和This Town Music 本鎮音樂的訪談

前陣子和本鎮音樂的澳洲負責人Tom， 以16分鐘的吉他手做了一個簡單的訪談。原文是英文，今天把它翻譯回來。對北京的音樂環境有興趣的朋友可以看看



1. 介紹一下你的樂隊吧， 你們如何成立，做了什麼，未來有什麼計劃

嗨， 我的樂隊叫16分鐘，是北京的一支獨立搖滾樂隊。一開始其實只有主唱思雨和我。後來先後遇到了鼓手大航和貝士袁野。成立的時間並不長，而我們現在也還在實驗，尋找16分鐘的聲音。我一直相信樂隊要多演出來融合彼此，所以不管是思雨和我，或是16分鐘全樂隊，演出的頻率都蠻高的。至於未來，我希望能保持創作，演出，成為越來越成熟的音樂人，音樂中可以更好的表達，也很希望能早日和樂隊踏出巡演的腳步，多看看中國各地.

1. Tell us about your band, how you formed and what you have done so far and what you want to do in the future?

Hi! My band's called 16mins that plays alternative rock in Beijing. It started of as a project with just the singer Sindy and me. Then somehow the band expanded with the addition of bassist Yeah and Hang. The band is relative new and we are stillexperimenting , asking ourselves just what 16mins is. You see I am a firm believer that practice gets perfect so we just been taking gig whenever and wherever possible, be it the 2 person orchestra or the full band line up or both. For me music is what I love the most and I'd like to be able to keep creating and performing, grow and become more open as artist to be able to expressive my point of view. I guess that's more like the ultimate picture. I'd really love to get on touring in China to experience other parts of the China and get to know this place more.


2. 你是靠音樂為生，告訴我們你是如何做的

偸柺搶騙！哈哈不是的，我做許多不同的音樂“工作” - 私人教學外我也在北京的一所外國人學校教吉他， 有時候我也做錄音的工作。然後有時候會有一些臨時的商業演出， 我在CD Blues的演出也有一部分固定的收入，其他就是樂隊演出的收入。雖然不太穩定，但還過的去， 我很幸運能靠這些活下來哈哈，而不是在辦公室working for “The MAN"

2. You live off music. How do you make enough money

Beg borrow and steal. Not really lol but I hold several different music "jobs". Guitar teacher both privately and in a foreigner school. I do recording occasionally. And every now and then there are odd gigs , eg played a 4 day international snooker torment in the middle of Erdos. I also get a bit money from playing in CD blues with the big john blues band. It's not much and sometimes things do get tough but hey I am just lucky to be able to do what I am doing instead of working for the man.

3. 告訴我們你的音樂背景， 你有去專門學過嗎？

我相對來說開始的比較晚。在紐西蘭時一直到上大學才開始玩吉他，那年我的表哥剛好從台灣來玩，我請他幫我帶了一把吉他，（我老爸好像對他有點意見， 哈哈）後來大學讀完後， 我去SAE學了一年錄音，後來感覺比起錄音，還是更喜歡彈音樂，後來就去Mainz 上了現代音樂表演課程， 其實後來在音樂學校裏學到的更多是接觸之前沒玩過的音樂，像是鄉村，雷鬼等等， 然後學校要求你每個學生組一共八個不同的樂隊，所以也學到了不少在樂隊中處理“人”的問題的方法。其實學到最多的還是從實際去做的過程經歷到的東西。

3. What is your music background? Did you ever study formally?

I began my music journey really late, I didn't play anything at all until like I was in Uni in New Zealand. The story goes my cousin came to visit me one summer and asked what I wanted from Taiwan, I said a guitar would be great. My dad hates him ever since lol. I then negotiate with my dad that I will finish uni first before I really go for music. After Uni I did a year of recording course in SAE which only made me realize I much prefer playing than bottons pressing. Then a year in music performance school which also was interesting even thought I didn't learn about guitar playing that much but getting into 8 different bands throughout the school term was great and exposed me to lots of music that I didn' t pay much attention to. But I'd say 95 percent of the musician trait is just picked up along the way.

4. 你在紐西蘭長大，可以告訴我們有那些紐西蘭樂隊影響了，還有爲什麽呢？

太多了！我舉幾個特別喜歡的。 Decortica 他們給我的感覺像是玩重型音樂的Radiohead， 我們也是好朋友，以前還一起在北島巡演過幾次，而且不止是音樂，他們對樂隊獨立經營的態度和方法也讓我很佩服。 Decortica 最近簽了EMI， 還幫Evanesance 在Vector Arena 開場。非常棒！
我還喜歡另類搖滾樂隊Pluto，當然還有紐西蘭的Supergroove， 他們很Funky！還有碰巧認識的藍調音樂家Darcy Perry， 因爲他我才有機會重新認識藍調音樂。紐西蘭的藍調圈蠻小，每個人都比較紳士，年紀也大點。所以我還蠻突兀的哈哈， 可是還是很棒的一段經驗。

4. You grew up in new Zealand. Tell us some NZ bands that influenced you and why.
Man there are so many but here are few that really stood out. Decortica. They are a bit like what radiohead playing heavy alt rock would sound like imo and also are really good mates. We used to tour together in north island. What is really inspiring about them is not only their music but also the way they would take things into their hand. They just got signed and opened for Evanancence in Vector arena. Really Happy for those guys. I also like this alternative band called Pluto. And of course Supergroove is just funky! Also by chance I met Darcy Perry, who is responsible to get me into the blues music seriously. It was quite unusual for the blues scene while everyone was bit older and more gentleman like and all of sudden they got this Asian strat guy who played like a manic.

5. 你爲什麽來到北京呢？

我常常跟別人開玩笑， 就是我拿飛標往世界地圖隨手一射，剛好就射到北京。其實幾個原因，我在紐西蘭的樂隊IFK因爲成員家庭和工作原因解散了，很可惜，但我們真的一起經歷成長了很多， 之後我就?想， 也許是該去另外一個地方看看了。來北京的一年多前，我還和幾個朋友組了一個半原創半cover的樂隊Flying Puppets. 在上海演出了​​2個多月，我很喜歡那次的經驗，回去紐西蘭後就開始存錢準備再來中國，後來發現北京還是中國音樂文化的中心，原創音樂也相對蓬勃一些，所以就改變行程，來到半個人都不認識的北京，現在想想，如果再來一次我還是會來北京的：）

5. Why did you move to Beijing?

I used tell ppl that I had a big world map in front of me and I threw a dart blindfold and it turned out to be Beijing.. lol Well my band in NZ broke which was really sad but we had a blast. So I was only teaching and think it's probably a sign for me to go somewhere. Prior of coming here, I have actually had 3 months experience playing in a half cover half original band in Shanghai. I really liked it and went back to Auckland and started saving. Actually 2 weeks before going to Shanghai again I found out Beijing is where the original music is at. So even thought Shanghai is probably where the money is I changed my ticket and turn down 2 job interviews and came to Beijing knowing zero person. Man I wouldn't do any different if I were to do it again.

6. 你覺得紐西蘭和中國的音樂環境的主要差別在那裡

我認爲紐西蘭的音樂環境比較小，但更多元化，然後音樂圈有更多不同年紀的人。另外我覺得在紐西蘭，音樂是大家玩的， 好像北京大家在“做”音樂比較多？

6. What are the major differences between the music scene in NZ and China?

I think in comparison NZ music scene is small but more diverse. Also I notice there are more different age group than China.

7. 你最好的演出是那一場？

希望是我要演出的下一場

7. What’s the best gig you have ever played?

The next one I will be playing :)

8. 16分鐘代表什麽意思？

它只是一個名字，實際上是有個蠻傻的理由的， 你不會想要知道這麽酷的樂隊名字的原因是這麽奇怪的理由的。哈哈

8 What does 16 minutes mean?

It's just a name. Lol actually there is a secret but it wouldn't be a secret if I told you.. it's kinda silly.. really you don't want to know the stupid story behind such a cool name right?

9. 做爲一個音樂人，請問你個人有什麽計劃呢？

就像我說的，音樂是一種我自我表達的方式，我也希望能在音樂中找到自己的聲音。我希望能持續進步，創作出更多的作品，也能更好的演奏音樂， 希望可以和更多人分享我對音樂的觀點

9. What plans do you have personally as a musician for the future?

Like I've said I think music is my vehicle to express my point of view, to have an identity. I'd like to keep learning, being creative and performing and hopefully give back and share with others.

10. 你會永遠留在北京嗎？

嗯， 不太確定，就跟隨音樂的腳步走把

10. Do you plan to stay in China forever?

Not certain but I think it's not very likely. I will just let music to take me to where it may.