27-03-22
Thanks to dad and mom. It is not our purpose in life to become each other. Unfortunately, many do try to look the same in stride!
Joyce Cheung(張貝芝) is a young, attractive and gifted musician in Hong Kong. She tied the knot at an early age and is still a ‘DINK’. Initially put to the sidelines, she has been pushing herself to make changes in the old ways of dealing with music and heading for new fusion music combining classical and modern ones. She is courteous and amiable. Her inner world, I guess, is the type of lady that will cry in the bedroom, but then walk out like you have not affected her a single thing.
I have known and worked with Joyce for some years now. She is my MVP. I like that she always replies in a swift, unpretentious, and boyish style such as ‘sure’, ‘when’ and ‘why not’. She was born in 1993 and her horoscope is Pisces and a Cancerian man like me can get along well with Pisces people. Joyce replied, “I am colourful, driving, hopeful and a big caregiver. Aren’t you?”
I asked, “Why are you so independent?” She smiled, “Am I? Maybe music is already my great companion, apart from my sister who is now a journalist. My life began with music. Mom played piano and she had been my music teacher till I was 7-8. Music itself is more than enough to satisfy me, whether it is merely for appreciating or participation. Combinations of sounds in rhythm, harmony and counterpoint have magic power.”
“Independence may be about one’s ability to express oneself and communicate with strangers or people that you don’t know well. Music helps me a lot in fulfilling the above.”
“Also, music gave me confidence. ‘Non-genre’ music in fact gave me greater faith. Not to sound arrogant, I was glad to discover that I was good at music. Recently, I knew I got my own style: fusion should and would be my thing. I am heavily influenced by classical music as I grew up playing a lot of it. Then I studied jazz and started to know many other music possibilities. So, who will I be as a musician? I will push myself to develop more independently. There should not be any boundary for music. The world is small and artists of different backgrounds and places are constantly evolving and adopting one another. Given that and also the different stages of life of an artist, music mapping will give rise to him or her multiple sets of creativity. If you are bound by one or two genres, you will miss the fun of music afforded by the colourful ‘twenty-twenties’!”
I followed up, “I see. This is why you are making unconventional forages to find music possibilities!” She cackled, “I hope to find more open-minded musicians like myself. Let us play energetic music in fast tempo with changing elements. People are more accepting now and ready to collaborate especially over my jazz ideas, when compared with what I found in 2017 during which year I came back from Boston. Hong Kong is my home city. I grew up here. I have developed a strong connection with the people and cultural scene here. The music environment in Hong Kong can be very vibrant when money is not your yardstick. I am in love with my city and her music.”
She paused, “To be truly independent, you have to make decisions, act, face success or failure,
never give up and do review yourself time after time. Very often, the process is on your lonely own, especially at the point of initiating something new! I released my debut album Set Loose in 2020 and it was the trial that I began to trust my own taste. I put ‘Me’ out there and my music got very good responses. Then I started to listen to my inner voice and nurture the ‘artist child’ inside of me. The 2022 album Jazzical Collection is 100% of Joyce and I want to see how far I can go. Honestly, I am hoping to see it reach a global audience.”
“I attended your band’s fantastic performance in West Kowloon in 2021. You guys, young and playful, fused old music with new arrangements. Music has no law. You did well and everybody was extremely excited after the event. Good music was round and the news that you held a wonderful concert truckled. Congratulations! You finally established yourself and now fly with a pair of good wings!” I said.
Joyce was absorbed in what I told her, “Maurice, I don’t know if I am independent because I simply have the constant urge to push myself. I often rush too much and my husband is prudently slower. Within 5 years, I want to tour around Asia, record 5 albums, build up a certain recognition in Asia or bring my music further out. Within 10 years, I want to collaborate with more younger talents. I may perform less but become more involved in helping those musicians in need. Within 15-20 years, I will likely do chiefly arranging work, producing music show for other artists and promoting more music education. A baby may come into my life and I don’t think a kid will override a woman’s career. Music shall never leave my life.”
I laughed, “I forgot to ask how you started your career?” She thought aloud, “Wow! I left Hong Kong after graduating St. Paul’s Co-educational College in 2010s. I had my Bachelor and Master’s Degree from Berklee College of Music in 2017. I am fond of contemporary materials. I got some awards but there were not my goals. One flower makes no garland. Music union of others with myself is the desired strength. I want to share our music inspirations. I returned to Hong Kong from Boston in 2017.”
My final question to Joyce is what advice that she would give to a music beginner. Memories warmed her up and she said, “Don’t be shy! Be persistent and consistent with what you are believing. Don’t give up easily even after a few years. Create an online channel and start uploading your music videos on a weekly, if not, biweekly basis. That will work! Be the most positive and responsible person. Music scene in Hong Kong is small and everyone knows everyone. Reputation is your valuable asset.”
I need to reshape my perception of what an independent woman is in modern days. She does not know or care if she is as tall as a man when she stands. Male or female is not the difference. Joyce Cheung is remarkably typical. She does not follow the road that a woman is walking. She simply starts paving another way of her own ‘gender’—as regards music and her life!
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