Growing up in Hong Kong, the future members of the 12-member boy band Mirror had all kinds of jobs - from personal trainers to dancers and martial arts instructors. "The 12 of us did not debut from a training program," says Edan (who, like the other members, typically goes by his first name). "We came from different places and backgrounds in Hong Kong, and so we have different strengths."
One thing that they all had in common was a love of Cantopop, the locally popular genre that blends Cantonese lyrics with a melting pot of disco, soft rock, pop, and jazz sounds. Now, the men in Mirror believe the time is ripe to bring the sound of their youth back to the mainstream, while also evolving toward a more modern, international style.
"Our music has gone through different stages for sure," says Ian. "In the beginning, we may have had more EDM or been influenced by K-pop. But now, for example, we have new songs that show off more of a hip-hop vibe. We keep exploring different types of music."
"I think the fact that there's still a lot of people who don't know Mirror is highly motivating," says Keung To. "I'm curious to find out what the overseas audience thinks as we reach out to them."
Mirror first came together in 2018 during a televised Cantonese singing competition and were readying their debut album when the pandemic hit, plunging Hong Kong into one of the strictest lockdowns in the world. But that didn't hinder the group's progress. They cultivated an audience with a series of online videos documenting their daily life. Fan pages soon sprung up for each group member, dissecting their hairstyles and outfits as passionately as their singing. Mirror landed endorsement deals for products from fast food to high fashion, and their faces were plastered all over the city.
"I think the pandemic forced us to focus on our work and focus on our improvement," says Ian, a former competitive volleyball player.
"We started creating new ways to connect with our audience," Anson says. "We held more online live shows, and we did more live streaming on Instagram, and so we never stopped communicating with our audience and fans."
"I feel like during such difficult times, we have become more united than before," adds Anson Kong (nicknamed "AK").
Along with Anson, Ian, AK, Edan, and Keung To, the Mirror lineup includes Lokman, Frankie, Alton, Stanley, Jer, Jeremy, and Tiger. Lokman is the unofficial leader of the group, though unlike many of their K-pop counterparts, there are no assigned roles. Each of the members are trained dancers and trade vocals on the songs, while Lokman, Anson, and Alton also rap in Cantonese, Mandarin, and English.
The band's debut single, 2018's "One Second," leaned hard into pop, but follow-ups like the ballad "One and All," the futuristic funk of "Boss," and 2022's "Innerspace," a club-ready track backed by big, electronic beats and a shout-along chorus, reflected more variety. Last year, they released their first English-language single, "Rumours," which found the group crooning seductive come-ons over a trap-inspired groove.
Musically, they cite influences from Taylor Swift and John Mayer to Michael Jackson and James Brown. They look to other Asian acts as inspirations too, like Jay Chou, NewJeans, Girls' Generation, and Atarahii Gakko!, a Japanese girl group signed to 88rising. "Like us, the four of them have very sharp and independent characters," Alton says, "but when they come together, they can be one unit, one vibe, to show their energy and power on stage."
Mirror say they're grateful that K-pop has opened the doors for Asian representation in the music industry, but they're excited for even more Asian sounds, especially Cantopop, to enter the conversation. To Anson, there's a synergy among the genres.
"We look at other groups and how hardworking they are and how they are bringing something new to the table and they inspire us to bring something new as well," Anson says. "Everyone is inspiring each other."
Gaining traction in the U.S. is Mirror's focus for the future. Their second English-language single, "Day 0," is a collab with NBA star Damian Lillard (who moonlights as rapper Dame D.O.L.L.A), and the band will make their first visit to North America this spring. There's also a second studio album in the works.
Success in America would likely expand Mirror's audience exponentially, but the performers remain dedicated to supporting their hometown and its creative community.
"Our goal is not just to make everyone listen to Mirror's songs," Edan says, "but to reignite people's interest in the entire Hong Kong entertainment industry."
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