HowZ: “I will continue to create until the day I die”
The singer/rapper talks about going solo, collaborating with JUD, and the quote that made him realize his love of music. 這位歌手/說唱歌手談論了單飛、與 JUD 的合作以及讓他意識到自己對音樂的熱愛的名言。
For those who have not heard your music before, how would you describe it to them? How would you finish the sentence “HowZ is ___” or “HowZ’s music is ___”?
對於那些以前沒有聽過您的音樂的人，您會如何向他們描述您的音樂？你會如何完成這句話「HowZ 是___」或「HowZ 的音樂是___」？
“HowZ is synonymous with warmth, tenderness and light,” or “HowZ's music is full of energy and warmth.”
「HowZ 是溫暖、溫柔和光的代名詞 」或「HowZ 的音樂是充滿能量、富有溫度的 」
Who or what first inspired you to pursue a music career?
誰或什麼最初激發了您從事音樂事業？
It was the formation of [the group] 8Ball that first got me involved in music production. I served as both the producer and leader of the team, starting [out making] old-school West Coast music and gradually growing to where we are today.
最初是8Ball 八號球的組成讓我開始接觸音樂製作，身兼團隊的製作人及團長，從old school西岸音樂起家，逐步成長至今。
What was the transition like for you to go from making music as a group member to pursuing a solo career?
從身為樂團成員創作音樂到追求個人音樂生涯的轉變是怎麼樣的？
As a member of a group, I had to do a single job. Maybe it was just to do the production, maybe it was just to write part of a song, or maybe it was just to sing the song well during the performance. But it's not like that for a solo [career]. I have to do everything by myself, which is not an easy thing. No one will answer questions and help you figure out what to do next. You can only rely on yourself.
身為一個團體的一員，我要做的就是較為單一的工作，也許是做好製作就好，也許是寫好歌曲的一部分就好，也有可能是在表演負責把歌唱好就好，但solo卻不是這樣，我必須要一個人把所有事情做好，這並不是一件容易的事，沒有人會幫你接話，也沒有人會幫你想好接下來要做什麼，你只能靠你自己而已
What are three main topics that your songs often include?
您的歌曲常常涉及哪三個主要主題？
Love, lust, [and] self-discovery.
愛情、情慾、自我探索
How do you choose when to rap and when to sing? Does rapping or singing come more naturally to you?
您如何選擇何時說唱、何時唱歌？對你來說饒舌還是唱歌比較自然？
Rapping and melodies are very intuitive and natural to me. I choose the most suitable ways to present [lyrics] according to the themes and musical styles, and I usually decide while I am freestyling with the music!
饒舌跟旋律對我來說都非常直覺、自然，我會根據主題和音樂風格選擇最適合的方式呈，通常會在跟著音樂freestyle的時候就能夠決定！
How did you end up collaborating with JUD for “Falling,” and what was that experience like?
您最終是如何與 JUD 合作創作《Falling》的？
At first, when I was composing “Falling,” I had no idea [what to do] about the chorus. I always thought that I had to find a girl to fill in the chorus, but this person must be able to deeply understand the theme of the song and have a relatively steady and special voice. When I first heard JUD, I knew that this song was for her. There was no one better than her.
起初我在創作 Falling 時一直對副歌沒有想法，也一直認為自己必須找一位女生來填補副歌，但這位人選必須是能夠深刻理解這首歌的主題，同時聲線相對沈穩特別的。在我第一次聽到JUD的歌的時候，我就知道這首歌非她莫屬了，沒有比她再更適合的人選了
Please talk about each of these songs: fun facts, behind-the-scenes stories, descriptions of them, the sources of inspiration… whatever you want to say about each one!
請分享一些有關每首歌曲的資訊。這可以是任何您想要的內容：有趣的事實、幕後故事、對它們的描述、它們的靈感來源... 無論您想對每個人說些什麼！
“Fair Cosmos”: I am a person who loves free-diving. Green Island is like my second home. Every beach on the island has my footprints. I can feel the beauty of life in the sea, the beach, and the people. This song is dedicated to my beloved Green Island!
“良辰美景” : 我是個熱愛自由潛水的人，綠島這個地方對我來說就像是第二個家一樣，島上的每一片海灘都有我的足跡，也都能在海、沙灘及人身上感受到生命的美好，這首歌就是獻給我最愛的綠島的一首歌！
“Nightmare”: I am not good at talking about separation, especially in love. Every separation is like a nightmare to me. I will examine and reflect on myself every quiet night, wondering how to avoid such [an] emotional entanglement again...
“夢魘” : 我並不是一個擅長談論離別的人，尤其是在愛情上，每一次的分別對我來說都像是一場夢魘，我會在每一個夜深人靜的夜晚裡反覆的審視自己及反省自己，該如果再次避免這樣的情感糾結⋯
“See me on the moon”: The moon is a place full of mystery. Everyone has different views and feelings about the moon. I fully visualize all my imaginations about the moon through words and melodies.
“在月球上看我” : 月亮，一個充滿神秘色彩的地方，每一個人都會對於月亮有著不同的見解與情感，而我就是把我對於月亮的所有想像透過文字與旋律完全具象化出來
How do you expect future full-length albums to be similar to or different from theLightBringer?
您認為未來的完整專輯與《theLightBringer》有何相似或不同之處？
For me, theLightBringer focuses on presenting my initial composition, original intention of making music, [and] self-exploration, but subsequent albums will focus more on what kind of breakthroughs I can make in [terms of] charms, emotions, and images.
對於我來說，帶光者這張專輯著重於呈現自己最初的組成、做音樂的初衷還有對於自己的自我探索，但接下來的專輯呈現就會比較著重在於自己在魅力、情感和形象能有什麼樣的突破
Please describe “Bloomin” and the meaning of its slogan, “From my rotting body, flowers shall grow.”
請描述一下「Bloomin」及其口號「從我腐爛的身體中，鮮花將生長出來」的含義。
“From my rotting body, flowers shall grow and I am in them, and that is eternity.” - Edvard Munch. When I first saw this sentence, I just thought it was romantic and didn’t think deeply about its meaning. Later, after creating music, I was able to understand that I [am] not a natural artist, but I love the art of music. I also believe that after I die, my music will continue to bloom in this world like a flower.
「從我腐爛的身體裡，花兒將會生長出來，而我就在花兒裡面，這就是永恆。」 -愛德華·蒙克。第一次看到這句話的時候只覺得浪漫，並沒有去深思它其中的意思，後來在創作音樂之後，我能夠理解自己並不是一個天生的藝術家，但我卻熱愛著音樂這門藝術，我也相信在我死後，我的音樂能像花朵一樣，繼續在這個世界裡綻放
What are your short-term and long-term career goals?
您的短期和長期職業目標是什麼？
[My] short-term goals are to release the next album and then hold the next solo show! [My] long-term goals are to continue to expand my music territory and win a music award!
短期的目標就是希望能夠發行下一張專輯，然後辦下一場專場！而長期的目標則是希望能夠將自己的音樂版圖繼續擴大，拿下一座音樂獎項
Lastly, is there anything else you want to say about yourself or your music?
最後，您還有什麼想說的關於您自己或您的音樂嗎？
I have always believed that music is the salvation of my ordinary life. I think I will love it all my life. Although I might not be a singer all my life, I will continue to create until the day I die.
我一直都認為音樂是我這樣平凡人生的救贖，我想我會熱愛它一輩子，儘管我可能不會一輩子在當歌手，但我持續創作，直到我死的那一天
Check out HowZ’s newest single, “Falling,” here!
Answers have been lightly edited and condensed for clarity. Photo credit: Instagram.