Pandora’s Music of “Life and Hope”
Tony, Anakin, and Michael talk about how they became a band, how life cycles inspire them, and the Hong Kong music scene. Tony 、 Anakin 同 Michael 傾吓佢哋點樣成為一隊樂隊，生命週期點樣啟發佢哋，同埋香港樂壇。
For those who have not heard your music before, how would you describe it to them? How would you finish the sentence “Pandora is ___” or “Pandora’s music is ___”?
對於之前冇聽過你嘅音樂嘅人，你會點樣同佢哋形容呢句「潘多拉係 ___ 」或者「潘多拉嘅音樂係 ___ 」呢句說話？
“Pandora’s music brings life and hope.”
Pandora嘅音樂係帶俾人生命力同埋希望。
What is the story behind how you became a band?
你點樣成為一隊樂隊背後嘅故事係點？
Tony wanted to play guitar [in a] band, so he [asked] his younger brother Michael to [join] him. One day, when the two brothers went to a music studio, they met Anakin, who was playing drums. It started with [the] sentence “Would you like to play some music together?”
最初係Tony想彈吉他夾band，於是捉細佬Michael陪伴，有日兩兄弟去一間音樂室夾band時，識到正在打鼓嘅Anakin，就由一句：「要唔要一齊玩下啲音樂？」展開Pandora之門。
How did you choose your band name?
你點樣揀你個樂隊名？
[We] accidentally saw a book that mentioned Pandora's Box and found that the story of the Box is a metaphor for still retaining the most important [thing to] mankind in the midst of misfortune: hope. It is also what we want to do.
樂隊名方面，偶然間見到一本提及Pandora's Box嘅書， 發現盒子嘅故事係寓意在不幸之中仍然保有人類最重要的「希望」；當刻感到好有意思。亦係我哋想做嘅事而定名。
What are the biggest sources of inspiration for your music?
你嘅音樂最大嘅靈感來源係咩？
The biggest inspiration for our music creation comes from talking, usually in the band room. Nearly ninety percent of the time, talking triggers the theme of the work.
我哋音樂創作最大靈感源自於傾偈，平時喺band房，接近九成時間都係傾住偈觸發到作品主題。
Please describe your newest single, “Flower Of Life”!
請描述下你最新嘅單曲《生命之花》！
The latest single, “Flower Of Life,” was released in April this year. The song uses dandelions as a metaphor to narrate the theme of the cycle of all things. “Never Never Say ByeBye,” [released] in January, [also has the life cycle] as a theme, but the former tells the story of the inheritance of life [from] parents [to] children; the latter uses the life of a butterfly to [describe the growth] of a friendship.
今年4月推出咗最新單曲〈花之生命〉，歌曲以蒲公英為喻，娓娓道來萬物循環嘅主題。對比返一月時推出嘅〈痛痛快快活活去〉兩者皆用生命為題，不過前者所講述是父母與子女間生命嘅傳承；後者則以蝴蝶生命道出一段友情嘅聚散。
Please describe your latest full-length album, GALAXY WITHIN, and how it differs from your other albums.
請描述你最新嘅全長專輯《 GALAXY WITHIN 》，同埋佢同你其他專輯有咩唔同。
In 2023, we released our third album, GALAXY WITHIN. The difference from previous albums is that when we were creating [this one], we matured in communication and found that in addition to bringing hope to people, we want to export the message of kindness. This October, we will release our fourth album. The theme is “Universal cycle, five flavors, collecting the tastes of growth.”
2023年我哋推出咗第三隻專輯《GALAXY WITHIN》與以往專輯唔同嘅係創作時，我哋溝通成熟咗並發現除咗要帶俾人希望，也想將悍衛善良嘅訊息輸出。今年10月我哋會推出第四張專輯，主題是「萬物循環，五味雜陳，集合成長之味」，大家要留意啦。
What is your favorite song from GALAXY WITHIN, and why?
你最鍾意《 GALAXY WITHIN 》嘅歌係咩，同埋點解？
We love the full GALAXY WITHIN album! If really limited to choosing one song, it would be “Wind and Moon.” We faced a moment of dissolution [when making that song], and the creative process made us realize the importance [that being in] Pandora brings to us.
我哋鍾意《GALAXY WITHIN》全碟！！如果真係只限揀一首，會係〈風月〉因為創作前我哋面臨解散時刻，而創作過程令我哋意識到Pandora帶俾我哋嘅重要性；就似歌詞所寫「若痛苦 亦能 盡慶 亦能 吃喝 亦能 碰到光」慶幸我哋碰到光且繼續前進。
What are your favorite Pandora music videos, and why?
你最鍾意邊啲潘多拉音樂劇照，同埋點解？
“Emergency Response Escape Method,” because the viewing angle is very special, and there is a characteristic robot cat!
<緊急應變逃生〉因為觀賞角度好特別，而且有隻富有特色嘅機械貓！
“Pink Bubble Protector” is a long-awaited [music video that] feels very real, and everyone is happy to see this!
<粉紅泡泡防護罩〉係久違真人MV， 裡面所揮發嘅神態都係私底下嘅自己，感覺好真實同時俾大家睇到呢一面都好開心！
What are some of the proudest moments of your career so far?
你職業生涯到目前為止最自豪嘅時刻係啲咩？
[We are] most proud to continue to add works to Pandora’s playlist, and [we are] grateful that the works are becoming more and more known.
最自豪係可以繼續為Pandora的歌單增加作品，亦感恩作品越嚟越多人認識。
What are some characteristics of the Hong Kong music scene that you wish more people knew about?
你希望更多人知道香港樂壇有啲咩特點？
[The] Hong Kong music scene is very diverse. [Most of the] singers [and] bands we appreciate are independent musicians, and [musicians who are their own] lyricists, arrangers, and directors are really worthy of support! Cantonese is characteristic [of music in Hong Kong]. [We] see [that] people from different countries like to listen to Cantonese songs, and learning Cantonese is a very exciting thing.
香港樂壇好多樣化，唔同類型嘅歌手、樂隊我哋都好欣賞，當中大部分為獨立音樂人，且做到曲詞編監均出自歌手或樂隊本身，真係好值得支持！另外廣東話亦係特色，每當見到唔同國家嘅人喜歡聽廣東歌並學習廣東話係一件好興奮嘅事。
What are your short-term and long-term career goals?
你嘅短期同長期職業目標係咩？
[We] hope that the October concert ticket sales will [allow us] to add more shows and [that our] new album will bring strength to everyone. The long-term goal [is] to go to bigger venues, preferably [for an] overseas tour!
短期目標希望10月演唱會門票大賣可以加場再大賣，同埋新專輯帶到力量俾大家。長期目標希望去到更大場館開Show，最好可以去到海外辦tour！
Lastly, is there anything else you want to say about yourselves or your music?
最後，你仲有冇其他嘢想講關於你自己或者你嘅音樂？
[We] hope Pandora's works will slowly become regular songs on your playlist.
希望Pandora嘅作品慢慢成為你Playlist裡面恆常播放的歌。
Keep up with Pandora on Instagram, YouTube, and Spotify!
喺 Instagram 、 YouTube 同 Spotify 上緊貼潘多拉嘅步伐！
Answers have been lightly edited and condensed for clarity. Photos courtesy of Billy Elvis & Phoenixgoo.