無懼的去唱著歌

紅館舞台上，印著RubberBand標誌的旗幟飄揚，樂隊主音繆浩昌（6號）投入演唱，沒有華麗造型，仍能獲得全場掌聲。踏遍大小舞台，由大學圓形廣場，到香港紅館以至海外巡迴演出，全是他沒想過的事。他笑言當初只是「喜歡唱K」，與大學宿舍同學組成「烏合之眾」，參加校內歌唱比賽，輾轉認識隊友、組成樂隊，才有了後來的故事。

新傳本科貌似與音樂無關，其實不然。6號說新傳讓他認識自我，發現自己最感興趣的，是人的故事，「我做人物專訪特別起勁！在實習刊物《大學線》當編輯時更主動報題，採訪在港外援足球員的故事。很多年後，我們以此為題創作《細街盃》，收錄在樂隊第三張專輯，某程度上都是將這件事繼續發酵。」

大學對獨立唱作歌手黃凱逸（Zelos）來說，同屬塑造自我的階段。他還清楚記得在新傳課室向莊員分享第一首demo的情景。Zelos從小想做歌手，只是一直覺得 欠缺渠道，直至入讀新傳，想像得以拓寬。他感謝新傳老師們，在學生提出想法持開放態度，總是鼓勵大家探索，「新傳給予我空間，讓我知道可以嘗試創作，於是開始寫歌。」

兩名新傳人互相認識，6號說他很欣賞Zelos的勇敢。他指的是2020年，Zelos以自創曲《巴勒比》送給離世男友兼公開性傾向。櫃門自此打開，Zelos其後以迷你專輯 《EmergenZy》探討性／別，在MV展現性別和性向的不同可能，如同《騷》的歌曲簡介所言：「用自己的身體，騷出你的魅」。他說新傳令他知道人生充滿可能性，此後成為自己的提醒，「畢業後，有時反而會『綁手綁腳』，忘記還有很多東西可以嘗試，會覺得不能失敗，但假如沒有失敗和學習，其實未必迎來下一次成功。」

音樂表達自我，Zelos從6號的創作感受到他的善良和溫度。6號說，在新傳學會人文關懷的精神，「問題很多，未必得到解決，但通過創作、記錄和報導，你可以將你所關注的，讓更多人知道。」

Zelos形容新傳人的共通點是擇善固執：「大家都無懼世界給他什麼難題，以胸口當盾牌，我覺得是一種固執的強壯。」與RubberBand《未來見》的歌詞意外呼應：「在寬廣的未來，無懼的去唱著歌，無憾的可做我。」

簡介：
繆浩昌，2002年香港中文大學新聞與傳播學院本科畢業，2005年成立樂隊RubberBand並擔任主音，至今推出十張專輯；另為MV導演。

黃凱逸，2016年香港中文大學新聞與傳播學院本科畢業，2020年成為獨立唱作歌手，曾推出迷你專輯 《EmergenZy》，並參與ViuTV《粉紅麻甩101》等節目主持工作。

Singing Without Fear

At the Hong Kong Coliseum, flags emblazoned with the RubberBand logo flutter as lead vocalist Mau Hou-cheong (nicknamed “6@Rubberband” or “No. 6”) performs with genuine passion. Without elaborate costumes, he commands applause from the entire venue. From the college’s amphitheatre to the prestigious Hong Kong Coliseum and international tours, his journey has far exceeded his expectations. With a smile, he recalls that it all began with simply enjoying karaoke – forming an impromptu group with dormitory mates for campus singing contests, eventually meeting his future bandmates, and setting the stage for everything that followed.

While a journalism and communication major might seem disconnected from music, No. 6 reveals that his studies were instrumental in his self-discovery. “Journalism helped me understand what truly interested me – people’s stories,” he explains. “I threw myself into profile interviews! As an editor for ‘U-Beat Magazine,’ I eagerly pitched my own story ideas, including features on foreign soccer players in Hong Kong. Years later, we wrote ‘Minority World Cup’ based on this theme for our band’s third album – in many ways, continuing what began during those early experiences.”

For independent singer-songwriter Zelos Wong, university similarly shaped his identity. He vividly remembers sharing his first demo with fellow journalism students in a classroom. Though Zelos had dreamed of becoming a singer since childhood, opportunities seemed out of reach until his journalism studies expanded his horizons. He credits his teachers for their openness to student ideas and consistent encouragement. “The School of Journalism and Communication gave me the opportunity to realize I could create my own work, which led me to songwriting.”

The two journalism graduates share a mutual respect. No. 6 particularly admires Zelos’s courage, referring to 2020 when Zelos dedicated his original song “Barnaby” to his late boyfriend while publicly coming out. This watershed moment opened doors for Zelos to explore themes of sexuality and gender identity in his mini-album “EmergenZy,” where his music videos showcase diverse expressions of gender and orientation. As the introduction to his song “The Show” aptly states: “Use your own body to showcase your allure.” Zelos reflects that journalism taught him about life’s possibilities – a lesson he carries forward: “After graduation, I sometimes feel constrained, forgetting there’s so much to explore. I worry about failure, but without failing and learning, the next success may never come.”

Music serves as their means of self-expression. Zelos senses profound kindness and warmth in No. 6 ‘s works. No. 6 attributes this to the humanistic values he developed through journalism. “We face countless problems without easy solutions, but through creation, documentation, and reporting, we can amplify what matters to us and bring it to wider attention.”

Zelos characterizes journalism graduates by their stubborn pursuit of good. “They fearlessly confront whatever challenges the world presents, using their hearts as shields – it’s a form of resilient determination.” This sentiment unexpectedly mirrors RubberBand’s lyrics in “See You Soon”: “In the vast future ahead, singing without fear, being myself without regrets.”

Profiles:
Mau Hou-cheong graduated from the School of Journalism and Communication at The Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2002. In 2005, he formed RubberBand as lead vocalist, releasing ten albums to date. He also directs music videos.

Zelos Wong graduated from the School of Journalism and Communication at The Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2016. In 2020, he launched his career as an independent singer-songwriter, releasing the mini-album “EmergenZy” and hosting programs including ViuTV’s “Beautiful Bitchy Bros.”