HK Magazine: You were trained as a classical violinist. How did you get into the pop music industry?
Janet Yung: Well, I wrote some lyrics and posted them online. Then I was invited to the studio to perform and create a demo.

HK: What is the usual first reaction when people hear you’re a violinist?
JY: Wow, does your neck hurt?

HK: Why do you call your studio Milkshake Music?
JY: It means we’ve got good taste in music.

HK: What’s the best way to get inspired?
JY: Read the news and go to karaoke. There are lots of weird things happening in karaoke boxes.

HK: What's the most difficult part of the job?
JY: The unreasonably tight schedule. Whenever a producer asks for a song, he gives us only a few days to produce it. Brain constipation is another problem. Sometimes, I just get stuck in a chair thinking for hours but nothing comes out of my mind.

HK: So what’s your antidote to a creative block?
JY: Eating sushi. It gets my creative juices flowing again for some mysterious reason. Maybe it has something to do with the rice because I’ve tried sashimi and it doesn’t work.

HK: What are your favorite lyrics?
JY: Eason’s song “When the Grapes are Ripe.” I like the lines “Maybe you can save yourself as you get older and wiser. Everyone has had their hard times, nobody can be exempt.” That’s very true, isn’t it?

HK: You have some world record, right?
JY: I once composed a song in 20 minutes. It was Joey Yung’s "Lover No. 16." It was raining and I was bored at home. This song is born out of boredom and unfortunately there is no big story behind it, sorry.

HK: Which two songs do you think best represent the music industry in Hong Kong?
JY: “The Best is Yet to Come” and “Shall We Talk?” There is virtually no communication between singers and composers. The singers are way too busy.

HK: What advice would you give anyone wanting to get into the music industry?
JY: Many experienced composers have told me that unless I love music very much, I may as well just forget about it because it can be a really frustrating industry and it’s very likely that most of your work will pass by unnoticed.

HK: As a composer, what qualities are important?
JY: First, don’t be stubborn. It is a real world and you have to be attuned to the market needs. The audience are the ones who listen, so stop living in your little imaginary world. Second, experience being in love and being loved.

HK: Have you got one CD you would love to destroy?
JY: No offence, but I would love to bury William Hung’s album with my own hands.

HK: Any final words?
JY: Is this interview really going to be published?