Interview by William Chan
Local band FunkRoller’s drummer Carmen Ip Wai Man has told The Macau Post Daily that they will perform at Bookand in the Praia do Manduco neighbourhood on Friday.
FunkRoller, comprising several local musicians of instrumentalists and singers, met each other as jazz musicians initially and later formed a band earlier this year, initiated by Ip and singer Carol, to explore different musical genres and experiment with smaller band configurations, aiming to perform a variety of distinctive, rhythmic, enjoyable, and catchy music, generating a vibrant atmosphere during their live performances in Macau. Additionally, Ip said, FunkRoller maintains an open-minded approach and actively seeks collaborations with musicians of different musical genres, occasionally teaming up with rappers.
According to Ip, funk music originated in the late 1960s and 70s as a development from jazz music. “Harmonically, it is relatively simple, focusing on the rhythmic groove and syncopation* of the rhythm section [drums, bass, and guitar], overlaid with the accents of the wind instruments, creating a highly rhythmic music,” Ip said.
Ip explained that both funk and jazz music have elements of dance music and are intended for entertainment and socialising. “While modern jazz big bands have expanded to encompass various musical forms beyond dance music, funk music is characterised by its typically faster tempo and dense 16th-note rhythms,” Ip noted.
FunkRoller’s songs are pre-arranged, but the band leaves room for improvisation during solo sections, making each live performance unique and influenced by the audience’s feedback and the environment, according to Ip. “The energy levels of both the audience and the musicians can vary from one venue to another,” she said.
Within the band, some members are full-time musicians, while others spend a lot of time honing their music skills. “Despite many locals studying music, the music scene in Macau is relatively small, especially considering the city’s booming economy over the past two decades. Surprisingly, Macau lacks opportunities and venues for live performances, with the absence of a dedicated live music venue,” Ip noted.
In the age of information and smartphones, people can access music and other forms of entertainment online. However, Ip said she believes that live music performances provide a different and more immersive experience. Many great musicians start as live performers, and being in touch with the real atmosphere of live music helps them grow into exceptional players, Ip pointed out.
The performance will take place on Friday, starting at 8 p.m., at Bookand, with walk-in tickets priced at 200 patacas and early-bird tickets available for 150 patacas. For more information, visit: instagram.com/funkroll.er/
*The quality of a rhythm being somehow unexpected, in that it deviates from the strict succession of regularly spaced strong and weak beats in a meter. – Source: Wiktionary
Drummer Carmen Ip performing
These photos show FunkRoller performing at the Macau Art Garden in May. – All photos provided by Carmen Ip
