Macao News https://macaonews.org Tue, 12 Dec 2023 00:20:29 +0000 Mon, 11 Dec 2023 17:55:48 +0800 Kenny Fong 68251 2023-12-11 17:55:48 2023-12-11 17:55:48 The renowned film festival curator is returning to Macao next month with a sparkling new event that focuses on young, new filmmakers. ]]>Marco Müller is a man who lives and breathes cinema. In a career spanning over five decades, the Italian-born film expert and movie producer has not only helmed some of the world’s most prestigious film festivals including the Rome, Venice and Locarno film festivals, but he has also played an instrumental role in showcasing Chinese film to an international audience, especially when it was still considered something of an enigma. The 70-year-old trailblazer, who speaks fluent Mandarin and is now based in Shanghai, has a long history with China. In 1975, he arrived in China for the first time as a young student and was exposed to Chinese classics such as Spring in a Small Town (1948) and Youth (1977) which would spark a lifelong passion for Chinese cinema.  [See more: A new film festival is coming to Macao next year] Fast forward to the present day and the veteran festival curator is once again acting as a bridge between Chinese and international cinema with his inaugural Asia-Europe Young Cinema Film Festival, to be held in Macao from 5 to 11 January next year. According to Müller (whose last name is sometimes written Mueller), the event will focus on “new directors, their first films, and the experiences of those who have already made their second and third films.”  With less than a month left before the festival is due to kick off, Macao News caught up with the renowned film festival organiser, who spoke to us from his Shanghai office.  This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.  Can you briefly talk about your history with Macao?  I visited Macao for the first time in 1994. The then director of the Portuguese Film Institute, Luís Mergulhão, had asked the most important producer in Portugal at the time, Paulo Branco, and myself to follow him to Macao because the Portuguese governor was very keen on starting a film festival that would be based on Portuguese and Lusophone cinema. [But] the handover of Macao to China was about to happen pretty soon, so the whole project was cancelled. When I returned to Macao after the handover, I found that it was really becoming a very hospitable place [so] I invented the project for the first serious international film event [in Macao] at the end of 2015.  What motivated you to do this film festival in Macao?  The main reason for choosing Macao was because it is not just a hospitable environment, but it is also a concentrated environment. It has a long history of exchanges between not just China and Europe, but in a kind of 360-degree direction. Macao has always been a strong platform to represent the whole of the Greater China territories. The dialogue is not only in the direction of the West, but also in the direction of the other Asian countries.  Why did you pick Europe and Asia as the focal points of your festival?  I chose Europe and Asia for one very simple reason. If you’re talking about co-productions or co-financing, you are talking about Western Europe and Japan. [Selecting] Asia also means Macao can, in a way, become an important [centre of exchange] for Southeast Asian cinema, given the relationship that Macao always maintains with Southeast Asian countries.  [See more: Calling all local filmmakers] How do you intend to expand and develop the Asia-Europe Young Cinema Film Festival?   The [inaugural] edition will be a way of understanding several things. On one side, [I want to see] if the government authorities and private sponsors wish to have another festival, but this time, a plain, solid, international event. On the other side, I have to understand for whom I’m doing the festival. [Personally] I’m doing the festival for the Macao filmmakers and film lovers. I think that the work of Cinematheque Passion has created a core audience [in Macao] for all kinds of films over the years. I’m also trying to understand if we can get young educated people from mainland [China] interested.  How important is it for Chinese cinema to build connections with the film industries of other countries?  It’s absolutely essential. One of the slogans that have been used in recent months (in mainland China) is to try and find a way so that “Chinese movies can go out” (中國電影走出去) and broaden the impact of Chinese cinema in the world. That, of course, has to be linked with the right market connections, which can be borne out of the festival network that will present some of the better Chinese films.  Do you think the internationalisation and commercialisation of Chinese cinema is diluting the identity of Chinese films?  On the contrary. I can give you an example from my own personal experience in the sense that when I was a producer, I produced 11 films, and only two of them were Italian. Nine of them were from different countries. Every time, I made sure that because of the involvement of an Italian person in a Chinese film, Iranian film or Brazilian film, the market potential of the film would be instantly enhanced. Of course, it also depends on the kind of relationship you can create.  Are there any young Chinese directors who you see as very promising and particularly gifted?  I can definitely disclose one of the dialogues we want to organise in Macao, the dialogue between two of the most exciting new directors to have come out of China in recent years. One is Shanghai-based Taiwanese actor and director, Lee Hong-Chi, who has won the Lion of the Future award, and the other one is Li Dongmei, whose film Mama won the Grand Prix at the Venice Days in 2020. [See more: Macao to host a new camp for emerging Asian filmmakers] Are there any movies that you’re really looking forward to showcasing?   All of them.  How important is having a large budget in filmmaking?  When the director has a very clear view of what story he wants to tell, the way he wants to tell it, and the money that would correspond to this, you don’t need a huge budget to make an incredibly powerful film. I have already mentioned in [previous] interviews the name of the Iranian director, Amir Naderi. Here is somebody who was making less than US$200,000 budget films when he was in Iran and he continued to explore very personal productions when he emigrated to the US. Now that he lives in Japan, he is doing exactly the same thing when directing his own very special Japanese films.  [With this upcoming festival], we are really showing the important films made with a very limited budget and we are asking [Naderi] to talk to the young directors and to explain to young film students and young viewers the way you can control the budget of your film without giving away anything of your personal project.  What’s your take on veteran director Martin Scorsese’s comment about superhero movies not being cinema?  My opinion is very clear. I think what is terrible is when lots of young people only watch superhero movies. They also cannot recognise the very special, unique, individual superhero movies … [But] I think you cannot put everything in the same basket. Some superhero movies have shown some individuality and probably the large majority of them are just run-of-the-mill serial productions.   ]]> Wed, 06 Dec 2023 07:39:35 +0800 Macao News 68132 2023-12-06 07:39:35 2023-12-06 07:39:35 The new strategic partnership will produce concerts, variety shows, TV series and films, kicking off with a Tencent Video All Star Night later this month.]]>Sands China has teamed up with Chinese streaming company Tencent Video and Hong Kong’s Maoyan Live Entertainment Ltd to co-produce live events, films, TV shows and more, multiple media outlets report. One of their first joint-projects will be the 2023 Tencent Video All Star Night, on 17 December, at Sands’ Venetian Macao Cotai Arena. Many of the partnership’s upcoming events will utilise Sands China’s venues in Macao, while Maoyan Entertainment will handle ticketing. A statement from the gaming operator said the initiatives would “provide continued support for the diversification of Macao’s tourism industry and further enhance the city’s positioning as a premium destination.” [See more: Bruno Mars is coming to Macao] The news follows a deal earlier this year, in which online music entertainment platform, Tencent Music Entertainment Group signed a three-year agreement with the Galaxy Entertainment Group to stage events at the 16,000-seat Galaxy Arena – the largest indoor arena in Macao. The SAR’s six gaming operators all committed to investing heavily in non-gaming activities when they signed their latest 10-year concessions.  Tencent Video is owned by Shenzhen-headquartered Tencent and had 117 million video streaming subscribers as of September. Hong Kong Maoyan Live Entertainment is a subsidiary of China’s Maoyan Entertainment, providing online-based entertainment ticketing services.  ]]> Tue, 05 Dec 2023 12:00:01 +0800 Kenny Fong 68121 2023-12-05 12:50:12 2023-12-05 12:00:01 Fa and his production team will receive 790,000 patacas in prize money, which will be used to turn his award-winning screenplay into a TV drama early next year. ]]>Local screenwriter and director, Oliver Fa Tin Leong’s screenplay, Gusto de Amor (Taste of Love), has received first prize in the inaugural TV Drama Screenplay and Production Contest, organised by public broadcaster TDM.  Hong Kong director, Teddy Chen Tak-Sum (The Accidental Spy, Bodyguards and Assassins), who served as the chairman of the competition’s jury and a mentor for contestants, announced the results via videolink yesterday.  As the winners, Fa and his team will be given 790,000 patacas, which they can use to turn his screenplay into a three-episode TV drama. Filming of the 25-minute episodes is expected to begin on 27 December and will be done with the local broadcaster, with a completion date set in mid-January 2024. The first screening is expected after February.  [See more: A new TV series aims to showcase Macao’s unique food culture] During the event, TDM Chairman Lo Song Man stated that “We hope more people will be able to appreciate local Macao productions and we also hope to promote these works outside of Macao to areas such as the Pearl River Delta and beyond.” According to the production team, the screenplay focuses on a long-distance love story with a culinary twist, with its main focus being on introducing Chinese and Portuguese culture, as well as local Macanese cuisine.  Speaking after the ceremony, Oliver Fa said that he noticed that many overseas productions in Macao only film at the city’s World Heritage sites, but do not capture how Chinese and Western cultures are fused in everyday Macao.  ]]> Wed, 29 Nov 2023 07:10:01 +0800 Macao News 67922 2023-11-29 08:17:36 2023-11-29 07:10:01 The 15-time Grammy award winner will be returning to the city in January, bringing his energetic brand of R&B.]]>Pop, funk and soul singer Bruno Mars is returning to Macao on 6 January, for one night only. He last graced the city in 2018. MGM, which will host the Hawaii-born superstar at its Cotai property’s roof terrace, made the announcement last night. The terrace is a relatively intimate venue compared to the stadia that Mars is used to filling, meaning that local music fans are in for a treat. [See more: All Macao wants for Christmas is a Hins Cheung concert] With 15 Grammy awards under his belt, Bruno Mars is one of the most popular music artists performing today. His chart-topping hits include “Uptown Funk” (with Mark Ronson), “That’s What I Like” and “Just The Way You Are.” Mars, who is of Philippine, Spanish, Jewish and Puerto Rican heritage, has sold more than 130 million records worldwide and eight of his songs have reached the number-one position on the Billboard Hot 100. Tickets go on sale on 9 December.  ]]> Mon, 27 Nov 2023 13:20:23 +0800 Kenny Fong 67841 2023-11-27 13:28:44 2023-11-27 13:20:23 From 2 December, lighting installations and performances promise to transform the city into an oasis of light.]]>Light Up Macao 2023, a festival of illumination, makes a return to various venues on the Macao Peninsula, Taipa and Coloane between 2 December 2023 to 25 February 2024, the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) has announced.  The event this year is based on the theme of “Dazzling Wonderland.” It will feature 36 light installations, 20 interactive installations, projections and other displays, found at 34 places in seven districts.  The locations, which have been chosen to encourage visitors to venture into different parts of Macao, can be found on the Light Up Macao 2023 website.  [See more: Light Up Macao 2022 Dazzling Winter to shine over festive season] Illuminations are scheduled to be turned on each evening between 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm.  Projections will meanwhile be shown at the Macao Science Centre and Largo dos Bombeiros in Taipa at intervals of 30 minutes between 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm. There will be another projection at Coloane’s Chapel of St Francis Xavier, although on a more limited schedule.  The event is timed to coincide with major celebrations including Christmas, Chinese New Year and the Lantern Festival, and features a number of auxiliary activities such as a lucky draw, WeChat interactive game and outreach events. Light Up Macao has been running for the past seven years. Last year’s iteration was scheduled to run from 3 December to 1 January but received a month-long extension.   ]]> Mon, 27 Nov 2023 10:39:20 +0800 Kenny Fong 67781 2023-11-30 18:08:46 2023-11-27 10:39:20 Last month, Emily Yau became the first Macao local to win the Miss International Asia Pacific title. She talked with Macao News about future plans and guilty pleasures. ]]>Beauty pageants are nothing new to Macao’s Emily Yau. She earned the title of Miss Congeniality at the 2015 Miss Chinese Toronto Pageant and was first runner-up at the 2019 Miss Macao Pageant. Last month marked another milestone. She was crowned Miss International Asia Pacific at the 61st Miss International Pageant in Tokyo, becoming the first person from Macao to win the title.  After seven years of study in Canada, Yau returned to the SAR in 2018, where she earned a master’s degree and pursued a varied career as a model, actress, livestreamer and MC. She also has a philanthropic side, involved with charities such as the Everyone dog rescue group and Oxfam.  Hot on the heels of her 28th birthday celebration, Yau sat down with Macao News.  This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.  How does it feel to win this award for Macao?  Before I went [to Tokyo], a lot of people would tell me it would be hard for Macao to win an international award and I believed myself that it would be. It’s not because of my lack of preparation, education or prettiness; it’s just that internationally, Macao is very small. But, the dream did come true. So, don’t let anybody stop you. When you have a dream just go and chase after it. If you don’t take the first step, it’s never going to happen, but if you take the first step, sometimes there’ll be a surprise.  What was the most important lesson you learned from Miss International?  Believe in yourself and that you can overcome all this. It’s not about what you wear or whether you have the prettiest makeup or the best dress. Nobody actually remembers that. They only remember what kind of personality you have; that's the impression that you can leave behind.  What pressures did you face during the competition?  Before I went to this Miss International, I only had a month and a half to prepare for it. That was the time I really was stressed out. I think the stress was coming from [the desire] to really represent well, because I was representing my own home city and not just Emily. I wanted everything to be well prepared.  [See more: Francisca Matos of Macao has been named a finalist in the Miss Portugal pageant] [caption id="attachment_67831" align="alignnone" width="2000"] Emily Yau proudly dons her national costume that perfectly represents Macao with its Chinese and Western elements[/caption] Tell us about the national dress you wore at Miss International  It is from Guangdong and the designer, Tang Xiaoru, is a craftsperson who has inherited the art of embroidering qungua (the traditional two-piece Chinese wedding dress) with gold metallic threads, part of the intangible cultural heritage of Guangdong. That piece actually cost 20,000 yuan and it took her two years to finish. Her design is a combination of Western and Chinese culture. She decided to use blue [instead of] the traditional red and she also put a Western wedding veil together. This kind of Chinese and Western culture together, I think really resembles Macao.  What is one thing that you would change about yourself? It’s kind of arrogant to say this, but I don’t want to change anything. I believe that what is meant to be is meant to be. I feel so blessed already, and as a person, I think you can’t be too greedy and you shouldn’t have too many desires.  What’s at the very top of your bucket list?  I want to be a cultural exchange ambassador for Macao – to travel all around the world and also bring different Miss Internationals from other countries to Macao to have this kind of [cultural] interaction.  What is something that no one knows about you?  I had [several] stitches at my right eyebrow when I was a kid. I wanted to buy McDonald’s with my aunties and when I came back, I bumped into a shopping cart and it bled like crazy, so I had stitches.  [See more: Nadya Rufina: Raised in Macao, this Indonesian model is making waves across Asia] What are your guilty pleasures?  If I don’t have work or if I don’t have something to do, or if I feel stressed, I like to sleep a lot. But when I don’t want the night to end, I will sleep at 3, 4, 5 or 6 [o’clock in the morning].  Who are your role models?  My mum and dad. My mum is actually a businesswoman, but she’s not strict at all and is like my friend. There aren’t any secrets between her and me. With my dad, he’s a really wise man who’s very intelligent and humble. He’s almost seventy, but he keeps wanting to learn. I would say my confidence, positive personality and love of life come from my parents.  What’s next for you?  I’ll be going to Thailand for Loy Krathong – the festival where you put [illuminated floating offerings] on the water. Miss Thailand just invited me to be one of the guests for the opening, so I’ll be heading over to Thailand at the end of November.  ]]> Wed, 22 Nov 2023 12:28:44 +0800 Kenny Fong 67718 2023-12-11 15:47:46 2023-11-22 12:28:44 Hayao Miyazaki’s latest full-length feature will screen in Macao this December. Get into the mood by checking out some of these other essential Studio Ghibli films.]]>Considered to be the Walt Disney of Japan, 82-year-old Hayao Miyazaki is nothing short of a legend. In a career spanning six decades, the famed filmmaker, along with his collaborators at Studio Ghibli, have been mesmerising children and adults alike with meticulously hand-drawn animated films that can make one smile at one moment and cry the next. Characters such as Totoro, No-Face and Kiki are as recognisable to many people as any of Disney’s creations.  Despite announcing numerous times that he was permanently retiring from animation, Miyazaki shows no signs of slowing down any time soon. In fact, his latest film, The Boy and The Heron (2023) is set for release in Macao on 14 December.  [See more: A guide to Chow Yun-fat and Tony Leung movie locations in Macao] In order to mark the occasion, Emperor Cinemas at Lisboeta Macau will be holding a Miyazaki Animation Fest with limited screenings of ten classic Studio Ghibli films from 24 November to 3 December. During this period, you’ll be able to catch Ponyo on a Cliff (2008), The Wind Rises (2013) and eight other gems on the big screen, and receive a free memorabilia card along with your ticket.  Of course, the Miyazaki Animation Fest only scratches the surface of Studio Ghibli’s legendary catalogue of films. To celebrate the iconic animator’s new film, we’re throwing in our two cents and sharing a list of six unmissable Studio Ghibli movies directed by Miyazaki – plus another directed by his collaborator Isao Takhata.  1. My Neighbour Totoro (1988, 86 minutes) (となりのトトロ) My Neighbour Totoro features one of the most beloved Studio Ghibli creations, the eponymous Totoro whose design was inspired by raccoons, cats and owls. Such is the popularity of Totoro that he has become the face of Studio Ghibli, appearing in the company’s logo and merchandise.  The film itself tells the very simple story of two young sisters who move to the countryside with their father, so that they can be closer to their mother who has been hospitalised with an illness. As the girls explore their surroundings, they get into adventures with various spirits that inhabit the area, including a large, furry forest spirit whom they name Totoro.  One of the major themes of My Neighbour Totoro is the beauty and power of nature, which is well illustrated by the majestic scenes of the forest and countryside throughout the film, as well as Totoro’s ability to make seedlings grow into huge trees. Interestingly, when the movie was first released in Japan, it was part of a double-billing with a tonally contrasting film, Graves of the Fireflies, as that movie was considered to be more commercially viable and more likely to attract a larger audience.  2. Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989, 102 minutes) (魔女の宅急便) Loosely adapted from a Japanese children’s novel, Kiki’s Delivery Service follows the story of Kiki, a 13-year-old witch who has to go through a rite of passage by living in a foreign city with no other witches for a whole year. During this time, she must learn to become independent and hone her powers.  For this film, Miyazaki takes the novel approach of not having the main character face a villain, but rather internal conflict. Viewers will doubtless be drawn to Kiki’s story, as the young witch’s journey of discovery, overcoming challenges and experimentation is an experience that is universally resonant.   The film, however, almost didn’t happen as the author of the book, Eiko Kadono, was dissatisfied with the changes that Miyazaki’s screenplay had made. For instance, he removed the episodic nature of the source text and added drama and setbacks that were not present in the book. Fortunately, Miyazaki and his producer were able to convince her and the rest, as they say, is history.  [See more: Local filmmaker Max Bessmertny on his inspiration, love for Macao and first feature-length film] 3. Princess Mononoke (1997, 133 minutes) (もののけ姫） Despite being titled Princess Mononoke, the protagonist of this film is, in fact, a prince named Ashitaka. After protecting his village from a demon, who puts a life-threatening curse on him, Ashitaka must venture out to find a cure. Along the way, he meets the titular Princess Mononoke, a girl raised by wolves, and finds himself caught in a struggle between humans and the forest gods.  In Princess Mononoke, Miyazaki continues to explore his pet themes such as the loss of innocence, humankind versus nature, and the cruelty of humankind, in a manner that is arguably more complex than any of his other films. For starters, the film does not subscribe to the clearcut dichotomy of good and evil. The destruction of the environment is decreed in the name of industrial progress, but is shown to be done for the benefit of those who are disadvantaged in society. As Miyazaki himself has pointed out, “The idea that whenever something evil happens someone particular can be blamed and punished for it, in life and in politics, is hopeless.”  4. Spirited Away (2001, 125 minutes) (千と千尋の神隠し） No proper list of Studio Ghibli films is complete without the inclusion of Spirited Away, the worldwide hit that became the top grossing film in Japan and the best animated feature at the 75th Academy Awards. The film revolves around a ten-year-old girl named Chihiro who finds herself trapped in the spirit world after she and her parents venture into a dilapidated amusement park on their way to their new house. With her parents turned into pigs, Chihiro must find a way to save them and return to the human world while working at a witch’s bathhouse.  Spirited Away is sometimes compared to Alice in Wonderland and the Wizard of Oz, as it also features a female protagonist who finds herself stuck in a fantastical world populated with surreal characters. However, Miyazaki’s film is very much rooted in traditional Japanese culture and folklore, with references to the country’s dragons, hot springs and yokai or supernatural beings. Much like its western counterparts, however, Spirited Away follows a bildungsroman structure that sees Chihiro transition from a naive child into a courageous and self-confident girl who leaves the spirit world in a better state than she originally found it.  [See more: Jessica Ieong combats mental health issues with art] 5. Howl’s Moving Castle (2004, 119 minutes) (ハウルの動く城) In Howl’s Moving Castle, Miyazaki ditches the Japanese backdrop of his previous film for a 19th-century European steampunk aesthetic. Loosely based on a book by Diana Wynne Jones, the film is centred around a teenage girl named Sophie Hatter who finds herself transformed into an old woman by a witch. Intent on finding a way to reclaim her youth, she ventures into the countryside, where she gets involved with a wizard who lives in the eponymous moving castle, as well as in a war brewing between two countries.  Produced during the 2003 Iraq War, Howl’s Moving Castle is arguably Miyazaki at his most political. Unlike the book that it is based on, Miyazaki puts the anti-war element of the story front and centre. For example, one scene sees a town turned into a fiery inferno after a bombing. Another scene juxtaposes a lush hillscape with the cold, lifeless military aircraft in the background. So great was Miyazaki’s disdain for the war that he boycotted the 75th Academy Awards – where he was due to receive the award for Best Animated Feature – saying “I didn’t want to visit a country that was bombing Iraq.”  6. The Wind Rises (2013, 126 minutes) (風立ちぬ) Set in the first half of the twentieth century, The Wind Rises is a fictionalised biopic that follows the life of Jiro Horikoshi who becomes an aircraft designer after his shortsightedness forces him to give up his dream of piloting. As his career progresses, Horikoshi finds love and is tasked with designing planes for Japan’s war machine during World War II.  With this movie, Miyazaki wholeheartedly indulges in his love for aviation, as evidenced by the many flying scenes that are featured in his films – and the fact that he named Studio Ghibli after a World War II era Italian aircraft, the Caproni Ca.309 Ghibli (the word means “hot desert wind” in Libyan Arabic). Although that particular plane does not make an appearance in The Wind Rises, real-life aircrafts such as the Mitsubishi 1MF10 and Mitsubishi A5M are featured in the sweeping aerial scenes. 

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Bonus: Grave of the Fireflies (1988, 89 minutes) (火垂るの墓） Although Miyazaki is the central figure of Studio Ghibli, his long-time collaborator, Isao Takhata also deserves a special mention, as he was responsible for some of the animation house’s most memorable and thought-provoking work – including Grave of the Fireflies.  Directed by Takahata, the heart-wrenching animation is set in the last days of World War II and tells the story of a young Japanese brother and sister, Seita and Setsuko, who must rely on each other to survive after they are orphaned during the bombing of Kobe. As the film progresses, the siblings find themselves cornered into an increasingly desperate situation that forces them to confront death, starvation, destruction and indifference. In his review of the film, critic Roger Ebert, said Grave of the Fireflies was “a cartoon, and the kids have eyes like saucers, but it belongs on any list of the greatest war films ever made.”  The film pulls no punches with its depiction of war-time tragedy, opening in medias res with the death of Seita. The recurring symbolism of the firefly is also extremely impactful, representing the embers of the bombing, hope in times of darkness and the spirits of the deceased. Random fact: the movie features the real-life brand of Sakuyama candy drops, which take on great significance throughout the film, and can be purchased in selected supermarkets in Macao.  ]]> Fri, 17 Nov 2023 12:43:00 +0800 Kenny Fong 67589 2023-12-04 10:34:57 2023-11-17 12:43:00 The Pearl River Delta’s marquee music festival is back for round two this year with an eclectic array of local and international music talent.]]>After a triumphant post-pandemic comeback in March, outdoor music gathering Clockenflap will be back for a second time this year to make up for its three-year hiatus.  According to the organisers, the festival's second 2023 iteration – to be staged on the Hong Kong waterfront from 1 to 3 December – will feature a “forward-thinking lineup.” Over 60 Asian and international bands and artists will be performing, including headline acts Pulp and Yoasobi. Thrown into the mix are up-and-comers from the worlds of indie, electronica, rock, hip-hop and other genres. With so many artists vying for your attention on multiple stages, you might be in a tizzy over which shows to catch – which is why we’ve made your life easier with a list of six Clockenflap acts that you won’t want to miss.   Wang Wen  Originating from the Chinese city of Dalian, veteran indie post-rockers Wang Wen will be appearing on stage on Friday. Since their debut in 1999, they have had a prodigious output of 12 albums, with the most recent being 2022’s well-received Painful Clown & Ninja Tiger.  Considered to be one of the leading Chinese bands in instrumental rock, the sextet’s haunting and evocative sound takes direct inspiration from the region of Northeastern China – considered the rust belt of China.  If you’re new to Wang Wen, start with the band’s tenth album, Invisible City, recorded at the height of winter in Iceland.  “This time we had a deeper understanding of each other,” guitarist Xie Yugang says of the album. “In an atmosphere like that, we made an album that evokes a feeling of warmth as we were hoping for, despite the polar nights outside of the studio walls.”  IDLES Described by the Guardian as “the face of British post-punk” IDLES is a UK rock band that will be making a return to Clockenflap after a four-year hiatus.  The group consists of five members, including lead singer, Joe Talbot who rejects the post punk label, saying “I guess we have that motorik, engine-like drive in the rhythm section that some post punk bands have but we have plenty of songs that aren’t like that at all.” Regardless of whatever musical style they may be, IDLES’s music is kinetic and very much in your face.  Since the 2017 release of their initial album Brutalism, the band has been going from strength to strength, garnering a host of nominations and awards, including a 2022 Libera Award for Best Rock Record. Their fifth album, TANGK, is slated for release in February 2024. In the meantime, catch them live at Clockenflap.  Caroline Polachek Critically acclaimed American singer-songwriter, Caroline Polachek, is another major star attraction who will be hitting the Clockenflap stage for the very first time on the Saturday. She was previously the lead vocalist of indie band Chairlift (whose song “Bruises” achieved commercial success, thanks in no small part to an iPod commercial) and has collaborated with artists as diverse as Beyoncé and Blood Orange. When Chairlift disbanded in 2017, Polachek took a turn as a solo artist, debuting with the well-received album, Pang. Since then, she has continued to produce works that test the boundaries. Her latest song “Welcome To My Island,” mixes pop with electronic rock and operatic vocals resulting, Polachek said, in a song is “bratty and stupid…” and (had to go) through a million versions…to be the worthy soundtrack for an epic walk of shame.”  Prep Formed in 2015, UK’s Prep consists of four members whose musical backgrounds could not be any more different. Lead singer, Tom Havelock is a singer and songwriter, while the remaining three band members are a classical composer, a DJ and a producer.  The result of this mix of talents is upbeat, nostalgic synth-pop music. Havelock has gone on record saying “I suppose a lot of the stuff we’re inspired by is that late ‘70s, early ‘80s smooth music, which can make you pretty nostalgic when you listen to it now.”  Prep’s eponymous debut certainly brings out that feeling despite being produced amid the challenging circumstances of the pandemic.  Xiaolin Xiaolin is the stage name of Olivia Dawn Mok, a Hong Kong-based DJ who will make her debut at Clockenflap on Saturday. As an alumni of two world-class music academies, Xiaolin’s training in classical violin and jazz sets her apart from many of her contemporaries. She fell in love with electronic music after becoming exposed to 80’s and 90’s bands of the genre, such as Prodigy and Boards of Canada, while studying overseas.  Xiaolin’s electronic music is imbibed with influences from various areas, including classical music. “The combination of violin with house music and techno music…kind of came as an accident, because I’ve always played violin,” she points out. Listening to her two EPs, MIHN002 and Tower Moment, one can get a sense that her musical tastes are diverse, encompassing genres ranging from ambient to acid.   ]]> Wed, 15 Nov 2023 14:49:54 +0800 Kenny Fong 67515 2023-11-15 14:49:54 2023-11-15 14:49:54 The Cantopop superstar is coming to town for a whopping seven-show run, including performances on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. ]]>Hong Kong pop star, Hins Cheung, is set to hold seven shows in the Londoner Arena in Macao from the middle of December 2023.  The performances are scheduled from 15 to 17 and 22 to 25 December. Tickets start at 680 patacas and will be available for purchase online or by telephone from this Friday.  In an Instagram post dated 5 November, the singer uploaded a concert poster and wrote “After five years of separation, I’ll be returning to Macao again.”   [See also: You’re invited: Be Hacken Lee’s guest at his upcoming residency at The Londoner Macao] The shows are part of the singer’s Prime Classics tour, which began with three sold-out shows in March at the Royal Albert Hall in London.  The pop star has performed in Macao in the past, last giving a concert at the Venetian in May 2019.  Guangzhou-born Hins Cheung trained in Peking Opera in childhood. He was signed to Universal Music in 2002 and relocated to Hong Kong. The artist has released 17 albums and won numerous awards.  ]]> Thu, 09 Nov 2023 12:23:44 +0800 Kenny Fong 67299 2023-11-09 12:23:44 2023-11-09 12:23:44 The show was shelved indefinitely during the pandemic, but the US$250 million production will reportedly dazzle audiences once again when it returns toward the end of next year. ]]>One of Macao’s most beloved shows, the House of Dancing Water, is set to make a return in the latter part of 2024, according to the transcript of a Melco Resorts & Entertainment earnings call published on the Seeking Alpha investment platform.  In the call, held on Tuesday to discuss Melco’s third quarter results, David Sisk, the COO of Melco’s Macao properties, said “We’re looking to open up House of Dancing Water for the relaunch, probably late in the fourth quarter of 2024. We’re just now going through the process of the remount. We’ve been doing a lot of work on the House of Dancing Water theatre to get it up and ready.”  He added: “We just started doing our first shows there. We’re doing a production right now with [Jae Jung TV], where we’re doing some musical things in there right now on a weekly basis. And towards the middle of November, we’ll get back out of that and get started back on the remount for the House of Dancing Water.” [See more: Curtain comes down on House of Dancing Water] The show had a successful run between September 2010 and June 2020, but was forced to shut down during the Covid-19 pandemic. There were plans for a revival of the show during the pandemic, in early 2021, but it never materialised. Scores of production staff were dismissed towards the end of 2020.  The House of Dancing Water is an aquatic, action-based show about the exploits of a princess who finds love and seeks to fulfil her destiny. Its weekly performances – viewed by over six million people during its original run – were scheduled at its exclusive venue, the City of Dreams, and featured acrobatic performances as well as world-class special effects.  ]]>