The Hongs is a multicultural band based in Miami since 2006. Their sound flirts with calm, deep, but powerful and progressive melodies at the same time. Their main purpose is to explore the space between the electronic and organic.This Sunday, January 29 the Hongs will be playing at The Armory Studios during a cultural “varieté” that will include the performance of Krisp and live fashion sculpture powered by Wasabi Fashion Kult.
Days before the event, WFK inquired Gordon Myers, The Hongs’ mentor, to dig into the band’s music essence. Let’s see what Gordon has to offer:
WFK: When did your affair with music start?
The affair started in Discovery Bay, Jamaica 1977. Strapped to Mums back, I slept through Bob Marley and the Wailers!
What’s the story behind The Hongs?
The original band started in Brooklyn NY in 2004 as an acoustic song writing duo with my video artist Sue Mi Ko . In 2006 I moved to Miami. Eric Escanes (Suenalo) and I began 9:30am rehearsals and the modern version of the band was born.
You state that The Hongs are a ‘multinational dance conglomerate’, what do you mean by that?
The band has always been an expression of diversity. Quite accidentally, band members have been Jamaican, French, Mexican, Jewish, Costa Rican, Scottish, Cuban and Argentinean. We are currently exploring dance music hybrids. Jesse Murphy coined the term ROCKDISCO.
Your songs blend a calm atmosphere with a tense an obscure vibe. Where do you get your inspiration from?
I try taking inspiration from all around me. Personally song writing became an outlet to block depression and mental illness. It worked…I think.
Is Miami anyhow reflected in your sound?
Our sound is the collision of multiple genres. Miami being one of a few truly cosmopolitan and diverse cities in the United States could be viewed comparatively. Miami was the perfect back drop for the Hongs to come into existence.
On January 29 you will be playing at The Armory Studios. What are the essential elements of The Hong’s live shows?
Our live shows tend to be High Energy, Uptempo and LOUD. Currently the band is triggering “electronic effected sounds” with traditional instrumentation. We use traditional songwriting formats combined with untraditional sounds.
The Hongs will be playing @ The Armory Studios
on January 29
Flor Frances is an Argentinean native based in Miami. She dedicates her life to music; studying and documenting the underground music scene. Flor believes in the alternative circuits as the platform where new things are born. The essence of art and evolution it’s found underground where everything is happening now --where she hangs out. For WFK she will be exploring Miami’s alternative, underground music scene. 
