SUBCULTURE

Meet the
Rising Stars of Hong Kong

May 2021

We meet the artists and musicians making waves in Hong Kong, and find out what subculture means to them in 2021.

Name

Morgan @mmmorganxz

When did you know you wanted to become a tattoo artist?

When I was crying over my future… It just came to me like a light.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

Online. I especially love the styles of 80s and 90s truck drivers!

Tell us about your own tattoos.

Most of my tattoos are 80s and 90s inspired. Some of them are done by my mentors aka, @jtsangtattoo, @b_kwok, and also the Hong Kong traditional tattoo legend David Lo @davids_tattoo188.

What is subculture to you?

I think the thing about subculture is that it can be anything you want it to be.

Name

Allex Chan @allexchan

Describe your style in three words?

Melodic/Pentatonic/Titanic

What made you decide to be a singer?

I started making music after school because I had time on my hands and wanted to do something creative. At first, I just made instrumental stuff, but it seemed a bit boring without any vocals, so I started singing and now I love it.

If you could be on the line up with any two bands in history?

Yo la Tengo. They make the most heartfelt music in the world. They warm my heart when I listen to their album every time. Haruomi Hosono - a legendary composer in Japan, his vision and ideas never get old.

Tell me about your favourite independent venue in Hong Kong.

TTN (This Town Need), but it is temporarily closed now. This is the breeding ground of Hong Kong’s indie music scene. Hopefully we will meet again shortly.

Name

Yau Sze Ting @yauyausze

Describe your style in three words

Strange/Emotional/Free

What made you decide to be a singer?

Ever since I was young, I have loved singing. I participated in the first singing competition in secondary school but didn't even make the finals. At that time, the boy I was in love with told me: “Your singing makes me feel relaxed”. Since then, I discovered that it was good to sing for someone I like and someone who likes me. Hopefully in the future, more people will want my music to accompany their lives.

If you could be on the line up with any two bands in history?

Taiwan Rock Band Sunset Rollercoaster and Hong Kong's Local Indie Band in the 1990s ….HUH! ? Indie music inspires me. It combines classic and modern musical elements and makes me feel very comfortable, whilst also challenging me.

Tell me about your favourite performance venue in Hong Kong.

Bar. It feels like every song that is played there is a dedication to helping the audience. It’s a kind of release for the people watching.

Name

Arches @___arches___

Describe your style in three words?

Straight-forward/Impulsive/Anti-math rock

What made you decide to be a singer?

Pure pleasure.

If you could be on the line up with any two bands in history?

Wynners, Tai Chi.

Where was the most memorable show you ever played/participated?

The next one.

Name

Jennifa Cheung @jenn_tattoo

Describe your style in three words?

Abstract/Meticulous/Ingenuity

When did you know you wanted to become a tattoo artist?

One day it just came to me. I felt so inspired by all the amazing people in the industry and wanted to try it myself.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

Going back to nature I think is really important. And shared experiences with friends. Learning from history and how creative crafts originated, who the pioneers and the greats were, and how it has evolved over time. In the history of every craft, there is lots of inspiration to be discovered.

What is subculture to you?

For me, subculture evolves from popular culture. It witnesses the changes of time and develops, which makes it even more unique.