Lalrp.org: 
Its new single “Rumours” is considerably “horny” 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 Related Press on Sunday. Not like their earlier Cantonese hits that conveyed a picture of “a bunch of youngsters” and their energetic facet, the brand new observe reveals they’ve grow to be males, member Ian Chan mentioned.
“We aren’t attempting to significantly goal any markets, however then we kinda wanna present the opportunity of what a boy band from Hong Kong can carry to everybody,” Chan mentioned. “Hopefully, we are able to carry ourselves and produce Cantopop to extra locations.”
Mirror’s world debut is just not solely a check of whether or not they can discover an viewers past Hong Kong, a market with 7 million folks. The abroad reception may additionally point out whether or not Hong Kong singers, who dominated Asian showbiz many years 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 Ok-pop for years. Native 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 precise the town’s cultural identification.
Mirror’s members broke into the business 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 recognized for his or her dancing expertise, a number of have devoted themselves to appearing and others have hosted TV reveals.
Their arduous work and willpower have helped them to draw a loyal following, particularly college students, middle-aged ladies and younger households.
In 2021, Keung declared: “I consider Hong Kong singers can undoubtedly grow to be Asia’s high once more.” That 12 months, their fandom grew to become a Hong Kong cultural phenomenon.
Followers poured into buying malls to help their occasions, with some making and shopping for commercials to rejoice their idols’ birthdays. Companions of followers flooded Fb with “self-pity” tales, together with having the partitions of their properties plastered with posters of the singers. Discuss of the group supplied many Hong Kongers an escape from downbeat information about COVID-19, political challenges and social adjustments dealing with the town.
“We at all times have a social accountability to carry optimistic considering and a few good vibes … to individuals who like us,” Chan mentioned.
However a harrowing incident final July dealt a heavy blow to their rise.
A large video display screen fell from the ceiling during a concert 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 staff from the live performance’s principal contractor alleged to be chargeable for the accident. Final month, Li’s father mentioned his son had taken his first steps with the assistance of an exoskeleton machine.
“We are going to by no means say that we already received by it,” mentioned Lui, including it was a “big lesson.” It taught them to cherish each second, Stanley Yau mentioned.
Whereas 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 commercials moderately than specializing in their singing and dancing.
Lo mentioned the group is attempting to decelerate its schedule to strike a greater stability and the members now collect not less than a couple of times a month for actions akin to conferences or dance classes — a major change as they seldom met one another exterior work previously, he mentioned.
The discharge 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 significant problem, Lui mentioned, they usually have been all coached one-on-one through the recording classes.
Lo mentioned the group will monitor audiences’ reactions carefully however that they are going to little doubt proceed producing music in Cantonese at the same time as some members may produce solo songs in Mandarin. The group additionally has plans to launch a worldwide tour presumably subsequent 12 months, he mentioned.
Lui mentioned their ambition of reviving Cantopop as Asia’s No. 1 music may sound “like daydreaming.”
“However I believe we should always have that aim inside our hearts and we should always attempt to do our greatest to pursue this dream,” he mentioned.
