Music

Random

Double Happiness Vol. 5 Focuses on the Journey

·April 8, 2022·1 min read

Hong Kong's FuFu Records continues its streak of strong, environmentally-conscious compilations with Double Happiness Vol. 5. Again bringing together a range of well-known, talented Asian producers to raise money for an environmental cause, this time proceeds from the album will be donated to Seven Clean Seas for plastic offsetting in the ocean Read More

Why Would Jaw Shaw-kong Urge China to Deny Reports of Pressure on Mayday?

English Life Music

·December 29, 2023·3 min read

A Reuters report stating that Taiwanese band Mayday was pressured by Chinese authorities, citing an anonymous source, has become an object of political contestation in Taiwan Read More

The Journey Matters: A Conversation About Earthfest

English Interviews Music

·June 11, 2022·7 min read

Brian Hioe spoke to Blaine Whiteley about Earthfest, which will take place in Miaoli from July 21st through July 24th Read More

To Ruthlessly Self-Dissect: A Conversation with Wag6ie

English Interviews Music

·January 14, 2022·2 min read

Brian Hioe interviewed Hong Kong artist Wag6ie about their new MV, Unbelievable. The following article originally appeared on Electric Soul, a Hong Kong-based electronic music magazine and ticketing platform, on December 20th Read More

The History of Queer Parties in Taiwan

English Interviews Music

·December 17, 2021·19 min read

Brian Hioe spoke to Levin Lo, or DJ Rainbowchild, a veteran of the queer party scene in Taiwan. Among other things, Rainbowchild was the DJ that played at the wedding banquet party that celebrated the legalization of gay marriage in Taiwan in May 2019, as the first place in Asia to legalize gay marriage. Rainbowchild currently DJs at Locker Room, CÉ LA VI Taipei, and other venues, having also DJed at the Werk parties, Fairy, and other venues Read More

Creating a Safe Space in Music: A Conversation with SYS Sister Sounds

English Interviews Music

·June 18, 2022·3 min read

Brian Hioe spoke to Margaret Tra from SYS Sister Sounds, a collective which runs DJ workshops for women and non-binary people in Vietnam, among other activities Read More

From Photography to Party Organizing and Back: A Conversation with Roshan Menon

English Music

·February 8, 2022·12 min read

Brian Hioe spoke to Kuala Lumpur-based DJ Roshan Menon, who is the founder of SaturdaySelects and co-founder of Laksa Records. The following article originally appeared on Electric Soul, a Hong Kong-based electronic music magazine and ticketing platform, on January 21st Read More

Breaking New Ground with a Shift Toward Ambient

English Music

·October 26, 2021·3 min read

Orientations 向位 breaks new ground for Mong Tong. As the title itself suggests, Mong Tong has indicated a clear new direction with Orientations 向位—with a strong shift toward ambient music. Nevertheless, despite the apparent shift in musical direction, Mong Tong’s new work also represents significant continuity with previous work, and it proves as evocative as ever Read More

Sounds from the Future and Politics in the Space Created Around Music: An Interview with Simon Reynolds

English Interviews Music

·April 8, 2023·29 min read

New Bloom's Brian Hioe and Florence Yi-Hsun Huang interviewed Simon Reynolds about his views on contemporary music and reflections on his seminal work on electronic music, Energy Flash, a quarter decade after its publication. Reynolds was visiting Taipei for a series of talks at C-LAB entitled "A Future Slowly Cancelled" Read More

Warehouse Party in the City Center

English Music

·March 15, 2022·15 min read

Brian Hioe spoke to Sonia Calico and Lee Yen-yi about the upcoming Synergy Festival, which will be held at Songshan Cultural And Creative Park on March 19th and 20th. The following article originally appeared on Electric Soul, a Hong Kong-based electronic music magazine and ticketing platform, on March 10th Read More

The ‘90s and 2000s LGBT Party Scene in Taiwan: A Conversation with Victor Cheng

English Life Music

·February 15, 2022·12 min read

Brian Hioe interviewed Victor Cheng, who organized the Paradise parties starting in 1995. The Paradise parties were the first regularly-held LGBT-focused party series in Taiwan. The following article originally appeared on Electric Soul, a Hong Kong-based electronic music magazine and ticketing platform, on February 14th Read More

A Farewell to a City That Has Changed Forever

English Interviews Music

·December 10, 2021·6 min read

Brian Hioe spoke to Rainbow Chan, whose EP Stanley was released on November 25th. According to the EP description, “Stanley is her exploration of a love past, a farewell to a city that’s changed forever” Read More