Three indie rock bands from Taiwan took part in the annual College Music Journal Music Marathon in New York City Oct. 19.
Amid a light drizzle and strong winds, over 100 music lovers crowded into The Dominion, an underground bar in the neighborhood of New York University, for a night dedicated exclusively to Taiwan pop music.
The three bands, whose performances lasted a total of three hours, were 1976, Bearbabes and Echo, all of which have become extremely popular in the Taiwan indie music scene since they were formed in Taipei in the 1990s.
“We hope to introduce Taiwan’s rock music to an entirely new audience,” said Kai, lead singer of 1976. “I consider Taipei to be the capital of Taiwan’s indie music, where music lovers can enjoy live performances seven days a week,” he added.
“This marks Taiwan’s first official delegation at the annual music and film event,” said Su Ruey-ren, director of the Press Division at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York, at an Oct. 18 news conference.
“It is a perfect opportunity for us to channel Taiwan’s musical energy to the hub of the global music industry,” he added.
“We are pleased to see an unprecedented integration of promotional and marketing efforts dedicated to this year’s event,” said Ed Yen, creative director of a-Peer Culture & Technology Co. Ltd., which was instrumental in bringing the bands to New York.
According to Yen, since two months prior to the performance, local promoters have worked hard to ensure that the three bands had their songs aired in college radio shows. “It’s one of the most effective ways to boost their popularity locally,” he said.
The event has welcomed major contenders in the music industry, Yen said, including agents, music bloggers and producers. Among them was Eric de Fontenay, founder and president of MusicDish, a music review website.
CMJ Music Marathon, now in its 39th year, has presented numerous emerging bands over the years and is one of New York City’s longest running music events. This year’s edition runs from Oct. 18 to 22, and features over 1,200 shows at 80 venues across the city. (HZW)
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