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Go Chic, a band of three Taipei girls and one guy in their early 20s, this year becomes the first ever non-Japanese band to compete successfully against 1,500+ applicants and make the FRF Rookie a-Go-Go stage. Mostly former high school classmates, they blast out electro dance songs with riot grrrl energy, and the stage shows kick into full on party mode. It’s no wonder that at this moment, they can boast one of the biggest followings in Taiwan’s indie scene, but lately they’ve been pushing that envelop as well, earlier this year playing SXSW, getting ready for gigs in China, and now they are also no doubt busy shopping for neon rubber boots for FRF 2010. This all comes with the released of Go Chic’s debut album this spring, I Am Confused! (2010), which got a thumbs up from the Taipei Times for its “catchy beats, punk verve and a sassy, irreverent wit.” The members are Sonia Lai (Guitar/Synth), Sarah Wen (Bass), Winston Li (Drums) and Ariel Zheng (Vocals). Ariel recently answered some of our questions by email.
(~(~(~ While you read this interview, why not listen to Go Chic on Myspace?~)~)~)
Ariel Zheng (front) and Go Chic opened for Peaches in Taipei earlier this year.
Q: for people who don’t know anything about Go Chic, what one thing would you want to tell them about your band?
Ariel: What is it with this obsessive “one word/one line” description for bands?? (laugh) We’re just 3 girls trying to get free passes to festivals and back-stages by being in a chic electro pop/dance/punk band!
Q: How old were you girls when you formed the band? And why did youwant to form this band?
Ariel: Hmmm, 19? I miss the days when people would come see us just because they heard that all of us were teens…We thought it’s about time someone formed a cool girl band, it has been awhile!
Q: I remember CSS played Taiwan a few years ago, and lots of people compare Go Chic to CSS – were they an influence? And how about riot grrl and punk? Well anyway, what influences did you have?
Ariel: You’re kidding! Have CSS played in Taiwan before??? We get a lot of comments about how we remind people of CSS and Le Tigre when we started out. Both bands we love, but I don’t really see any direct resemblance. Chicks On Speed and Peaches are more of the bands we would compare ourselves to. We started out listening to Primal Scream, Stone Roses, but then over the past 2 years, we’ve been pretty into the electro/dance scene, so I guess all of that gives you a better picture of what and how we are shaped. We are riot girls, we are punk, but we really just want to dance!
Q: What would an ideal Go Chic performance be like?
Ariel: You would always want something you don’t have. A mega stadium concert would be the dream! But we also love playing small crowds at shitty bars where you know you can just have fun and feel more close to the audience!
Q: What was it like playing SXSW this year? What bands did you see, and did you learn anything from playing, seeing and participating in such a big-ass concert/convention?
Ariel: SXSW was the best. We saw soooo many bands and djs: YACHT, The XX, Kid Sister, Classixx, BRMC, etc. It was like a whole city on vacation! We realized how big the world is, but also were even more certain that Taiwan def has something to give to the world.
Go Chic guitarist/keyboardist Sonia Lai (red hair) is also half of Bounce Girlz, a DJ duo that opened for Major Lazer in Taipei on June 30. Here they are with Diplo.
Q: For people who don’t know, name some of the shows Go Chic and your members have promoted and been a part of in trying to pump up Taipei’s indie electro scene. And why is this important?
Ariel: People might or might not know that the DJ/promoter group Bounce Girlz is our very close friend. In fact one of our band members, Sonia, is part of that group, and they have been one of the first to bring in cool DJs and bands in Taipei to vibe up the city. They’ve also recently started a project called Damn Damn Party that hopes to support local talent and showcase more great music. It is important because there are so many people out there who don’t know how great our indie scene is. Taipei CAN be THE happening city in Asia, just need more push and more open-minded people.
Q: How did you get into the Fujirock Rookie-a-Go-Go lineup? Did you have to try out? I thought that stage was only for Japanese bands.
Ariel: (laugh) We’ve been very fortunate to have friends encouraging us to try out for Fuji Rock, I believe we are the first non-Japanese band to play on the
Rookie A Go-go stage…There’s always a first for everything right?
Q: Anything else you want to say?
Ariel: Thank you David and thanks to everyone, see you at Fuji Rock, it is going to be awesome!!!!!
GO CHIC!!! Photo: Cedric Lee
Listen to Go Chic on Myspace
Go Chic on Facebook
I was just about to write the same thing!
I`m glad someone else picked up on this too but i think he`s probably referring to this being the first time that applicants from overseas have played the Rookie stage.
ahhh… great memories!
hey Shawn,
duly noted, and thanks for the fact checking. that’s worth a foot note at least.
Good job on the interview. Am looking forward to checking the band out.
Japan-based expat act Nikujaga played the Rookie stage in ‘07. Do they get any props for being a non-Japanese band on the Rookie stage? Or is that a no-go because they lived in Japan at the time?