※South China Morning Post※
《Young Post》
WEDNESDAY November 27 2002
Mellower sound
ONCE–ANGRY Local band Tat Flip have mellowed. In their powerful nu-metal (rap mixed with heavy metal) days, they criticized the education system, hypocritical people and society in general.
But in their upcoming third album, Simple Life, to be release next month, the band will shift to melodic rock and their songs will be about friendship, love and personal experiences.
“The first two albums were much more accusing. We are now more mature and have actually learned something from what we’ve been through over the past few years,” says 24-year-old drummer Hui Ka-Wing. “We would like to record this on an album”.
The band, indeed, have had some ups and downs.
First formed by Ka-Wing, his brother Ka-wai (guitarist), Jan Lo Kau-man (vocalist and guitarist) and Ko Yiu-fung (bassist) in 1998, Tat Flip were the champions of the Hong Kong Teenage Band Competition organized by the warehouse Teenage Club and the Carlsberg Music Expression band contest.
In 1999, they won four awards, including silver for the most popular local band in the awards organized by Commercial Radio Two.
Their talent caught the attention of the popular local band Beyond and they were signed on by Beyond’s production company, Rear House.
They released their debut album So What in 2000. It was an exciting moment for every one. But Lo and Ko left the band at the end of the year, and new bassist Ryan Tsang Wai-yan joined last year.
“We were very sad when they left,” Ka-wing recalled. “We played together for three years and Ka-wai and Ko were long-time friends.”
“But as we got older, our way of thinking change and we became ambitious.”
Past Tense, one of the songs on their new album, recalls the time spent together with the two former members.
The new album is easier to listen to, according to the band.
“When we made our first album, we just wanted to have fun—the louder and heavier [ the music was], the more fun we had,” Ka-wing said.
“But we hope our new album will be more relaxing.”
Are they worried that their follower will think they have gone soft﹖No. They think they’re heading in the right direction.
“We want to create something that more people will accept,” said 22-year-old Ka-wai.
“If we only play one type of music, it will be boring and will limit us.”
Since their contract with Beyond ended, the band have become independent, recording and producing their own albums in the Tsuen Wan studio, Flip Production.
“It’s another stage [ of development], another kind of pressure,” Ka-wing said. “We are now doing things without anyone’s advice.”
The band have more freedom now, but they also have to cope with many problems and challenges.
“At the beginning, we knew nothing about recording. We had tones of problems which we had to solve,” Ka-wing said.
Despite the hardships, the band said their love of music would not change. “We will continue to play music we like……and make good music,” Ka-wing said
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