Interviewed by Sidick Lam & Grace Chan. Translated by Karen Cheung.
1) Q. 為何你會稱做Summer Romance？
SR: 因為這是張國榮其中一張大碟的名稱，小時候聽完他大碟的名稱很有感覺，好像很多幻想。我並不是特別喜歡他的歌，只是純粹覺得那大碟的名字很好。
2) Q. 你喜歡哪一隊香港樂隊？
SR: 我也有聽Little Airport、怒人的，怒人很正的。
3) Q. 那你最想和哪一隊樂隊合作？
SR: 無所謂！沒有特定的人，任何人都可以。組合既得，個人也得。若果跟怒人合作，我怕我會熄了他們的火 (笑) 。
4) Q. 你什麼時候開始接觸音樂？為何會想玩音樂？
SR: 那時候，曾經夾了幾隊band的，後來沒有玩了，因為他們有些年紀大、沒空，最後只剩下自己一人，便繼續自己做下去。我會覺得始終都需要自己一個人去籌辦所有事，因為到了某個階段，很多時候，朋友或者band友都會慢慢地離開。而自己始終想繼續做某樣東西，因此也要自己嘗試去做。雖然由一手包辦所有事是有點辛苦，但是不做的話會很悶的。
5) Q. 你對於與張震嶽的專輯封面都頗相似，有什麼感覺？
SR: 我仍然強調，是我先出的 (笑) 。大家都是佬、悶棍一個吧！
6) Q. 你最難忘的演出是怎樣的？
SR: 說些比較不好的經驗吧！ 例如在匯豐銀行外面的地下表演，那時候最早的一班青少年正在佔領中環。他們在匯豐那邊佔領了一段時間，並搞了一場show，那場地感覺很得意！還記得那次我是第一個表演的，對著觀眾唱歌，但是他們完全沒有反應，那時候我便想：是否我的歌太差？到第二隊出場的時候，那是怒人，才發現原來觀眾們在等怒人出場，那刻覺得有愧於觀眾！
7) Q. 你喜歡室外/室內演出？
SR: 室外！因為我不喜歡被困著，特別是我那些歌。但有時候有些慢歌，在一個比較寧靜的環境會比較好。
8) 有什麼短期和長遠的目標？
SR：短期的話希望9月份能在一家書店辦一場音樂會，現時還在腦海籌劃中哈哈。長遠來說是發達吧（笑）。其實是希望自己可以再進步，尤其是在寫歌詞方面。
9）說到夏日三種必備的物品？
SR：雪條、電風扇和背心
10）有什麼消暑良方？
SR：夜晚到海灘，因為晚上的海灘沒什麼人，又涼快，很正。至於日頭最好便不要出去，出去會熱死吧。平常星期六、日我也是日間不出去，在家弄弄歌，晚上才出去。
11）覺得怎樣才是文青？覺得自己是文青嗎？
SR：我覺得文青其實有另一個定義的，好像通常是和實際有一點脫軌的感覺。文青聽上去通常是對文學、音樂、藝術很有興趣，但當對這些有興趣時，實際的生活和現實環境又有點距離，就是一種不是很著地的感覺。（那麼說起文青你在香港會想起誰？）我會覺得現在很多文青都變了社運青年了⋯⋯（黃之鋒？）黃之鋒卻是少數不是太文青的，反正就是那些捍衛社會的人會帶一些文青的感覺。至於我自己就不是文青了，我沒什麼文化，我只是一個頹廢中年來吧。
12）作為「夏日浪漫」，你認為浪漫的定義是什麼？
SR：浪漫是一種得不到的幻想。
Summer Romance 將於八月九日Backstage Summer Serenade進行表演
1. Where does the name Summer Romance come from?
SR: It’s the name of a Leslie Cheung CD; I was a kid when I listened to it and it triggered my imagination in many ways. I’m not a huge fan of his songs or anything, I just really liked the name of the album.
2. What local bands are you a fan of?
SR: Little Airport and 怒人 (NoYan, or literally ‘angry people’), NoYan is fantastic.
3. Then what bands would you most like to work with?
SR: I’m open-minded towards anything! I don’t mind working with anyone. But if I work with NoYan, I’m a little worried I’ll put out their fire (anger).
4. How did your music journey begin?
SR: I’ve been in several bands in the past, but I stopped because a lot of the band members quit due to age, or they didn’t have the time anymore. So there was just me left, and I carried on by myself. I think in the end a person still has to be able to put everything together themselves, because you’d eventually reach a stage when your friends and bandmates start leaving you. And if you’re still passionate about the thing you want to achieve, you have to try to do it yourself. Of course it’s a little stressful to handle everything by myself sometimes, but if I don’t it’ll be quite boring.
5. Your CD cover looks a lot like (Taiwanese artist) Chang Chen-yue’s, no?
SR: I still insist, I came up with it first [laughs]. I guess we have quite a lot in common, we’re both boring dudes!
6. Your most unforgettable performance?
SR: Let me talk about the bad experiences! I’ve performed outside HSBC, which is actually quite an interesting venue – for example, there was a time when a bunch of teenagers were occupying Central at the time, and there was a show there. That was my first performance actually, and after I sang the audience had no reaction whatsoever, so I thought, was I that bad? Then the second band came on, and it was NoYan, and I realized the crowd was waiting for them to perform. I almost felt sorry for the audience then!
7. Performing outdoors or indoors?
SR: Outdoors! I don’t like the feeling of being trapped, especially with my songs. But I suppose sometimes with some of the slow songs, a quieter environment would be better.
8. Short term and long term goals?
SR: At the moment I’m hoping to do a show at a bookstore in September, all the planning’s still only just taking place in my mind haha. Long-term goals…get rich, I suppose? [laughs] In all seriousness, I really hope I’ll improve in terms of writing lyrics.
9. Three things you can’t live without in summer?
SR: Ice cream, electric fan, and tank tops!
10. What do you do to get through the heat in summer?
SR: Go to the beach at night, because it’s not crowded, and it’s cool and nice. Stay home during the day, you’ll die from the heat. Even on weekends I don’t go out in the day – I stay at home and make music. I only head out at night.
11. What’s the definition of a hipster? Would you consider yourself a hipster?
SR: I think there’s actually another definition of hipster that’s not often used, and it refers to a sort of alienation from reality. Usually when you talk about the term hipster it seems to refer to people with interest in literature, music and the arts, but when you’re actually interested in these things, you actually become really detached from real life. (Who do you think qualifies as a hipster in Hong Kong?) I think a lot of them are also political activists now as well…(Like Joshua Wong?) Joshua Wong is actually one of the few who doesn’t really feel like a hipster. I think a lot of the guardians of the society give off a hipster vibe. I’m not that much of a hipster myself, I’m not that cultured. I’m just a lazy middle-aged man.
12. So, Summer Romance, what is your definition of romance?
SR: Romance is an imagination one will never be able to grasp.
Summer Romance will be performing at Summer Serenade on 9th August 2014 at Backstage
