SAY BOK GWAI – Interview with Alex and Andre

SAY BOK GWAI is very atypical team … Atypical, because the music is realize by two – persons, which ones play Canto-core. Probably it's only on world the connection of hard music with lyrics in Chinese language. Maybe somewhere in China there are similar bands but at present SAI BOK GWAI is unique in own kind band from the USA. I think that lovers of old school hardcore (what was on the 80/90's) should acquaint with proposal of SAY BOK GWAI.

Hey Alex!!! On good morning I will ask what mean the name of SAI BOK GWAI? You bore in Hong Kong, you live in the USA but probably you know Cantonese language? The second member of team is Andre. He does not look like Asiatic… Where did you take the idea to creation Canto-core – the connection of punk-metal music with Chinese texts?

The idea has been with me for a while. I used to play hardcore in a local San Francisco band called Morbid Life Society. I was very influenced musically from the thrash, metal, hardcore and punk scene of the early and mid 80's in San Francisco. That is where the musical inspiration came from. I went through a period of playing more progressive and experimental music. I decided to go back to my roots and wanted to find something new that was close to my passion for hardcore. There is a stereotype of Chinese people in America for being passive and smart and not a threat. Also most popular Chinese music is very sappy and sugar coated. I felt that it was time to express a side of the Chinese American I was. My viewpoints, my upbringing, my culture. A fusion of my views as a Chinese American growing up here and passion for hard music. At the same time I hope to bring other Chinese people into harder and aggressive music. Lastly, Cantonese, a Southern Chinese dialect , works incredibly well with hardcore music. All of these factors came together to inspire me to start Say Bok Gwai.

Unfortunately despite my the former fascinations of China (with regard on martial arts) I do not know Chinese, so you would can to bring closer about your texts for us?

The songs are a lot about issues and things that are important to my life. It is a mixture of subjects from food to sex to “White America” to Bi-cultural life in America to racism to politics and more. “Straight Outta HK” is about my upbringing and how it is to grow up bi-culturally. Not fitting in “White America” or “Chinese” worlds, I created my own culture. Songs like “White Guilt” and “No Sweet and Sour” and “White in You” are about the “white” culture in America. A lot of times I use the word white but I do not mean all white people. I am mostly speaking of those in power and who control the money and government in America. There are also songs that are just plain fictional humor like “Yellow 5” about a Chinese Supremacist Organization inspired very much by the Black Panthers of the 70s but Chinese.

In the review I compared you to D.R.I. and LAWNMOWER DETH. What are your musical inspirations?

I have a lot of musical influences but in terms of SBG's material. I would say DRI is definitely one of them. Along with that would be bands that I loved in the 80s SF scene like MDC, COC (with Mike Dean), Neurosis, Christ on Parade, Vio-lence, Ulysses Siren, Slayer, NO_FX, Merciful Fate, Stickky, Black Flag, SOD, Sacrilege BC, Minor Threat… I could go on forever.

I know that you play a lot local concerts. How does the public receive you?

We usually get really good reactions because we have lots of energy. Most people don't get the subjects of the songs but like the titles cause there are funny or interesting. We did a Chinese Rock Showcase last year and the crowd was 90% Chinese. It was awesome to see so many Chinese people at a rock show. When I grew up it was all white people at shows. Well mostly. Things are changing and I think the fact the band is singing in Chinese and the songs are about Chinese subject matter, we got a very good reception. Also we were so different from the other bands. They all played rock but none were as wild and fast and heavy as us. I think a lot of the people really stepped outside their usual taste because it was such a unique experience for them musically.

The line-up of SAI BOK GWAI: you, Alex as vocalist and guitarist as well as Andre as drummer and vocalist. Don't you feel deficit of other members and instruments, e.g. the bass guitar or keys? Do you play the concerts only in both? You must to stir in arrangements pretty well for make up the lacks of instruments…

The duo idea came because I had looked for other Chinese musician for a long time but never found anyone that could do what I wanted to do. Andre and I have been friends for a long time and played in the same hardcore SF scene in different bands. We have always gotten along musically and socially so when he told me he was quitting drums and gave me his drumset, I had to ask him to play in the band. It was too perfect. He was so motivated and very into the idea and I have not played “my” drum set since. Oh and Andre thinks he is Chinese so don't tell him he is not. It is a little difficult being a duo but we could not find a bass player so about half way into writing the first CD, I decided this was the way the band would go. Just the two of us, hardcore /punk/metal riffs and lots of screaming and singing in Cantonese. We play as a duo live as well and is tough cause it is all on the two of us but it is very rewarding in that there is real communication going on between us and it is very easy that way.

Your material became professionally released by Monkey King Records. It seems that this is your label. I saw that even have own T-shirts (“Great for family, friends and to church “)… Do you release some bands yet beside of SAI BOK GWAI?

Not yet but maybe in the future.

How does the promotion look of this material?

We have been doing ok but it is very hard as an independent that has never done this before. It is a real pleasure when someone like you notices what we are doing and is interested. I really appreciate the DIY people involved in music. Not just the musicians but the people that make the music possible for the general public. Internet zines, radio shows, promoters, bookers, flyer makers… all our friends and co music fans that do it for the love not the money cause there is none of that. Ha ha

You made several videos. In “Mo Low” you play in room full of vinyls from floor to ceiling. I'm impressed. Whose is the collection?

That show was at KFJC in Los Altos. That station and all of the staff are the people I was talking about in the last question. The ones that check out new bands that are different and turn others on and give them a chance to be heard. Dan Kelttner is the DJ who allowed us to do a performance on air and has been a supporter. We played in KFJC's record vault. It was very cool and inspiring.

Do you have something for new material?

Yes, yes, yes. About 15 new tunes so far but they are short but one is over 4 minutes. A real epic for us. Songs about fucked up American presidents, Chinese Astrology and we even have a song that is a Slayer tribute.

You and Andre play in different teams yet. Can you say something more about it? I listened these several pieces of FEAR OF MATH – and I felt the influences of progressive metal and jazz there! NIHIL COMMUNICATION and TRI CORNERED TENT SHOW are completely different from metal music, it is something in gender of experimental music?

Alex: My other band is a instrumental band and more influenced by my progressive, classical, and jazz influences than the harder music I like. Also there is a bit of experimental influence. Both Andre and I do improvisation and experimental music. We have a background and connection there from PAWN a band we played together in around 1996. I will let Andre talk about his bands.

Andre: Nihil Communication is a reaction to the influence of Dark Ambient and Post World War II Avant-Garde Classical music which starting in 1997. Tri-Cornered Tent Show is a natural transition from another Free-Jazz trio I was in ten years ago. My interest and activity in Free-Jazz started in 1992. While I'm a Percussionist by trade, I fancy myself as a Multi-Instrumentalist. I sing, play synthesizers, trumpet, guitar and bass. I also perform on circuit-bent instruments as well as unique instruments mostly designed by Tom Nunn.

Alex, Do you keep in touch someone from China? Do you know some metal teams from China?

I have family in Canton and Hong Kong. I do not know any bands yet but trying to make connections there.

What do you do on everyday?

I manage a motion graphics company called Elastic Creative. We do graphics for video. Andre is my building manager.

Thanks Alex for the answers of short interview. Could you last of all to greet metal fans from Poland and the rest of world in Chinese language and to translate this, hahaha …?

Metal is god!

Woow!!! I'm understanding it! It mean “Metal is god!”. I haven't known Chinese's language is so easy!!!

alex@monkeykingrecords.com – www.monkeykingrecords.com/sbg/index.htm