Interview and review by Ginnie Liang
EVADE, a local independent Cantonese-language electronica band, are back with their new work after the release of their previous album in 2020, and are keen to bring a major transformation in their music style, EVADE told the Post in a recent interview in the band’s studio on the second floor of a clothing shop on Rua da Barca.
The band members said they were welcoming fans to listen to their new released tracks and looking forward to the whole album coming out.
EVADE was set up 20 years ago, integrating music genres such as electronic music, dream pop and dub.
Since their establishment in 2004, EVADE has undergone several lineup changes. Since 2019 the three current members are vocalist and songwriter Sonia Lao, arranger and producer Faye Choi, and guitarist Lobo Ip.
EVADE released their first self-titled EP in 2009, encompassing all the band’s creations up to that point.
Lao’s ethereal voice weaves through the illusory electronic soundscapes, laying the foundation for the group’s experimental, dreamy style.
Following their debut EP, EVADE have collaborated with Singaporean music label “Kitchen.Label” and released their second album “Destroy & Dream” in 2012, centred around urban legends of the apocalypse. Besides being sold in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore, the album also resonated in Japan and Western markets, garnering media coverage and recommendations, including from Tokyo’s Tower Records and the British music magazine’s “The Wire” radio show. The band was subsequently invited to perform in Tokyo, Kyoto, Singapore, Malaysia, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, and Macau.
However, the band admits they focus intently on their creations without paying much attention to market trends or specific promotions, “EVADE do not follow a commercial path or deliberately position itself into a specific music genre. Music is our way of expression, and we hope listeners can feel that. The mere existence of our work in this world is a great satisfaction and an inseparable passion, which is why our music remains so pure,” Choi said.
New Album Out Soon
After releasing their first two albums, EVADE took a hiatus. During that time, they witnessed the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and the members decided to incorporate technological elements into their third album in 2020, “Science & Dream,” reflecting deep thoughts about the future of humanity and concerns about technology’s impact on human existence.
Choi said that EVADE’s musical direction is constantly evolving: “Previously, we mainly experimented with sound effects, but in the future, we will emphasise melody more.” Compared to their earlier quirky and alternative style, EVADE aims to reduce the experimental elements in favour of a more straightforward and accessible auditory experience.
In their new album, EVADE noted, two of their new singles “ENVY” and “LUST,” have recently been released and are available on various music streaming platforms.
Sharing the inspiration behind LUST, Lao said: “Desire is something everyone has. Although we always try to hide it, when desire surges like a tide, how are we going to calm it down?”
“I am excited about our transformation from ‘dreamy and sweet’ to ‘dark and elegant.’ This is a musical direction completely different to before,” she underlined.
“This album centres on the themes of human emotions and desires. We hope listeners can find clues from our recently released singles and look forward to the album which will hopefully be released by the end of the year,” Lao said.
Ip, besides being a guitarist, is also a DJ and the founder of the local independent music label 4daz-le Records. He said he believed that the development of electronic music in Macau is “positive and optimistic.”
“Nowadays, there are diversified channels for us to listen to music, and with technological advancements, producing music is so much easier than before, and in the world of electronic music, the sense of musicians is more important than one’s technique only,” Ip said.
Across the globe, numerous nameless electronic musicians toil away in silence, and Macau is no exception, Ip said: “Many overseas companies sign talented electronic musicians and release their works. Even if they are non-commercial, with effort, they will inevitably be seen by the world, and perhaps one day they can carve out a space for themselves in the global electronic music landscape and even make an impact.”
All photos provided by EVADE
