Introducing Justin Sweeting: Musical Director and Co-founder of Hong Kong’s annual Music & Arts Festival, Clockenflap.
DB: 你创建Clockenflap的主要动机是什么？你当时有预料到它会发展成今天的样子吗？What were your main motivations for starting Clockenflap and did you anticipate at the time that it would grow to be what it is today?
我们希望能给城市带来积极的影响，而不是抱怨节日的缺乏，因此决定投入精力创造一个节日。Clockenflap 从建立以来便没有改变过目标，尽管规模有变化。我不能老实地说那是原来的计划。我们只是为每个版本专注地工作，然后逐步发展。
We wanted to make a positive difference in the city and rather than complain about the lack of festivals, decided to put our energies to creating one. The vision for Clockenflap hasn’t changed since day one, though the scale has and I couldn’t honestly say that that was the original plan! We just focused on doing the best job we could for each edition and let the growth progress organically.
DB: 你们有什么特别的活动来庆祝这个节日的第十周年纪念吗？Do you have anything special in store to celebrate the festival’s 10th anniversary?
你只需要亲自去看看，因为节日就是这样。你必须亲自到那里去体验它。
You’ll just have to come along to see for yourself, as that’s the thing about festivals – you have to be there in person to get the most out of it.
DB: 你觉得香港作为创造节日独特氛围的城市，发挥了什么样的作用？What role do you feel that Hong Kong as a location plays in creating the festival’s unique vibe?
香港是整个节日的关键。 这个节日在许多方面反映了我们对这座城市的热爱——东西方文化的融合，新与旧的并存。这个品牌是我们所珍视的Clockenflap体验的千变万化的集合—音乐，艺术，事物，家人，朋友，疯狂和更多其他的东西，映衬着香港的明亮、标志性的天际线。那个场景无法超越。
The city is a key player in the whole shebang! In many ways the event mirrors what we love about the city – a blend of East meets West, the juxtaposition of new and old. The brand is really the coming together of the whole kaleidoscope of Clockenflap experience offerings of all that we hold so dear – music, art, food, family, friends, silliness and more, all set against HK’s luminous, iconic skyline. Just can’t beat that backdrop!
DB: 全世界各地的人来享受这个节日，但是Clockenflap 如何造福本地？People come from all over the world to enjoy the festival, but how does Clockenflap benefit the local community?
本地的场景在节日中非常重要。香港对艺术家来说有着较低的玻璃天花板，这里没有那些更发达的音乐城市的自然基础设施。这个节日有助于提供阶梯上缺失的一步。这是一个难得的向公众表演的平台。我们希望公众能爱上他们最新喜欢的乐队并去看他们自己的演出。我们正在努力，希望有一天本地乐队能登上主舞台。这是我们的梦想。对于观众来说，这个节日是一个难得的机会，大家聚在一起庆祝创造力和人性。节日的历史可以追溯到异教徒时代，集体聚会和享受共同经历的愿望是人类最原始的需要。这些我们可以提供，以一种极其愚笨的方式。除此之外，香港没有其他的事情可以像这样使各年龄段，各人群和各种族的人们聚集在一起。这是一件美妙的事情。
The festival occupies a really important place within the scene here locally. HK has a low glass ceiling for artists and there isn’t the natural infrastructure for them to progress in the way they would in more developed music cities. The festival helps provide an otherwise missing step on the ladder, and a rare platform opportunity to play to crowds who we hope will fall in love with their new favourite band and go see them at their own show afterwards. We’re working away to one day having a local band headline the main stage. That’s the dream. For the audience, the festival is a rare chance to all come together and celebrate creativity and humanity basically. Festivals historically go back to pagan times and that desire to collectively meet and enjoy a shared experience is a very raw human need, which we provide, in a gloriously silly way. There’s no other event whch is the same in HK in terms of the unity of people across all ages, demographics and races. It’s beautiful.
DB: 我想问……你是怎么想出这个名字的，它是什么意思？I have to ask… How did you come up with the name and what does it mean?
我们艺术总监疯狂的大脑想出来的。我们想要一个独特而难忘的名字。这只能是一件事，那就是“体验”，那就是我们的品牌。我们也想要一个听起来很荒唐的名字。Clockenflap符合所有要求。
Plucked from the madness of our Artistic Director’s brain! We basically wanted a name which was unique and memorable. Which could stand for only one thing, and that thing being the ‘experience’ that is our brand. We also wanted something that sounds ridiculous. So Clockenflap ticks all those boxes!
DB: 你认为亚洲音乐有什么独特之处？Clockenflap 能如何促进亚洲音乐在全世界的发展？In your opinion, what do you think is special about Asian music and how does Clockenflap help to promote Asian music worldwide?
多年来，这个节日已经成为地区人才真正展示的平台，也是我们从一开始就作为特色的地方。我们非常想成为最好的展示亚洲音乐的地方。从我们门口的天才中学习经验才有意义。这个节日邀请并享受世界主要行业成员的来访。当然，还有来自各地的粉丝和媒体。所以，不断推进的表演的益处和定位是十分强大的。Over the years, the festival has become a true showcase for regional talent, and something we’ve featured since the very beginning. We very much want to be a place where the best of Asia can be represented. It only makes sense to draw from the fantastic talent at our doorstep. The festival both invites as well as enjoys visits from key industry members from around the world, along of course with fans and media from all over. So the benefits and positioning for the acts involved moving forwards is strong.
DB: 阵容每年都会更加强大，2017的阵容也延续了这一传统，今年我们可以看到哪些人？The line-ups have been bigger and better each year and the 2017 line-up has continued in this tradition. Who are the ones to watch this year?
感谢。所有艺术家的到来都是有原因的，一切都在节日中发挥到极致。我们的节目覆盖了很多领域，重点是提供一个广大群众可接近的又十分鼓舞人心的阵容。我很难挑出个别人。他们都包括在内，因为他们都值得一看。
Thanks! All the artists are there for a reason and everything at the festival is curated to the nth degree. We cover a lot of ground with the programme and the focus is delivering a lineup which can be both accessible and inspirational to a broad audience group, whilst being cohesive throughout. It’s really hard for me to pick out any individuals – they’re all included precisely because they’re all ones to watch.
DB: 最后，你对今年的节日观众最好的建议是什么？Finally, what is your best tip for this year’s festival-goers?
来早点，待晚点，保持开放的心态发现新事物，你会收获惊喜。
Come early, stay late and always keep an open mind for discovery. You will be rewarded!
http://www.clockenflap.com
https://weibo.com/clockenflap
https://www.facebook.com/clockenflap/
