Since this is my first blogg entry I decided to do it on what seems to be a constant topic on many peoples mind. Well since there is no time like the present here it goes:
Ever since this band started people have been asking us, “Why doesn’t Hsu-nami have any vocals?” or “Did you guys forget a singer?” I decided that the best way to answer this question is with the magic of Live Journal. One of the obvious reasons, thats come to mind, is of course the Erhu. Jack’s instrument has the ability to convey emotion that sometimes a human voice cannot. I personally feel that in today’s age of “label making” vocals tend to define what genre a band is. Many hardcore bands that have melody get classified as melodic hardcore, screamo, and/or emo-core. I feel that this cheapens the artistic vision of the band and even more so, the actual songs themselves. This leads to people having many preconceived notions about the band. Along with many rules and regulations that go with these “labels”. A perfect example is a band like Poison the Well. They get labeled as an “emo-core” band because they have melody and some songs that deal with feelings of love or isolation. The stereotype that usually goes along with this music is girl pants and white studded belts. I feel like these terms cheapen the band and overlook their creativity. Their CD “You Comes Before You” has many elements of surf and garage rock that combine with nicely with their overall hardcore sound. I don’t see them as a “screamo” band but more like a hardcore band that isn’t afraid to be themselves. One could even argue that genres are nothing but tools used by the record companies to make it easier to market to the consumer. Perfect example is Rock n Roll and R&B in the fifties. One was white and the other was black, but in the end it was the same music. Anyways that’s a post topic for another day.
Back to my point, Hsu-nami is trying to be music in its purest form. By allowing the instruments to be the main focus it enables more room for emotion to be expressed. It can entrance the listener into another state of mind where they are determining the meaning of the song. The song isn’t telling them what to think or how to interpret it. They are the ones who define what they are listening to. Music without words has that fantastic ability to capture mood. The essence of what a song is. A perfect example is how directors use classical music to score and move the momentum of their films. I know one could argue that the listener can interpret the lyrics any way they please, but for the most part the meaning is already laid out.
It also comes down to the fact that this is the way we want to express ourselves musically. We feel that Jacks stellar playing is good enough to take the place of vocals. The tone of the Erhu has the versatility to express a variety of emotions ranging from sadness to happiness. Even though there are only two strings on the Erhu, it still has the prowess to lead a song from beginning to end. It’s an alluring sound that no other instrument in the world can articulate. Every band needs a point or some sort of cause. Since politics was good enough for Rage Against the Machine, the Erhu and instrumental music is good enough for Hsu-nami. We want to take the traditional vibe of the Erhu and apply it to the nonconventional nature of progressive rock. A concept that no band in America has ever done (at least to our knowledge) and we’re very proud of that.
Now don’t get us wrong, as a progressive rock band we don’t want to rule anything out. We are not opposed to the idea of a singer, but we just haven’t found a need for it yet. We feel like we’re communicating our musical vision just fine. When it comes time to add a vocalist it will be there when it’s deemed necessary. Just a little secret, in the past, we have toyed around with the idea of having guest rappers on certain songs. Hip hop and Hsunami? I think that shit would be just plain “Ballin”!!! … sorry
In closing, we want to prove to people that instrumental music can be just as exciting and enticing as any other kind of music. It seems to be a lost art form in America. There was a time when bands like Return to Forever and Mahavishnu Orchestra were roaming the lands with jagged jazz rock fusion explorations. There are some fantastic bands out there doing great original music. Don’t get us wrong. We just feel for “us”, for now, we need to express ourselves instrumentally and I hope you all can understand that.
cheers,
Brent OVar Bergholm
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