Check Disc Out: J-Rock CD Album Collector, Preston Chong
When J-Rock is not just music, but a way of life for an avid Singaporean fan
BY: JERELYN LEE
BREAD LOVER
The term J-rock, may not be something everyone in Singapore is very familiar with, but J-rock, otherwise known as Japanese rock, is a genre of music influenced by British and American rock bands during the 60’s. Gaining more popularity in the late 80s to 90s, today, J-rock has grown to reach amassed audiences of up to 200,000 at some of their largest rock festivals, with over 200 guest lineups spanning across 3 days.
From established J-rock bands like Dir en Grey, L'Arc-en-Ciel, B’z and Mr. Children to popular bands like One Ok Rock, Bump of Chicken and Babymetal, I speak to an avid J-rock and Visual Kei Band enthusiast, Preston Chong, who has made it his goal to collect all of his favourite albums, and get an insight of how impactful music can be in one’s life.
Love for J-Rock stemmed from Visual Kei bands
Coming across music videos of Visual Kei bands on Youtube, Preston shares that the artistry he discovered was astounding. Intrigued by the heavy makeup adorned by the band, heavily styled hair that was gravity defying and costumes that made the artists look androgynous, as a secondary school student struggling to identify with himself, the discovery to a new world of music, opened new doors and allowed him to delve into J-rock, heavy metal and originals by visual kei bands.
“I was 12, having what I like to call a quarter life crisis, not knowing who I really was and wanted to be, when I chanced upon Dir en Grey’s ‘Hageshisa To, Kono Mune No Naka De Karamitsuita Shakunetsu No Yami’.
It brought me to other Visual Kei bands like DIAURA, SuG and LOST ASH.”
One of Preston’s favourite Visual Kei band, LOST ASH, that has disbanded in 2015
Meeting LOST ASH, in person during 2014
Falling into the rabbit hole of Visual Kei bands and J-rock, Preston made his very first album purchase during AFA 2014, where he had the rare opportunity of meeting one of his favourite bands in person. Recalling the excitement and how it was an ‘otherworldly experience’, he is thankful he got to meet them before they disbanded in December, 2015.
“It was incredible seeing them in person. I might have had a panic attack, or two, just standing there, smiling awkwardly. But they were gracious and incredibly friendly.
I’m happy I got to meet them before they disbanded. I was gutted. ”
Meeting LOSH ASH in 2014
What sets J-Rock apart from other music
While Preston has always been an avid listener of different genres of music, be it classical, pop or ballads, nothing quite feels like rock, and J-rock specifically. Sharing how the riffs and music videos have an allure to them, the songs written are not just catchy, but have meaningful lyrics that shed light on darker themes, which was something that appealed to him.
“Their lead guitar, riffs and vocals have a unique character to them which I just love and enjoy.
There is also the added fact that they aren’t afraid of writing songs depicting darker themes.”
Two of the more recent bands Preston has taken a liking to
The impact J-rock has on his life
Apart from quote on quote ‘saving him during a time he wanted to give up on life’, Preston talks about how J-rock inspired him to do something, which is how he wound up saving money to buy a bass.
“I was in a bad place, and J-rock saved me. Listening to the songs gave me strength to motor on, and I was motivated to do something for the first time.
I started saving money to buy a bass and self-learn.”
On album collecting and sourcing for them
Over the years, as the number of Visual Kei bands disband and stop their activities, it is getting harder to find some of the older albums by the bands he has ‘spent his teen angst with’. While digital platforms like Spotify and Youtube exist, Preston still loves the feeling of working hard to save up and hunt for an album to add to his collection, even if the band has disbanded.
Other Visual Kei rock bands Preston loves are ‘The Gazette’ and ‘Alice Nine’
Goals and aspirations aside from album collecting
Besides the goal of purchasing at least one J-rock album every year, Preston has also been saving up to make one of his lifelong dreams, a reality. He will be attending the largest J-Rock festival in Japan this year, ‘Fuji Rock Festival’, held between 28-30 July.
“I’ve been working hard to make my dream come true. I don’t think I will be able to sleep in July hahahah.”
Afterword
We all love a good bop, and catchy music to listen to, regardless of its genre and the language the song is sung in. For Preston, listening to J-rock and collecting albums of some of his favourite rock and Visual Kei bands, has saved him, shed light on the darkness in his life, and allowed him to work towards not only picking up new skills and a hobby, but his lifelong dream of seeing the bands he loves in person.
JERELYN LEE | BREAD LOVER
Jerelyn Lee is an aspiring content creator, who is passionate about the Arts. An enthusiast in writing, drawing, photography and music, she is keen to capture and share moments, memories and life experiences.
While she is shy in nature, she is more than happy to talk about books, art, anime, music and the joys (woes, and lessons) in life.
