Rock Band IO - Making The Leap From Canada To Taiwan
I had time to sit down while using members of IO, a Taiwan Portland (please click the next page) indie band originally formed in Vancouver, Canada. The band relocated to Taiwan which is "the launchpad for music in China and central focus of Chinese media."
IO admits that, "Musically speaking, the culture in Taiwan is incredibly different. The way we speak, this article that we talk about, and the way we express ourselves onstage is incredibly different than just how we'd get it done in Vancouver. But our music is really a merging in the Canadian and Taiwanese styles. When you perform in Vancouver, they clap for you personally no matter what - is going on how well you sing and play. The way Chinese people look at music is less about the sound and much more about how the content affects that body and emotions. You must interact with them with your message. The fans are much more demanding in Taiwan, which will keep us thinking and strategizing more to the crowd."
"We used to write songs we thought was cool, these days we write more stuff that our fans can identify with, and then begin incorporating other elements that people like. Our goal would be to bring more of the Vancouver sound to those here in Taiwan, and we hope that it will one day be cool here too." IO is additionally keeping an eye on the pop scene in Malaysia, that is still playing mostly 90's pop.
Coming on top of material is a collaborative process, though each individual has a role to experience. Angus does the songwriting, Hans is the guitarist and does most in the arranging, Sho does most with the administrative work and may be the band's manager, while band founder and drummer Cody pitches in a very little everywhere, critiquing the melodies and arrangements. Though the band's individual members' musical tastes range from Nickelback and Simple Plan, to mainstream pop, jazz, techno and hip hop, at their core lies a heart of "rock".
As with many artists, the Internet has greatly shaped the way IO interacts using their fans. "The fans genuinely wish to get to know and in touch with you. Through the Internet and the use of social media applications like FaceBook, YouTube, and Tudou, we are able to do that. It's a far better interaction process, plus it really permits us to be a part of our fans lives. We're not at our concerts attempting to tell the fans who we're anymore - they will really know that already. We're just using that possiblity to expand upon that."
"The Internet is different the fan/band culture. This is the era to build relationships. They feel we really care about them, which we do. People visit our show and have to listen and luxuriate in our music - it's like spending time with friends. That's good because our music is not only just showcase music. It's about interaction, and without that interaction on and offstage, it will really be nothing. Ours is really a music that lives between us and also the people, and without this platform connection to the people, the songs would just die."
IO also acknowledges that although crowd in Taiwan is a little tougher, they're in it for your long haul. "What we are doing musically is pursuing our dreams. We each have given up our jobs to achieve this. It isn't almost having fun. We actually want to deliver the message that you can pursue your dreams; you can fight for which you want and obtain it. That's actually the core of the items we're spreading through our album and music. We're still learning and growing and we'll see where the songs takes us."
By Eric De Fontenay
