Click here for the interview in English
採訪及攝影： Vivan Yeung, Nien Kong
中文翻譯：Becky Wong
集結本地獨立樂界出色樂手，香港「超級樂隊」Teenage Riot成員來自False Alarm, 22Cats, Hard Candy, Rachel Believes in Me及汐，陣容強大。今次負責訪問Teenage Riot的Vivian Yeung 和Nien Kong曾觀看過樂隊成員無數次演出，而他們終於得到機會與這隊噪音搖滾的超級樂隊作訪問。大家不妨來看看他們如何一同懷愐過去，談及未來。
問：你們是怎樣認識的？為何決定組成這個超級組合？
Por：（笑）我們剛開始時並非什麼超級組合。大約十年前我在22Cats, Ling在False Alarm, Yan在Hard Candy時我們已想和其他音樂人合作，嘗試新的東西。我們三人都是Sonic Youth樂迷，於是組成了Teenage Riot，以cover Sonic Youth歌曲為主。
Ling：有很多人說我們是超級組合，這十分有趣，因為我們其實視自己為一班夾band的老屎忽，空閒時做下想做的事。在這個狹窄的圈子很難去說誰是超級組合，況且我們也沒有所謂的商業成就。從成立樂隊的最初開始大家都沒有任何期望，單純的想為自己創作音樂。
問：你們的樂隊簡介中提及Teenage Riot沒有固定班底，一切隨心。為何有此取態？樂隊又如何運作？
Yan：我們純粹開心，如果成員工作繁忙其他人加入亦無任歡迎。我們的音樂創作其實頗直接，就算新成員加入也能很快適應。
Por：我們一切隨緣，真的。
Ling：大家組團多年，經驗不少，都習慣了班底轉換。
問：最近有沒有推出專輯的計劃？如有班底會否開始固定起來？
Ling：我們計劃明年發行黑膠唱片，實在對CD沒有太大信心。籌備方面八成歌曲都準備好了，不過壓製黑膠唱片所費不菲，所以我們正考慮推出認購計劃，確保有足夠的人購買黑膠。
Yan：我不認為樂隊會因此而有固定班底。
問：Teenage Riot以噪搖經典樂隊Sonic Youth歌曲命名，你覺得Sonic Youth對你們創作上有何影響？
Ling：影響過我們的樂隊能談足一整晚！（笑）我記得當年翻開音樂殖民地雙周刊（MCB，於1994至2004至發行之本地獨立／另類音樂雜誌）內有一個欄目叫樂隊檔案，入面推介很多樂隊專輯，直至現在我們感覺上還停留在那個年代。聽了樂隊音樂30多年，要講實在講唔曬。
Sabrina：最近我聽得較多techno。
Freakiyo：我工作時會聽比較柔和的古典音樂。
問：你們大多各有自己的樂隊或工作，當決定Teenage Riot的發展方向時會否難以達成共識？
Ling：我覺得不會。我們都非常接受不同類型的樂風……
Yan：我們在獨立樂界都很多年了，基本上所有的樂風都有夾過。
Ling：除了金屬，因為我想我們應該做唔到。
問：為何形容樂隊風格為「複製搖滾」？
Ling：由False Alarm時期開始我已經常說我們的音樂取材於其他樂隊。False Alarm有幾首歌曲借用了Spiritualized的元素，不過人們大多不認同。我想大概因為歌曲的出發點有採用到這些元素，但完成品經過琢磨後變成了原創作品。Teenage Riot以cover Sonic Youth的歌曲作起步，所有新事物都源自歷史，無論是借用或作推翻之用。
Yan：好的音樂人擅長隱藏他們的創作來源！
Por：當你太喜歡一隊樂隊時，他們的音樂早已進入你的潛意識中，不知不覺地透過你的作品反映出來。
問：聽聞你們今年將參演Clockenflap。對香港音樂節有何看法？
Yan：變得越來越好了，這是一定的。例如Clockenflap以前不大，但看看現在的演出單位規模，去年連Franz Ferdinand也邀請到了，大型的贊助商也有好幾個。
問：你們最近在專頁上發放了一些幕後花絮照片，是不是將會有新的MV？
Ling：對，我們正進行新MV的籌備工作，希望可盡快推出。
問：你們在過去的演出上曾演繹The Velvet Underground或Lou Reed的歌曲。今年於Clockenflap會演奏原創歌曲抑或以翻唱為主？
Yan：今次會以全原創歌曲演出，因為表演時段不長。
Ling：如果沒有時間限制我們真的可以玩很長很長（笑）。
問：你最想合作的本地樂隊是？
Ling：我們經常和其他人合作，看看我們的成員就知道樂隊本身已是最大的合作團隊。
問：對本地獨立樂界近十年的變化有何看法？
Yan：很多新樂隊看起來不夠惡。玩重核、金屬、朋克的樂隊也不多，很多都走派對、另類風格。舊時有較多像我們這個年紀的人聽獨立音樂。
Ling：以組成獨立樂圈的樂種種類來說，我認為現在與90年代分別不大。90年代中期刮起英搖風潮，本地出現了很多英搖樂隊，他們普遍沒有特別的樂隊哲學或使命感，純粹享受創作英語歌曲。Pillow, Kind People, Atomic Bubbles, Chaos等樂隊教曉我獨立音樂精神－記得第一次在港大陸祐堂看到像Chaos的樂隊，全員以英搖風格打扮。獨立樂界的圈子很細，而且都是業餘，大多視夾band為興趣。
Por：這令我想起當年城大羅馬廣場的演出。還有MCB於荃灣大會堂主辦的一連串演出，門票都售光。我想大概當時的樂隊音樂會不多的關係。
Teenage Riot將參演今年Clockenflap。十一月三十日下午二點十五分Your Mum舞台上見！
Interview and photos by Vivian Yeung and Nien Kong
Chinese translation by Becky Wong
Consisting of prominent musicians from the local indie scene – including members of False Alarm, 22 Cats, Hard Candy, Rachel Believes in Me and Tide – Hong Kong supergroup Teenage Riot has a formidable lineup. Having seen one too many of their gigs and bought too many secondhand records off one of their guitarists, Vivian Yeung and Nien Kong spoke to the fascinating noise rock band about the good old days, being a supergroup, and upcoming projects.
Q: How did you all meet and why did you decide to form such a supergroup?
Por: (laughs) We didn’t start out as a supergroup. About 10 years ago I was in 22 Cats, Ling was in False Alarm, Yan was in Hard Candy and we all wanted to try something new with other musicians. The three of us loved Sonic Youth and we decided to form a band to do Sonic Youth covers and that’s why we called ourselves Teenage Riot.
Ling: It’s funny that people see us as a supergroup because we just see ourselves as a bunch of old people playing in a band, doing what we like in our spare time. In this tiny scene with so few people it’s hard to see anyone as a supergroup, our bands have hardly been commercially successful. From day one we didn’t really have any expectations and just wanted to make music for ourselves.
Q: In your biography, you say that you don’t really have a fixed lineup and it changes according to your mood – why do you prefer it this way and why does it work?
Yan: We just want to have fun, so if some members aren’t free we can always have someone else join. Our music is pretty straightforward so it isn’t hard for them to pick up.
Por: We just go with the flow, really.
Ling: We’ve spent so many years playing in bands so we’re really used to lineup changes.
Q: Are you planning on releasing an album anytime soon? If so, does that mean your lineup will remain fixed from then on?
Ling: We’re planning on releasing an album on vinyl next year; we don’t have much faith in the CD format anymore. About 80% of the songs are done, but vinyl is expensive to press, so we’re planning to see if we have enough people who pledge to buy it, and if we do we’ll get it made.
Yan: I don’t think it’s going to result in a fixed lineup though.
Q: It’s evident from the band’s name that you’re fans of noise rockers Sonic Youth. Who else do you think has influenced you musically?
Ling: We can talk about musical influences all night! (laughs) I remember reading Music Colony Bi-weekly (MCDB, an indie/alternative music magazine that ran from 1994-2004) where there was this column called Band File in which bands recommended albums, and I feel like we’re still stuck in that time period. We’ve been listening to bands for 30 years, it’s hard to list them all.
Sabrina: I’ve been listening to a lot of techno lately.
Freakiyo: Classical is soothing when I’m at work, so that’s what I’ve been listening to.
Q: Most of you have your own bands or projects, so is it difficult to reach a consensus when you’re deciding on a general direction for the band?
Ling: I don’t think so; we’re okay with pretty much any genre.
Yan: We’ve been in the indie scene for so many years that we’ve pretty much played in every sort of music possible.
Ling: Except maybe metal, because I don’t think we’d be able to pull it off.
Q: Why do you say that your genre is copy rock?
Ling: Starting from False Alarm I’ve always said that our songs borrow off other bands. There was a certain False Alarm song that I told people we borrowed off Spiritualized, and people told us they didn’t think so. I guess we start out borrowing elements of other music, and in the end we end up with an original song of our own. Teenage Riot started out as a Sonic Youth cover band; there’s nothing that doesn’t originate from history, whether you’re overthrowing it or borrowing from it.
Yan: A good artist is good at hiding their sources!
Por: When you like a band so much that their music is already subconsciously embedded in your mind, it’ll be reflected in the stuff you create.
Q: You’re performing at Clockenflap this year. What do you think of Hong Kong’s music festivals?
Yan: They’re becoming better and better, that’s for sure. Clockenflap, for instance, wasn’t such a big event before. Look at their lineup now – they even had Franz Ferdinand last year, and they have big sponsors.
Q: You’ve been releasing some behind the scenes photos on your page lately; could that mean the release of a music video?
Ling: Yeah, we’re working on a new MV and we hope it’s going to be released soon!
Q: In your past shows, you’ve covered songs by The Velvet Underground or Lou Reed. Will you be playing original songs at Clockenflap or will you be doing covers of your favorite acts?
Yan: We’ll be playing an all-original set this time, since it’s a short set.
Ling: If we had no time constraints at all we could play for a really really long time. (laughs)
Q: Which local band would you most want to collaborate with?
Ling: We’re always collaborating – just look at our band members and you can tell that we’re already the biggest collaboration.
Q: How do you think the Hong Kong indie scene has changed over the past ten years?
Yan: A lot of the new bands don’t seem angry enough. There don’t seem to be enough hardcore, metal or punk bands around. There are a lot of bands that play party or alternative music though. Back then, there were more people our age who listened to indie music.
Ling: In terms of the composition of the indie scene I’d say it’s not much different from the 90s. There was a wave of Britpop bands in the mid-90s. They didn’t have any particular philosophy or big ideas; they sang in English and were in bands because they loved doing what they wanted. Bands like Pillow, Kind People, Atomic Bubbles and Chaos taught me the spirit of independent music – I remember seeing this show at Lok Yew Hall at HKU and that was the first time I saw bands like Chaos, with members all dressed up Britpop-style. The indie scene is still pretty small, and most bands still do it as a hobby and not full-time.
Por: That reminds me of the shows at Roman Square in CityU. And those shows organized by MCB at Tsuen Wan Town Hall in the 90s, those were all sold out. I guess that was because there were fewer shows of the kind back then.
Teenage Riot are playing at Clockenflap this year. Catch them on 30 November, 2014 (Sunday) at 2:15pm on Your Mum Stage!
