Prepare your ears for King ly Chee

If Canton-pop is your staple diet, try a new flavour

writes Lee, Wing Sze

A top record company predicted their latest album would not sell more then 1,000 copies, but hardcore rockers KingLyChee, whoes second release Stand String hit the shelves, just laughed.

"i don't care about what  they say," says drummer Kevin (Li Kin-Wang).

" They should do some research before opening their mouths.  I am not certain we will sell MORE then 1,000 copies, but they shouldn't make such a prediction when they don't understand what it's all about."

the band, formed in 1999, was signed to local rock guru Paul Wong Koo-chung's independent label, Polar Bear, last year.

"We don't expect an underground band like us to be a big hit. Look at LMF. They were rejected by mainstream record companies when they first release an album.  But when they sold 15,000 copies the companies came running back to them.  They are just shallow.

" It's okay to be not interested, but the didn't need to say that.  A thousand copies will go fast just among our friends."

the hardcore quartet, consisting of Kevin, vocalist and guitarist Riz Farooqi, vocalist and bassist Alex and guitarist Andy, say they are sad the local mainstream record companies are being short-sighted and conservative.

"They just follow a formula to produce music.  That's why every Canto-pop song sounds the same.  Whenever there is  a new idea they says "HK people won't support that " says Riz.

"They think that because some mainstream artists can't sell 1,000 copies we can't either. Of course we have a totally different opinion.  We have hope."

To bring this issue to the attention of Canton-pop fans, they have written a song about it on the new album, which they hope will change somme ideas, both of listeners and the record companies.

"major record companies just do their business based on demand.  f there is a demand for certain kind of music, that's what they will produce, "says riz, who studied business at the University of Massachusetts in the US.

Though they are signed to Wong's record label, they have no support from any record company.

"Paul though about running the label as a record company, but he is just too busy and can't really do that," Riz explains

"His attitude is great.  He really wants to help bands who regard music not just as an interest, but a way of life."

Wong is executive director on the record and advise on production and sound.

"Paul is really experienced and can see things that we might overlook," Kevin says.

"If you think this record so powerful, this is the contribution of Paul and the Polar Bear sound engineer.  They want this to be the most powerful record out of HK," says Riz.

without any backing from a record company, the band used its website to recruit a promotion team of about 80 people, who helped promote them on campuses and around the territory using posters and flyers.

"We received more than 60 offers of help the day after we posted the message on out site," says Riz, " I never thought so many people would be willing to spend their time and effort promoting our band.

"Some people think HK teenagers don't care about anything, but suddenly there are so many who offer their help.  It's amazing. Hong Kong is changing."