Taiwan Grooves

Welcome to the second part of our interview with Aysanabee, a Canadian Indigenous singer-songwriter who recently performed at a music festival in Taiwan. In today’s discussion, we will explore his experiences performing for a Taiwanese audience, the relationship between social media following and selling out shows, and his recent musical evolution. He will also share his insights on the musi...

In today's episode, we have another world traveler, Aysanabee, whom I met during his tour in Taiwan for the Jade Music Fest. In the first part of our interview, we will discuss his meeting with my last-week's guest, Tennyson, and his journey to Taiwan. We'll also talk about his rituals before the show to prepare mentally and how he began playing guitar. Aysanabee is a multi-JUNO Award–winnin...

Join me today for a quick backstage interview with Tennyson King, who has returned for a festival and ended up staying for an entire month of shows and travel. In our conversation, we'll discuss the significance of Taiwan to him, his early influences, and the themes of his upcoming albums. We'll also have the chance to hear some of his songs and explore some aspects of life as a touring musician t...

Welcome back! You are joining us for the second part of our interview with Daniel Black, a New York rapper currently based in Taiwan.  In our previous discussion, we explored how his NYC roots have influenced his sound and his collaborations with local artists and beatmakers. Today, we will shift our focus to his lyric-writing process, the subjects he prefers to avoid, and some of his songs t...

Thank you for joining me today for Taiwan Grooves. In today's episode, I have the pleasure of welcoming Daniel Black, a rapper who brings a fresh New York perspective to Taiwan's evolving music scene. We will explore how his NYC roots have influenced his sound, his contributions to the diversity of Taiwan's music scene, and how he is giving back to the Taipei community. Additionally, we will discu...

Welcome to today's Part II with the three band members of How Many Hippos! Last week, we discussed how each member learned to play their instruments, how they formed the band, and the story behind their unique name. Today's episode focuses on some of their influences that shape their songs, how well their style is accepted in Taiwan, their future marketing plan, and clips of their favorite songs f...

Join me today for a geometry lesson accompanied by music! I will have all three members of the band, How Many Hippos, joining me. The first episode is about how each member learned to play their instruments, how they formed the band, and the story behind their unique name. Additionally, we'll explore the inspiration for their songs, what makes their live performances special, and which song they r...

Good day and welcome to another episode filled with classical music! Once again, I am joined by Gwhyneth Chen, a Taiwanese-American concert pianist who is widely regarded as one of the foremost pianists of her generation. Last week, we discussed how she began playing the piano, her early education, and the dedication required for practice. We also explored her work teaching piano to Alzheimer's pa...

Hello and welcome to the world of classical music! Today, I am excited to be joined by the incredible pianist Gwhyneth Chen, who will share with us what it takes to perform and play concerts at a high level. In the first part of our interview, we will discuss her journey in music, including how she began playing the piano, her early education, and the dedication required to practice to be among th...

Hello, and thank you for joining us to learn more about the band Mild Orange, a dream pop indie rock group from New Zealand. This is the second part of our interview. Last week, we discussed their origins, their relocation, and their current tour that brought them to Taiwan. Today, we will focus on their thoughts about performing their biggest hits, how they put together their setlist, and their e...

Join me for the first part of a two-part interview with three members of the New Zealand band Mild Orange! In this episode, we’ll discuss how the band came together, their move to London, and their return to New Zealand for a show after being away for some time. We’ll wrap up the episode by exploring how they achieve certain sounds during their live performances.  Mild Orange are...

Hello, and thank you for joining me today! Have you ever considered how important music is in movie scenes? Have you ever wondered how it is created? That’s why I am once again joined by Belgian-Taiwanese composer and pianist Thomas Foguenne for the second part of our discussion. Last week, we explored his early education, the career paths available for composers and film scorers, and the co...

Have you ever considered how much better some of our favorite TV scenes are thanks to the powerful music that accompanies them? We often become so immersed in the experience that we don’t even think about the music separately; yet, it resonates with us on a deep level. Today, I am joined by Thomas Foguenne, one of the talented composers responsible for this impact. We will discuss his early...

Welcome to the second part of our interview with Joyce! Last week, we discussed her early influences and the music experiences that launched her journey as a songwriter, as well as the realities of pursuing a music career and the various elements that accompany it. Today, we will talk about her latest album, "Talent Flower," and how she developed the concept. We’ll also discuss her collabora...

Hello, and join us for a chat with Taichung's amazing Joyce! Today's episode will include some of her early influences and musical experiences that launched her journey as a songwriter, some of her inspiration for her music, and the reality of pursuing a career in music beyond just playing. At the end, we will also take a sneak peek into Joyce's creative methods.  JOYCE 就以斯 is a Taiwanese...

Thank you for joining us again for our exciting discussion with Ale Maya for the second time! Today, we will take a look at the concepts Ale has stored in her mind for the upcoming album, as well as get some samples of her existing work with some background info about them. Later, she will share with us her plans for this year and some advice that works for her whenever she finds herself strugglin...

Hello and welcome to today’s episode, where we’ll explore the interesting world of indie pop music with retro elements alongside Ale Maya. In our first episode, we’ll discuss how she got started in music, the early influences that led her to create bedroom pop, and her ideas and inspirations for songwriting. We’ll also touch on her performing experiences in two different co...

Hello and welcome to today's episode featuring the talented members of Tokyo Chuo-Line: Ken, Toru, and Nori. In our previous interview, we introduced the band and discussed the type of music they create, as well as exploring some of their early songs and their creative process.  This episode highlights their latest album, which was recorded live at Revolver, and another album, cotobacarat, wh...

Join us for today’s jazzy episode featuring Tokyo Chuo-Line! All three members—Ken, Toru, and Nori—will be with me to introduce themselves, the band, and the type of music they play. We'll also explore their perspectives on performing in Taipei versus Tokyo and how it influences their music. The band members will share insights into their creative process, and we'll listen to som...

Hello and welcome! Join Max and me as we explore the world of audio engineering. Normally, I would introduce you to an artist, but this week we are once again talking about live engineering and sound from behind the scenes. Max is here to share his experiences and provide us with an inside look at the demands of different bands. We’ll discuss what a typical day of concerts with Mayday looks...

Usually, I bring you musicians, but today’s guest is someone equally fascinating from behind the scenes. Joining me is Max, a live sound engineer who has worked with major artists like Mayday, Bobby Chen, and Wang Fu in venues across Taiwan, Shanghai, and beyond. Max is here to share his experiences and give us an inside look into the world of live sound. He will discuss how live sound engin...

Hello and welcome to part II of our interview with Max Lee, the founder of Project Maximus. In the last episode, we caught up with Max about what he has been doing since his last appearance on the show six months ago. We discussed topics such as recording two tracks in Florida, his current projects, and his goals for the coming months. In today's episode, we will continue our conversation by explo...

Join us for this episode of Taiwan Grooves! Today, I am once again joined by Max from Project Maximus, who will provide us with an update on what has happened since he was last a guest on the show six months ago. In this first part, we will explore his reconnection with his former producer, the projects he is currently working on, and his plans for the near future. We will also conclude the episod...

Join us today for a special episode featuring an on-camera interview at Rti with the talented painter and singer, Yosifu! In this episode, Yosifu will share his artistic background and what art means to him. He will also discuss how he returned to singing after a long hiatus and the important connections he made along the way. Later, we will explore his latest album, *VOYAGER*, where he will expla...

Join us for today's chat with Doggydogo, a Taiwanese rapper from Nantou, who will share details about his first solo album, "Taiwan Tycoon." In this conversation, you will discover the themes of the album and the original meanings behind the songs, which are in both Chinese and Taiwanese. Later in the episode, Doggydogo will discuss the performances he aims to achieve and his plans for 2026! *Taiw...