Aboriginal diva Samingad and singer-songwriter Waa Wei will represent Taiwan in tours of the Asia-Pacific region in July and October, the Government Information Office announced July 5.
“Taiwan’s pop music represents an important aspect of the country’s soft power, with cultural flair and business potential, and has taken the lion’s share of the Chinese-speaking market,” GIO Minister Philip Yang said at a news conference.
“The tours will take the beautiful and diverse sounds of Taiwan to our neighbors,” he said.
Samingad, member of a musical Puyuma family from Taitung, released her first album in 1999. At 33, she has become one of the most powerful aboriginal voices in pop.
Samingad and her band AM Family, composed of aboriginal musicians from different tribes and renowned for their improvisational skills, have previously performed in a number of countries.
“I hope to introduce the beauty of Taiwan to other Asian audiences through singing,” Samingad said.
Samingad and AM Family will begin their tour July 8, performing in Australia, Malaysia and Thailand. They will also exchange views and jam with local musicians, officials said.
Waa Wei, better known as Wawa, will perform in Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea from Oct. 24 to Nov. 6.
“Pop music in Taiwan is characterized by a kind of freedom born of musicians’ best efforts to rise above the constraints imposed by the music industry and society,” the 28-year-old said.
Wei’s first album in 2003, with indie band Natural Q, brought her recognition in Taiwan and Singapore. A throat injury prompted her withdrawal from the band in 2006. She started singing again in 2007 and has since performed with her new band Lovely Baby at major music events in Taiwan and Hong Kong.
Samingad and Wei have both won Taiwan’s prestigious Golden Melody Awards.
Last year aboriginal band Matzka and jazz band Sizhukong performed in Central and South America as part of the GIO’s project promoting Taiwanese pop internationally. (THN)