Meet Taiwanese Fusion Band A Root!

The members explain what makes their music so unique and multi-genre! 成員們解釋了是什麼讓他們的音樂如此獨特和多流派！

Please introduce and share an interesting fact about yourselves!

請介紹並分享一個關於你自己的有趣事實！

I’m Jipo, the band leader of A Root. I play the sheng and am the vocalist and rapper. Trash-talking is my specialty. 

我是同根生的團長智博，吹笙唸唱特殊技能講幹話

Green plays the liuqin, yueqin, and ruan. She is good at cleaning house and has two turtles and one dog.

小綠談柳琴、月琴、中阮很會整理家裡，有養兩隻烏龜跟一隻狗

Chiao is the music director of our band. He plays the keyboard and races cars. 

林喬是音樂總監兼鍵盤手，同時也是賽車高手

Yoyi is our lead vocalist and chorus singer. She can sleep anywhere, anytime.

魷魚是主唱兼合聲，到哪都可以躺下睡覺

Yu plays bass and cello. He gets his hands and hip joints twisted easily, and he has a bad temporomandibular joint. 

阿羽貝斯手跟大提琴手，很容易扭到手或是髖關節，顳顎關節也不太好

Dk is a drummer, programmer, and sound engineer. He provides ginseng drinks for everyone before gigs.

DK是鼓手、programmer兼混音、母帶後期工程，演出會帶人蔘飲給大家喝。

How would you describe your music to people who have not heard it before? How would you finish the sentence “A Root is ___” or “A Root’s music is ___”?

你會如何向以前沒有聽過你的音樂的人描述你的音樂? 你會如何完成“A Root is ___”或“A Root's music is ___”這句話?

Our music is like having Taiwanese crispy chicken with a knife and fork, exotic spices spread on top, [and] the main spirit is very Taiwanese, juicy and exciting.  

我們的音樂就像用刀叉吃鹹酥雞，外酥內嫩的雞肉混搭異國風情香料，呈盤在素雅的白 上，有點西式的手法，但具有台味精神，爽快澎湃。

What does your band name mean to you, and did you consider any other band names first?

您的樂隊名稱對您意味著什麼,您是否首先考慮過其他樂隊名稱?

“A” is for “Arts,” “Aesthetics,” “Alliance,” and “Appreciation.” Musicians’ most important task is to search for the primal memories, explore the unknown territory, and find the root that evokes people’s emotions from deep down, the inherent strength derived from sharing.

代表我們的來源及趨向，是經過我們團員多次討論出的精華。音樂的跨界、融合、重組 只是過程，音樂人的重要任務，是搜索原始記憶、踏入未知領域，找尋能喚起大家深處 動的根，那股與生俱來的力量，同根生。

How did you first become a band, and what were your first impressions of each other?

你們是如何成為樂隊的,你們對彼此的第一印像是什麼?

We met each other when we were children. [We] happened to finish our master’s degrees and decided to go back to [our] hometown, Yilan, spontaneously in 2014. We hadn’t been [in contact] since we all studied in different cities and countries before we came back to Yilan, but the time [didn’t change] our feelings as good old friends.

2014年大家剛好各自完成學歷，不約而同回到家鄉因緣際會下組成的。但因為彼此從小學音樂都認識，雖然中間沒有聯絡，但組團仍然沒有生疏的感覺，彼此是獨立的個體但又會認真一起完成每個不同任務。

Where does the inspiration for your music come from?

你的音樂靈感來自哪裡?

The observations of our life, the impulse of seeking security, and the aspiration of exploring fun.

我們對生活的觀察，不安於室的衝動，探索有趣的渴望。

What are some of your favorite memories in A Root so far?

到目前為止,您在 A Root 中最喜歡的回憶是什麼?

[Our] 2018 North America tour, [our] 2022 South America [Tour], [and the whole] process of making music and achieving different goals.

2018北美洲巡演，2022南美洲巡演，籌備專輯的過程以及完成目標的每個時刻。

Do you follow a certain process when making new music, or does the process change for every song?

你在製作新音樂時是否遵循特定的流程,或者每首歌的流程都會改變?

Usually, we come up with ideas and text first. [The] lyrics and melody [are] generated after that, then we make arrangements together. Every member is in charge of their own instrument section. But sometimes we use different procedures, depending on the musicians we work with.

通常會先討論文本脈絡，然後生出詞曲，集體討論編曲後各自完成自己的聲部。但有時也會使用不同的模式，和不同人合作也會有不同火花產生。

Compare and contrast the full-length albums Holy Gazai and Rooty Mental.

比較和對比全長專輯 Holy Gazai 和 Rooty Mental。

Rooty Mental is our debut album, talking about the soundscape of and affection for our hometown, Yilan. We collaborated with poet Wei-Ting Wu and sound artist Yenting Wu, creating the art form called “sound poem,’’ instrumental music as narrative media to convey the whole idea. Holy Gazai is our second album. Based on the text of Taiwanese ghost stories and folklore, we try to discuss the uncertainty of borders, like fusions of languages. [We cover] Taiwanese, Mandarin, English, and Hakka, [with a] mixture of traditional drama, jazz, folk, and electronic beats. [We explore] neo-folk, alternative rock, jungle terror, [and] world fusion [music]. [These are two] totally different albums, but with the same spirit of telling a complete story and finding a new sound.

Rooty Mental是我們首張專輯，器樂演奏為主，並與詩人吳緯婷、聲音藝術家許雁婷合，針對宜蘭地景創作「聲音詩」的形式，奠定以文本脈絡為主幹，音樂敘事的風格。Holy Gazai為第二張專輯，加入人聲歌唱，透過妖怪文本探討「邊界」的未知狀態，並從混 中「轉生」無窮可能──正如臺語、華語、客語、英語等，不同族群交織的語言邊界，一 包覆在臺灣傳統歌謠的變形之中，遊走在戲曲歌謠、爵士語彙、電子聲響、融合音樂的邊 ，混生出平埔拉丁、客家森巴、臺式放克，亦或是Neo Folk 、 Alternative Rock、Jungle Terror、World Fusion 的特調風味。兩張截然不同的專輯，但不變的是都有完整的故事 表達，還有探索新風格與聲音的試驗。

Finish this sentence: “A Root will always include _____ in our music.”

完成句子: “A Root 將始終包含 _____ 在我 

A Root 將始終在我們的音樂中包含好奇心和樂趣。

A Root will always include curiosity and fun in our music.

Who would you love to collaborate with in the future?

未來你最想和誰合作?

Flesh Juicer [血肉果汁機], FKJ, LEENALCHI, [and] Bon Jovi.

What advice would you give people who want to pursue music careers?

你會給那些想從事音樂事業的人甚麼建議?

Please manage your finances carefully and value your credit truthfully.

謹慎理財，信用至上

What are your goals for A Root in 2023? Are there any specific projects you are currently working on that you can give hints about?

您在 2023 年的 A Root 目標是什麼? 您目前正在從事的具體項目是否可以提供一 些提示?

Extend a new side project [and go on a] world tour. We have been making [a] series, creating different identities that widen our possibilities. 

開外掛延伸同根生子計畫，世界巡迴。創造不同人物設定並自製節目「A財集團」。

What are your longer-term career goals?

你的長期職業目標是什麼?
Mental and material richness.

精神和物質的豐富。

Lastly, is there anything else you want to say about yourselves or your music?

最後,關於你自己或者你的音樂,你還有什麼想說的嗎?

Come see our live performance. You’ll love it.

來看我們的現場演出，你就知道我們在幹嘛了。

Learn more about A Root on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube!

Answers have been edited and condensed for clarity. Photos courtesy of A Root.