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.”
