BIO
Joves (Jovelyn Fuego) has lived in Hong Kong since she was 4 years old. She began performing as a solo acoustic singer/songwriter in 2004 and she's been compared to Norah Jones, Joni Mitchell and early Rickie Lee Jones. She has performed acoustically in pubs and clubs in Hong Kong, as well as in the United States (New York and Boston), with great reviews.
She teamed up with guitarist/bassist Chris Collins for the Soundbase Festival 2007's Tom Lee Acoustic Band Competition and won 1st prize for her original song "Shoebox in the City", and won 2nd prize for 2008's competition for her song "Master". She and her bandmates (including Mike Salcedo on drums) won 3rd prize in this year's (2008) Global Battle of the Band's Hong Kong Finals.
She was featured in SCMP's podcast interview on YouTube describing her musical journey and her song "Shoebox in the City".
Bassist Chris Collins, was born and grew up in HK, earned his BMUS degree (jazz guitar performance) at the Australian Insitute of Music in Sydney and came back to HK to work and teach. He plays guitar, bass and sings and has played more high profile gigs than he can remember now - including one for the President of Taiwan. He won Best Individual Performance in 2007's Tom Lee Acoustic Band Competition for his live performance on "Shoebox in the City". Chris is playing lead guitar with Tai Tai Alibi who's opening for the Manic Street Preachers in Hong Kong on November 26th, 2008.
Coming soon!
BC UNPLUGGED
25TH FEB 2010
As the Lunar New year rolls on we bring you an action soaked, drip dried unplugged throwdown to showcase the wide diversity that acoustic music can offer. We think you'll rather like it...
Wolfling - The Dutch based Wolfling has fronted the Dutch punk band BREZHNEV and played lead vox and bass in punk band Drone in his time as a musician. Now a solo artist, he will bring his mandoloncello, an instrument (in Wolflings case) about the size of a lute to our show. It's similar to the oud, lute, Greek bouzouki and Italian mandolin, plucked with a plectrum like a mandolin but tuned like a cello. And it sounds cool. Mhmm..
Joves - Local singer/songwriter has been receiving a fair bit of attention of late with her song, Shoebox in a City. She ain't no one hit wonder tho so come on down and hear the rest of her repertoire! She's threatening to go electric for this upcoming acoustic event.. well, we'll see about that!!
Big John and Fast Frank - Big John is a regular performer in Hong Kong while Fast Frank performs regularly in Macao Casinos with his band. Together they reached the final of the Soundbase Acoustic Competition in 2009, and now bring their complimentary guitar work to The Wanch for our listening pleasure.
October 22, 2008
Singer-songwriter Jovelyn (Joves) Fuego has a come a long way since choking on stage during a singing competition when she was only 11. The self-taught guitarist is causing a stir among music fans with 'Shoebox in the City' - a ballad about the trials and tribulations of modern life in transient Hong Kong.
The song won her a Tom Lee music competition last year, leading to a television appearance on RTHK. A former EMI executive even proclaimed: "Now, here is a real song about Hong Kong".
Joves can often be seen performing at open mic's at Peel Fresco Music Lounge. Visit her website at http://www.jovesmusic.tk
September 14, 2007
Joves & Chris Collins' Winning performance at the 2007 Tom Lee Acoustic Band Competition receiving the Gold Prize with Chris winning an additional award for Best Individual Performance!
October 30, 2007
Joves with Chris Collins and Mike Salcedo plays "Paradise" live in RTHK studios in HK.
December 2008
Music video to Joves' "U Wud B Happy", created by the very talented Matt Bailey (www.nomattsland.com)
June 2007
Promo for FX, a 24-hour entertainment TV channel. www.fxtvasia.com
February 24th, 2007
Live performance of Shoebox in the City by Joves Plus at the Edge, in Hong Kong on February 9th, 2007 with Jovelyn Fuego on vocals and acoustic guitar, Chris Collins on electric bass, Mike Salcedo on drums, and special guest Joseph Fuego on trombone.
August 24th, 2008
Chris Collins & Jovelyn Fuego win Silver Prize at Soundbase 2008 Tom Lee Acoustic Band Competition plus Best Individual Performance award for original song entry "Master".
What some folks think of Joves...
Former EMI music executive: Joves is one helluva songwriter. Morton (Schtung Studios) called Joves and her music, "Brave." Sure, she is. I just call it fiercely Original. There are elements of Paul Simon's "Graceland," some Corinne Bailey Rae. There are moments of "Hejira" and "Don Juan's Reckless Daughter" and I LOVE the chords Joves manages to effortlessly pick outta the air. In a city where Money is all people talk about and where it's Style over Substance and music execs who protect "their own kind," here's a girl who left a good job in the city to make music in this SHOEBOX in the city. - Hans Ebert, Chairman & CEO, We-Enhance Inc., Oct, 2008
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South China Morning Post: If there is such a thing as musical justice, we would be listening to her CDs, sold across town. My boss, the editor, absolutely adores her award-winning song Shoebox in the City, a song about - you guessed it - Hong Kong, inspired by her own small flat in Central. He thinks it rather captures the essence of our city. - Alex Lo, LoDown Column, Sep 2008
Soundbase 2008 Tom Lee Acoustic Band Competition: The two-man group JOVES won last year, it's even better this year. Vocal + Guitarist Jovelyn Fuego won the Best Performer of the nite. Her voice is sensible and share the emotion with the audience. Instead of saying Joves control her guitar, I would say they are one, the tone is so natural and comfortable. She and her partner Chris, through tempo and dynamic contrast, gives their songs "life", with breath, heartbeat and emotion. - Francis Fu, Sep 2008
Underground 38!: This Underground night has unearthed some pleasant gems - Joves (or Jovelyn to her friends) brings easy listening to the Underground. And she also brought lots of her friends (fans?) along as the cheers got louder and louder. Her band of musicians were of a high calibre and included her brother on trombone. It was a nice laid back set and Jovelyn has one of the best female voices I've heard in a long time. - Mark Emerson, Feb 2007
Lamma-zine: Joves does a 4-song, 20 minute set, and Kevin is quite right to be impressed. If youll forgive an old hippy trip down the grassy knolls of memory lane, she reminds me of several other accomplished 60s/70s singers. Theres a lot of Joni Mitchell in the words and song construction, while the slightly scatty jazz vocals recall early Rickie Lee Jones ("Chuck Es In Love"-era) and possibly the late Lena Horne. The higher reaches remind me of Minnie Ripertons single "Loving You" as well. I ask Annette, drummer with the Shotgun She-Ras, her opinion and she thinks of Lauren Hill or Macy Grey. The third song has a drifting, lilting melody while her final song is a tour de force. Heavy, acoustic, power chords over vocals that are part Robert Plant, part higher range, Janis Joplin. Its the money shot song that perfectly climaxes this short set. - Nick the Bookman, July 8th, 2006
