud and crazy, and then they applause, and then if you have too much of a gap in between, then itâs complete silence, nobody says a thingâ¦
E:I donât know if thatâs such a respect thing, or⦠just that⦠they probably donât like us⦠(LOL)
A: Tell us about the new album!
J:Itâs called the âShorter Storyâ, it will be available in stores starting from the 1st of May.
E:It runs for about 40 minutes, and songs that weâve been playing them through our shows in Hong Kong for about 2 years now. Most of them are new songs⦠I guess itâs a lot of big stuff compared to âStill Amidst The Trafficâ, coz weâve progressed a lot. Like weâve 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 heâs 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⦠itâs an amazing experience.
A:Do you feel like sometimes itâs hard to put your own experience into the songs?
J:Yeah, totally! In fact, I havenât 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 doesnât sound like Iâm 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⦠thatâs an interesting questionâ¦
E:Go for it! I guess⦠do it while youâre still young⦠and just grown you get old, and you have a family⦠how much of a choice of doing it coz youâll have to sacrifice a lotâ¦
J:Like you said were still young, we still live with our family, we donât really have⦠you know, not really have entered the whole real worldâ¦
E: We donât have mortgage and rent and all that stuffâ¦
J:Just go for it⦠if you enjoy music, do it. If you enjoy art, do it. Hong Kong is pretty hard if youâre doing art stuff, but as long as you enjoy it, then just do it.
A: Have you ever got to a point where youâll go, âUh, I regret doing thisâ¦â?
J: To be honest? Not really.
E:No, never.
J:I can say firstly itâs 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. Iâve been having the ride of my life.
E: Yeah!
J:I think one thing that Iâll 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.
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