I: Please introduce yourselves.(name, age, interests, and of course your position in the band. You can also
write anything you wish)
 
Ling: I'm the band leader and lead vocalist Ling, born on 30 October, 176 cm tall. I like to play basketball
[written as 'basket-ball'], Basketball, I think you call it 'da3 bo1' [hitting waves?? someone help me out
here] in Hongkong (I'm not very sure). And of course music. I like the colour black and seldom wear clothes
of other colours.....and I really want to go to Hongkong for a Live....I'm 176 cm tall.
 
Lucy: Born on 12th January. Interests: PC Game, watching movies. I like the Hongkong actors Stephen
Chow [a comedian] and Fan Yi Min. And of course guitar (classical guitar). I like white, blue and red best,
like eating fruits (lychees), 172cm tall.
[lychees are small fruits with a big seed, red bumpy shell and juicy white flesh]
 
Hong: I'm Hong, born on 7th April, 185 cm tall,.I like wearing clothes of different colours and patterns
everyday.
 
Zhen: I'm Zhen, born on the eigth day of the twelth lunar month (the coldest day in the year) 6th January,
178 cm tall. I'm the drummer, I only like using DW drums.....erm....I didn't like eating chilli before, but now
I'm starting to eat them...there's nothing else.
 
I: Who influenced you to form the band? (Hopefully all members will answer this question) You incorporate
makeup into your performances, does your greatest influence come from Japanese visual kei? Which
bands do you like?
 
Ling: Personally, JVR [actual abbreviation used by them] influenced us greatly, but as a band, we are more
influenced by Western rock,. I like Radiohead, The Cure, Portishead, Suede and many other Dark Wave,
Gothic bands.....as for JVR, I like Dir en grey, Malice Mizer, X....I like hide's solo works too. For Indies, I
like Velvet Eden. ...
 
Lucy: I was influenced by Metal. I like bands like Megadeth, Overkill, a some European bands like Yngwei
Malmsteen, Dimmur Borgir. I like QUEEN best, even though they're not Metal, their influence on me is not
little! Later I got influenced by Ling and came into contact with JVR....I really like X, and of course hide.
 
Hong: I like The cure, U2...Pink floyd...Alice cooper...Japan......For JVR I like Luna Sea, Laruku.....for
Indies I like 'suzume ra' [help, don't know how to romanise. the kanji says 'sparrow gauze'] and 'huyuu' [to
'float', i think.]
 
Zhen: I like The Doors....Kid Rock...for JVR...I like Yoshiki.
 
I: How did the band form?
 
Ling (representing the band): This ... was really complicated. I didn't start out liking Jrock. Later, in
university, I jammed with some friends in a band (is this how you say it?) and played mostly Post Punk ...
whatever kind of style (not a very good definition) Later I happened to see some X and Luna Sea videos. At
first I was attracted by the image, then I felt that the music was good. I wanted to try this path, but only the
guitarist of the original band liked this genre of image and music, so I had to find other musicians. I got to
know Nancy through the former drummer. He hadn't graduated from high school then, and I was busy in
university, so we didn't do much during that time except for playing a few times a week and writing a few
songs. I really wanted to form a serious Visual Rock Band (because I love beautiful things). We played at a
few Live House performances, and as band members in Beijing know one another, Mr Zhen wanted to join
us after watching us. (Before this we had no drummer and had to use a drum machine) Just when I sighed
in relief, the temporary bassist left. At Mr Zhen's (we're used to calling him that) recommendation, Mr
Hong, who had just left his previous band, joine dus. But another problem cropped up: great conflicts arose
between me and the guitarist from the original band. We could not agree on the musical style and image of
the band, so he left...but we were really fortunate, Lucy left his former band to join us. Only 18 then, his
guitar technique and composing ability was really terrific. (picked up a real treasure there) So, the new
Silver Ash was complete. (But things are unpredictable, a few months ago, rhythm guitarist Nancy left to
study in Canada) ... that's about it.
 
I: Please talk a bit about your musical style.ANother hting, do you play Cover songs? (sorry! I don't know
how to say this in Mandarin)
 
Ling (rep. band): The band's musical style...it's hard to say, I really can't say what it is exactly...to quote
our producer, the music of Silver Ash combines trance [mi2 huan4, how do you translate that?], English
rock, goth rock, traditional Hard Rock and other elements. It has grand background, beautiful melodies,
strong guitars, a dreamlike [mi2 huan4] landscape and supernatural ideas. That's roughly it.
Cover?? Do you mean playing the songs of others? If so, we don't...ever since the band was formed we've
been playing only our own songs, because all the members had rich band experience before joining Silver
Ash.
 
I: What are the lyrics mostly about? Who writes them?
 
Ling: So far all the lyrics have been written by me, as the pronounciation of Mandarin has different tones,
it's best for the vocalist to write the lyrics so that the singing will flow. (not because I write good lyrics) The
lyrics are on a lot of topics. I think they stem from what I feel about life all these years, and reflect my
understanding of this world at different periods.

I: Actually, it's okay for a band to just perform in very casual attire, why
did you choose an image involving makeup? Does it make your personality
stand out?

Ling: I think that individuality is very important for a VR Band. To us, our
image is part of our composing; the music is the soul, while the image is a
form of statement of our individuality, so both are of equal importance to
us.

I: Could you describe your live performances to our Hong Kong readers? How
many people go to watch you? Is everyone passionate? How does it feel after
the performance?

Ling: This...we seldom perform (the preparation work is too complicated, and
there's the problem of finances) To us, everyperformance is an important
chance to present ourselves, so we work our hardest, and everyone has
exciting solos. I get very engrossed in the performance, basically I forget
where I am once I'm onstage, so I often destroy things unknowingly.
Offstage, I feel that that was strange of me. (I'm quieter offstage)
Over a hundred people watch our lives (not a lot, but we only do One man
Live) Of course, if the promoting is done well, I think there would be more
people. Nevertheless, what makes me happiest is that both band members and
audience get very involved...and there are many overseas fans that come to
Beijing from faraway places to see us perform...I hope everyone will watch
our Live if they have a chance.

I: As a band, do you mind if others call you a visual rock band?

Ling: Of course...not, I feel that it doesn't really matter. Some say that
we copy JVR, but I feel that it's just that we've found a very good,
suitable form of statement...It's just like Chinese playing rock that
originated from Europe and America...using a way, that suits, oneself, to to
express what one feels about the world and beauty...

Ling: everyone has a mouth...
[i don't know if this is meant to be Hong instead, because the interview
wrote 'ling' here, but it doesn't make much sense.]

Lucy: I like it...

Zhen: I don't mind.

I: To tell the truth, we don't live in the Mainland [guo2 nei4, have I used
the correct term for the translation?], so we're unclear about many things,
but the Mainland has always given us a conservative impression. Have you
encountered obstacles in the direction you're taking? When people other than
your fans look at you, are they turned off?

Ling (rep. band): Actually, there are many Visual Rock fans in the Mainland,
your magazine sells very well here. The development of economy and culture
is not very balanced [ping2 heng2] but in reality, in the larger cities, the
opinions and ability of the young people to accept new things are not
inferior to Hongkong or Japan....it's just that since Japanese bands have
not penetrated the market here, many people don't really understand Visual
Rock, but some people who were originally ignorant of VR started liking it
after watching our Live. However, it is difficult to develop (especially for
costumes and image) because resources in this area are scarce here. Thus, we
really envy the Hongkong bands.

I: Hongkong may seem more open, but bands have not been getting much
attention/respect in HOngkong all along. On the contrary, Mainland China
seems more willing to accept the existence of bands! Is this true? Bands (no
matter what sort of music) are widely accepted in the mainland?

Ling: Actually, it's the same in any country or place, the underground bands
all have a hard time. It's just that the daily needs of the mainland bands
are minimal. Compared to economically-developed Hongkong, they have fewer
material needs and are able to focus more on spiritual needs. So it's easier
for the bands, and thus there're more bands (at least it seems more
'crowded' [re4 nao4]) Similarly, the fans are the same. For a country with
such a large population, the average band just has to continue with its
style and achieve true mastery over its music, and it will have its group of
fans...

I: What kind of music is popular in the mainland? Is it easy to obtain
Japanese cds etc?

Ling: It's hard to say (there're many bands with different styles) ... but
recently Hip hop Rock (or is it called Rap core rock or Rap metal? I can't
tell the difference) is very popular. But this style seems to be popular
worldwide now...It's very difficult to get Jrock Cds...our cds are mostly
brought back by friends, they're not widespread at all...it's even harder to
find JVR...

I: We hear you've been signed up by a record company? WHat's that about,
could you tell us? How did it happen?

Ling: It's like this, our present producer looked at our website at a
friend's recommendation (www.silverash.net, making use of the chance here to
do some advertising) He thought we weren't bad and mailed us. He was very
satisfied after listening to our demo (bands with our style are quite few
here) and that was it. Our record company, SCREAM RECORDS, is a very famous
indies company, it has many well-known bands (I seem to be advertising
again) We felt that the company's working attitude was very serious, and
gave the bands a lot of personal space, so we signed. Right now, we're
preparing to record. The company has arranged for us to record in LA in
August or September. I think our first album can be released at the end of
the year.

I: After signing, did the company interfere with your image? Are there any
restrictions? If there are, will you abide by them or insist on your own
opinions?

Ling: As I just said, the company really respects our own music and image
and do not interfere. (this is perhaps a good thing about Indies companies)
If they do, we will insist on our own ideals of beauty.

I: Have you considered coming to Hongkong?

Ling: We really want to. We've heard that HK has many good bands and we'ld
like to have some exchanges. We want to perform in HK and let friends in HK
see that China's VR bands are also good. However, it's not very possible at
the moment, mainly due to financial problems...

I: Where do you usually hold your performances? Are there sufficient
satisfactory facilities in the Mainland? Which organisation organises such
performances?

Ling: Usually, we perform in small Live Houses or medium-sized discos. The
facilities here are not very good, it doesn't feel very professional.
Mostly, we have to do our own funding...

I: Please tell us about the origin of your band name!

Ling: Ah, I thought of the name...I like snow very much...and the meaning of
Silver Ash is snow...

I: What aspirations do you have for the future? Do you wish to have a
permanent career as a band member? Or is it just a hobby?

All: We will make this our permanent career.

Lucy: I can't live without music.

I: Do your families object?

Ling: They support me.

Zhen: No.

Lucy: They're very supportive.

Hong: My home is as beautiful as that next door to a garden.
[??? fellow Chinese speakers, please take a look and tell me if this is an
idiom I don't know or Hong is speaking
strangely.ÎÒ的家美丽的�花园的隔� ]

I: Apart from Silver Ash, are there any other Visual bands around you? How
are they doing?

Ling: Very few, we must all work hard together...

I: Please say a few words to our readers!

Ling: Treat everything around you with a forgiving attitude...

Hong: I don't understand... (Ling: sorry, I too don't know what he means by
that, he usually talks like this)

Zhen: I don't want to say goodbye.

Lucy: Wait for us...

The end