Wong Hong Mok (better known as Huang Hongmo 黄宏墨) is a Singaporean xinyao singer-songwriter, music producer and professional photographer.[1] He, along with Liang Wern Fook and others are seen as pioneers of the genre.[2]

Career

Musical career

His singing style has been described as bold and unrestrained but, unlike other xinyao singer-songwriters, writes about nature, and self.[3] He has said that this comes from the time in his life when he spent a lot of time near the sea.

Crediting his father for his love of music, Wong is a self-taught musician; his family was too poor for him to be able to take music lessons. As well as playing the guitar, he taught himself how to play the harmonica and the piano.

As he grew up, he found most of the music that was around in the Chinese music scene, meaningless; however, inspired by the music of Lo Ta-Yu from Taiwan, whose writings he found more meaningful, he started to write his own songs and, in 1982, wrote his first song, "Discard" (抛). His songs were first heard on the radio in 1984 on the Chinese radio programme New Voices, New Songs (歌韵新声), which was seen as a gateway for young musicians.[3]

In 1990, Wong won the Best Lyrics Award for the song "Childhood Homeland" (童言故乡).[4][5] He later released his first album Wild Man's Dream (野人的梦).[4] By 1992, his album sold 30,000 copies which was considered impressive as the Singapore market for local singers are usually around 20,000 copies.[6]

In 1991, following the success of his first album, Wong released his second album The Soliloquy of a Stupid Bird (笨鸟的表白).[7]

In 1996, Wong released his third album, Cherish (惜缘), a compilation of all his works.[8] The album took more than a year to produce as it was self funded and Wong did not have enough funds to produce the album at one go.[8]

He won the “Best Lyrics Award” at the 1999 New Ballad Festival (新谣节). In June 2004, Wong Hong Mok was the first to represent Singapore in the 2nd Asia Music Concert (第二届中新歌会).

In 2012, Wong performed his first solo concert.[9]

Other

Wong was a photographer for commercials in the 1990s.[10]

Discography

  • "Sunset Lake Colours" (夕阳湖色)
  • "Mountain Affair" (山情)
  • "Final Reminiscence" (最后的惦记)
  • "If You Haven't Been Here Before" (如果你不曾来过)
  • "No Return" (不能回头)
  • "Silence" (沉默)

Studio albums

Title Album details Ref
The Wild Man's Dreams (野人的梦) [4]
The Soliloquy of a Stupid Bird (笨鸟的表白)
  • Released: 1991
 [7]
Cherish (惜缘)
  • Released: 1996
  • Self-published
 [8]

Singles

Title Year Album Ref
"Endless Enchantment" (万种风情) 1989 Non-album single [11]
"Childhood Homeland" (童言故乡) 1990 Non-album single [5]

Songwriting credits

Year Credit Title Artist Album Ref
1991 Lyricist "现在还算好" Paula Tsui 文明泪 [12]

References

  1. ^ ""VOICE of EASB 2014" audition - The birth of our 28 semi-finalists!". East Asia Institute of Management (EASB). September 17, 2014. Archived from the original on April 12, 2016. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
  2. ^ Ng, Gwendolyn (August 27, 2015). "Xinyao hits a crescendo". The Straits Times. Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. Archived from the original on April 23, 2016. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
  3. ^ a b Kong, Kam Yoke (August 20, 2010). "Wong Hong Mok: The Wild Man's Dreams" (PDF). National Library Board, Singapore. Singapore Government. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 14, 2016. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
  4. ^ a b c Chiong, Viven (7 December 1990). "Music man takes his bow". The New Paper. p. 29. Retrieved 11 February 2025 – via NewspaperSG.
  5. ^ a b "新谣节属于年轻人". Lianhe Wanbao. 24 November 1990. p. 12. Retrieved 13 February 2025 – via NewspaperSG.
  6. ^ 胡, 文雁 (21 November 1992). "大歌星与小天王的竞争". Lianhe Zaobao. p. 37. Retrieved 13 February 2025 – via NewspaperSG.
  7. ^ a b 胡, 文雁 (7 August 1991). "本地歌手 黄宏墨出新专辑《笨鸟的表白》". Lianhe Zaobao. p. 31. Retrieved 13 February 2025 – via NewspaperSG.
  8. ^ a b c 胡, 文雁 (24 September 1996). "黄宏墨出钱出力出《惜缘》". Lianhe Zaobao. p. 39. Retrieved 13 February 2025 – via NewspaperSG.
  9. ^ "A wild man's dreams concert". Today. 27 December 2012. p. 3. Retrieved 11 February 2025 – via NewspaperSG.
  10. ^ Wong, Hong Mok (14 February 1993). "彼岸的激荡". Lianhe Zaobao. p. 39. Retrieved 13 February 2025 – via NewspaperSG.
  11. ^ "徐小凤有《一幅画》". Lianhe Wanbao. 5 August 1990. p. 11. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  12. ^ "现代与传统". Lianhe Zaobao. 12 May 1991. p. 36. Retrieved 13 February 2025 – via NewspaperSG.
Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wong_Hong_Mok
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