Seven Taiwan bands and musicians are set to perform at the South by Southwest (SXSW) music festival March 12-18 in Austin, Texas, spotlighting the country’s diverse music scene and advancing international exchanges at one of the largest events of its kind in the world.
The participating Taiwan artists were selected by festival organizer SXSW LLC and specialize in a variety of music genres spanning electronic, folk and hip hop.
Avant-garde artist Ruby Fatale and DJ Sonia Calico will showcase Taiwan’s electronic music talents at the festival. Fatale is described by SXSW as able to create “an intensely immersive experience for the audience,” while DJ Sonia Calico has gained critical acclaim for her debut extended play record “Fake Jewelry,” released in 2017 by San Francisco-based label Muti Music.
Representing the nation’s folk scene is the band Prairie WWWW, known for incorporating ambient sounds, poetry and tribal elements in their music, and indigenous artist Sangpuy Katatepan Mavaliyw. Described by organizers of the Golden Melody Awards—Taiwan’s equivalent to the Grammys—as possessing “a soulful voice grown from Taiwan’s lands,” Katatepan Mavaliyw strives to preserve tribal songs and culture through his music.
The nation’s hip hop talent will be on display through performances by rapper Dwagie, best known for integrating local cultural elements into his music and focusing on social issues, emerging hip hop star PoeTeK and Van Ness Wu, a former member of widely popular Taiwan boy band F4.
Co-organized by the Bureau of Audiovisual and Music Industry Development under the Ministry of Culture, a concert titled Taiwan Beats will also be staged March 12 at the Elysium nightclub in Austin as part of the festival. The event will promote local artists and shine a spotlight on Taiwan’s pop music scene, the bureau said.
According to BAMID, SXSW is a unique occasion gathering not only artists but also labels and companies from a variety of fields such as film, media and technology. The festival will provide opportunities for local talents to build networks and explore new business opportunities, the bureau added.
Founded in 1987, SXSW focuses on interactive media, film and music, and includes a series of conferences and programs. Taking place annually in mid-March, last year’s event attracted around 421,900 participants. (CPY-E)
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