We present to you an exclusive interview with X’ho. For those of you who aren’t Singaporean, X’ho is a well known Music Mentor figure in our music scene. This culture rebel, singer, author, self-styled professional griper, and filmmaker has been championing all things underground since Singapore Pte Ltd was founded. He is someone who is a constant inspiration to us since the days of Rediffusion..and especially to those that know that there is more to Singapore than Changi Airport and Ris Low. I guess you can’t have everything in one tiny island, but at least give us the freedom to speak.
Please drop by his website to buy his books and albums. If you would like to see what’s he up to next or hear some of his music, check his MySpace page here.
Thanks X’ho for your time and thoughts.
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0) Maybe we can start off with a short update on what have you been to recently?
As X’ Ho, I completed my 6th short film titled ‘Cum Suck My Nazi’ which will preview in Berlin next month in Oct; still quietly promoting my ‘underdog’ music album ‘No Ordinary Country’ which surprised everyone in that it’s not banned; sitting patiently waiting for orders for my new e-book ‘How To Be More Win-Win Than The MM’ which, in successful Singapore, is naturally a sleeper; writing new songs for my next music album; composing butt-covering diatribes for my monthly essays ‘The X’Ho-Files’ posted on myspace.com/xhobooks… And as Chris Ho, busy deejaying at Lush 99.5FM every Saturday, live from Orchard Central, spinning at Stereolounge every Saturday night, and various other venues like Forbidden City, The Shack, Nova, Café Del Mar etc. Oh, and doing my share of (fairly-weekly) clubbing with ‘foreign talents’ (ah, what would I be without foreigners around!).
1) When did you start making music? What’s your musical agenda then? What’s ur musical agenda now?
Started making music a long time ago, soon after I started deejaying for radio. To give a date would annul my claim to be “forever 27”, so let’s just say, very long ago. I was influenced by all that 70’s punk and New Wave back then, so I guess I was emulating idols a lot – Lou Reed, Patti Smith, Romeo Void, Suicide… These days every artistic endeavor of mine is about Singapore, so I can say ‘Everything I Do, I Do It For You’ without singing Bryan Adams.
2) How did X’ho come into the equation? How does that work with DJ Mentor?
X’ Ho was self-christened and made legally official with my second solo album ‘PunkMonkHunk’ in1993. It is my artist-persona (as musician/author/self-styled rebel) cos Chris just didn’t seem to rock thunder & lightning as a name. Chris Ho is the work-a-bee deejay and journalist. Mind you, X’ Ho is still pronounced Chris Ho as in, y’know, X’mas, so am consciously keeping down pretentions. DJ Mentor is definitely…well, inspired!!! As they say – “mentoring the young”; except, of course, I think-out-of-the-box and do it with my own agenda! I often use this moniker to spin for the industrial-goth nights Dark Friday/Heart Of Darkness/Original Sin. There’s something very exciting and radical I’m doing with DJ Mentor, which I shan’t disclose just yet, though you may hear of it by now. It’s all about my big love for black metal.
3) Can you talk about the ideas you used to champion in the 80s/90s vs the ideas which you might champion now?
a) Have they changed in any way? If so, why?
b) If they haven’t change at all, can you share with us what and how has it kept you motivated?
I guess, as a creative person, I haven’t changed all that much since it’s always about passion, conviction, beliefs, individuality and the joy of art as a religion. Those perimeters haven’t changed. It’s the scope of my universe that has. It was more about romance and love back then and now it’s taken on a social dimension. Which isn’t at all unusual because many singer-songwriters do move in that direction, not that I’d call myself that; though my latest album ‘No Ordinary Country’ I’d bravely call ‘protest folk’ which is from that tradition. For me, I’ve always believed that I was blessed with an English education (not Chinese). Don’t think if I were raised Chinese-educated, I’d have discovered rock’n roll to such great length and depth, be it John Waters or Bruce LaBruce or Andy Warhol or Allen Ginsberg or Iggy Pop or Pier Paolo Pasolini or Rainer Werner Fassbinder or Emmylou Harris or Rickie Lee Jones or Joni Mitchell or Tim Buckley or Marvin Gaye or even Dusty Springfield or Peggy Lee. No, we’re not talking about Fever or Son Of A Preacher Man but something much, much deeper. If I were Chinese-ed, I’d probably be raving about Wong Kar Wai and that’s scary.
4) You witnessed more than a decade of music evolution in Singapore. Any pattern recognition? Such as similar themes rising and fallingetc. If there is, can you expand on them and share with us what you think/feel about them?
I think we’re generally dictated by trends and that’s typically Singaporean in our insecurity to justify anything and everything worth delving into, short of nation-building (which is always a God-righteous given!). Due to the death of a music scene (killed off by the Govt. and I do mean – they singlehandedly wiped it out), we also lack real interest in music. Hence, also a greater curiosity about the next wave or the cutting edge – what’s new that every knowledgeable person is into that will make us hip too? It’s almost like – we’ve been going on and on about alternative music when there isn’t even a mainstream to foster an alternative about anyway. Yeah, we’re good at skipping steps… and pretending there’s no problem and let’s get on with it. Fine, but I can’t go with artificial progress and self-denial. It’s too…. shall we say, Section 377A! What’s that word they use? Unnatural!
5) The government recently told us in the national day rally that Singaporeans should be happy that they are living in the “Garden Of Eden”.
a) What are your immediate thoughts on that?
b) What makes Singapore a Garden of Eden? Why?
c) What makes it Not a Garden Of Eden? Why?
d) What do you love about Singapore and what do you hate?
It’s for people who believe in Adam & Eve and that Eden is not an abstract notion and that there was really a talking snake! “Why are we still bothered by what the gahmen say, hah?” – to parrot an artist friend. We should all be apathetic and robotic because that’s about the only way you can keep from going mad when all they do is spin-doctor you to numb you shut! I love Singapore because with so many stupid, uncivilized, no initiative, defensive, kiasu, guarded, scared-shitless, brain-dead people… sorry, debris around, I just look smarter. What I hate about it? The Straits Times. Life would be so much better without it. The Govt. could just do what it wants to do with our implicit trust that it’ll create a great nation and there’ll be no logic-spinning EVERY DAY to wind thinking people up and insult their intelligence. As a pal calls it – it’s the evil press empire. Actually, I’d like that very much if it weren’t evil pretending to be good. I love evil-evil! It’s very black metal.
6) If you could be a representative for the local music culture and enter into a contract with the SG govt, what would you ask for and what would you give in return?
Way too hypothetical unless there’s $5 million in the kitty. What won’t we do for money! I’d even fuck off the face of the Merlion and end my creative drives!
7) What’s your favourite era of the Singapore music scene? Why?
Now! The Internet has freed us all. (Almost) nothing’s banned anymore… and the Govt. is desperately in need of the Arts to salvage a mechanical society. My album ‘No Ordinary Country’ isn’t even banned or restricted! Even The Business Times dared review it favorably! How glorious an era! Just worries me when art becomes NOT their agenda anymore.
8) Can you write a really short story or a poem about our local radio stations?
Such hard work you know… and not as if I haven’t been paying my dues from that monopolistic environment. Spare me to expand energy doing the Singapore thing – make more money! Alright-alright, here’s a short ditty.
Play-play, wayang-wayang
Pronounce ‘class’ like Woodstock’s cool by ‘95
Yeah, all-American, not decadent
not like ’75 when we couldn’t say
‘disco’ (– Really?) -on the radio!
Now, mash that up with Gurmit Singh’s SARS-vivor Rap chorus: “Use your brain, use your brain” to complete the gumbo! Ah, the light does pour out of me, as Howard Devoto & Magazine sang.
