Hong Kong’s Mirror launches English track, revives Cantopop

Its new single “Rumours” is considerably “sexy” and “sensual” and accompanied by wavy dance strikes, a stark distinction to the group’s earlier highly effective dance songs and funky music, its members mentioned in an interview with The Associated Press on Sunday. Unlike their earlier Cantonese hits that conveyed a picture of “a bunch of kids” and their energetic aspect, the brand new monitor exhibits they’ve develop into males, member Ian Chan mentioned.

“We are not trying to particularly target any markets, but then we kinda wanna show the possibility of what a boy band from Hong Kong can bring to everyone,” Chan mentioned. “Hopefully, we can bring ourselves and bring Cantopop to more places.”

Mirror’s world debut will not be solely a take a look at of whether or not they can discover an viewers past Hong Kong, a market with 7 million individuals. The abroad reception can also point out whether or not Hong Kong singers, who dominated Asian showbiz a long time in the past, can regain floor within the area.

Cantopop, sung within the mom tongue of most of Hong Kong’s inhabitants, has made a powerful comeback with new idols and numerous genres after falling behind Mandopop and Okay-pop for years. Local followers discover the brand new stars extra relatable, not like their predecessors who are sometimes seen as pre-packaged and in some instances too beholden to mainland China. Cantopop’s rise displays a wider starvation to specific the town’s cultural id.

Mirror’s members broke into the trade after becoming a member of a neighborhood broadcaster’s actuality expertise contest in 2018 and stealing the present. The artists — Frankie Chan, Alton Wong, Lokman Yeung, Stanley Yau, Anson Kong, Jer Lau, Anson Lo, Jeremy Lee, Edan Lui, Keung To, Tiger Yau and Chan — vary in age from their 20s to early 30s. Some are good at singing, a number of are identified for his or her dancing abilities, just a few have devoted themselves to appearing and others have hosted TV exhibits.

Their onerous work and willpower have helped them to draw a loyal following, particularly college students, middle-aged girls and younger households.

In 2021, Keung declared: “I believe Hong Kong singers can definitely become Asia’s top again.” That 12 months, their fandom turned a Hong Kong cultural phenomenon.

Fans poured into buying malls to help their occasions, with some making and shopping for ads to have a good time their idols’ birthdays. Partners of followers flooded Facebook with “self-pity” tales, together with having the partitions of their houses plastered with posters of the singers. Talk of the group supplied many Hong Kongers an escape from downbeat information about COVID-19, political challenges and social adjustments going through the town.

“We always have a social responsibility to bring positive thinking and some good vibes … to people who like us,” Chan mentioned.

But a harrowing incident final July dealt a heavy blow to their rise.

A large video display screen fell from the ceiling throughout a live performance and struck two backup dancers, leaving one among them, Mo Li, severely injured. The band subsequently stopped their public appearances for 2 months. Hong Kong authorities have charged employees from the live performance’s principal contractor alleged to be liable for the accident. Last month, Li’s father mentioned his son had taken his first steps with the assistance of an exoskeleton machine.

“We will never say that we already got through it,” mentioned Lui, including it was a “huge lesson.” It taught them to cherish each second, Stanley Yau mentioned.

While Mirror works to shake off that tragedy, it has additionally been battered by criticism of lackluster performances, with some critics accusing the members of chasing cash from ads relatively than specializing in their singing and dancing.

Lo mentioned the group is attempting to decelerate its schedule to strike a greater steadiness and the members now collect not less than a few times a month for actions comparable to conferences or dance classes — a big change as they seldom met one another exterior work up to now, he mentioned.

The launch of “Rumours,” whose lyrics are about chasing a lady and the way rumors come up, has marked an essential milestone for the group, particularly for the reason that members are all native Cantonese singers.

English pronunciation was a serious problem, Lui mentioned, and so they have been all coached one-on-one in the course of the recording classes.

Lo mentioned the group will monitor audiences’ reactions intently however that they are going to little doubt proceed producing music in Cantonese whilst some members would possibly produce solo songs in Mandarin. The group additionally has plans to launch a worldwide tour probably subsequent 12 months, he mentioned.

Lui mentioned their ambition of reviving Cantopop as Asia’s No. 1 music would possibly sound “like daydreaming.”

“But I think we should have that goal inside our hearts and we should try to do our best to pursue this dream,” he mentioned.