Tag Archive
New Zealand: Bic Runga – Belle
Back when Wukailong and I started this blog, my first ever music post was about New Zealand’s Bic Runga. Over the last few years, she’s been raising her son Joseph and taking a break from the music business. But children get older and she felt it was time to record again. Thus was born her [...]
South Korea: Gangnam Style (강남스타일) – Psy
Every one in awhile a song with a dance comes along that captures the imagination of not only the originating country but a good chunk of the rest of the world. They usually feature a dance step that is easily learned and a song with a catchy beat. Well, this time the artist is South [...]
Taiwan: We Save Strawberries (草莓救星)
Formed in Taichung in 1998, We Save Strawberries is one of the more popular indie bands in Taiwan and one of my personal favorites. Their style can best be described as eclectic, drawing from all kinds of sources such as folk, light rock and electronic pop. Their lead singer Labi Wu (吳嘵萓) has a soft, feminine [...]
USA: Minus the Bear
Minus the Bear is an indie band from Seattle, Washington that I’d like to share with everyone. They’re not new and have been recording for over ten years, but they continue to improve with each new CD including their newest, Infinity Overhead. Here is a track from that album, to be released on August 28th. [...]
USA: Exit Clov
This week is Taiwan’s annual Spring Scream festival, held in Kenting which is located in the very southern part of the island. Started in 1995, it’s become an annual rite of spring for Taiwanese youths, where they can catch the latest musical acts from a variety of styles. This year, making their first appearance at [...]
Israel: Eatliz
What’s an Israeli band doing on Pacific Rim Shots? Aren’t we all about PacRim countries? So how does Eatliz get on here? Easy, they’re about to tour China! The tour is planned around the JUE Festival (which this year headlines Death Cab For Cutie) but they’ll be hitting other cities to increase their exposure. Here are [...]
Japan: Shugo Tokumaru トクマルシューゴ
Sometimes an artist comes along that who is so unique, so multi-talented, so artistic that my attention is immediately captured and I’m an instant fan. Shugo Tokumaru is that kind of artist. The guy does everything; singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, arranger, mixer and producer. Every instrument you hear (and you’ll hear a lot of them) features [...]
Taiwan: Joanna Wang 王若琳
From her second album, Joanna & 王若琳, Joanna Wang sings Don McLean’s Vincent. The daughter of music producer Wang Chi-ping (王治平), Joanna was born in Taipei but raised in Los Angeles. At 20 she released her first album, Start From Here, which went #1 in Taiwan and was popular throughout east Asia. Singing in both English [...]
Taiwan: Samingad 紀曉君
It’s been over ten years since Samingad released her last album. What is probably safe to say is that she is Taiwan’s reigning diva, another in a long line of great aboriginal singers from the island whose voice is so pure that it even caused A-mei to break into tears upon hearing her perform. Of Puyuma [...]
Mongolia: Onon (Онон)
Her name is Onon, she’s from Mongolia and she makes use of Auto-Tune on her songs. That’s all I know about her but then again, how often do you get to listen to Mongolian dance music?
New Zealand: Kimbra
Kimbra released her first album in New Zealand on August 29th of last year and a few days later in Australia. It made the top five in both countries so she’s still a relatively unknown singer yet her future looks bright. Possessed of a fine voice, her style is in the pop/soul range, at least [...]
Japan: Osetohishima (大瀬戸千嶋)
Two young guys from Hiroshima, Osetohishima isn’t that well known, even in Japan, yet they have enough in their music to establish themselves in Japan’s light jazz market. The first great soprano saxophonist in jazz history was the immortal Sidney Bechet but most saxophone greats played either alto or tenor sax. That changed in the [...]
National Anthems Across the Pacific Rim
I’ve always been curious to hear national anthems. I can’t say I’m crazy about my own (the Star Spangled Banner) but I’ve heard or sung it all my life so it might just be a case of overplay. If anyone else is curious, here are the national anthems of the Pacific Rim countries and at [...]
Jazz Manouche: Denis Chang
Gypsy jazz manouche is a style of jazz started by the great Django Reinhardt. Based in Montreal, Denis Chang is the Godfather of the Montreal gypsy jazz scene, a master guitar virtuoso, and the leader of the Denis Chang Manouche Quartet. Over the years, he has developed a unique style that not only incorporates jazz [...]
We Wish You A Merry Christmas!
Wukailong and I wish everyone a very merry Christmas, happy Hanukkah and in a few days, a great New Year. Rather than a white Christmas, down here in San Diego our Christmases are a bit balmier. However, we still get into the spirit in a different sort of way. Here are a few pix taken [...]
