English

Latest

A Spirit of “Anything Goes”

·March 12, 2022·3 min read

Brian Hioe spoke with Hojo about his recently taking up a post as music director of 23 Music Room in Taipei. The following article originally appeared on Electric Soul, a Hong Kong-based electronic music magazine and ticketing platform, on February 24th Read More

Immortality

Art English Life

·March 8, 2022·13 min read

For a week she stood inside a room at the Taichung train station. There was something quietly defiant about her stance, left foot crossed over her right, the weight of her body slightly on the back foot, as if she were just about to take a small step forward. Her chin tilted up so that her eyes, not fully shut, received light and her eyelids were pearly and diaphanous. She held a soft gaze, not focusing on anything in particular, but able to take in everything Read More

A Taiwanese Diasporic Family Drama

English Film

·March 4, 2022·3 min read

American Girl is a family drama, following a family of two girls and their mother and father after they return to Taiwan following a significant stay in the US, with the father having stayed working in Taiwan to support the rest of the family during this time. Their return is due to the fact that the mother of the family has breast cancer and has decided to come back to Taiwan for treatment. However, this results in conflict between the family, with the eldest daughter, 13-year-old Fen, wanting to stay in America and be with her friends and begrudging her mother for her illness Read More

Emotionally Gripping, if Didactic: A Review of Revolution of Our Times

English Film

·March 1, 2022·3 min read

Revolution of Our Times is not a particularly artful film, if it is often a moving one. And it is one that is highly successful on these merits. The Hong Kong protest documentary by Kiwi Chow made its debut at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival through a secretly arranged screening and started a theatrical run in Taiwan on February 25th, having won Best Documentary at the Golden Horse Film Festival Read More

Youth Tumult in Hong Kong

English Film

·February 24, 2022·2 min read

“Lost Pearl” aims to discuss Hong Kong’s contemporary political issues with a story that is set during the same time at the 2019 protests, but avoids explicitly engaging with sensitive issues. The results are mixed Read More

A Mysterious Though Evocative Short Film

English Film

·February 22, 2022·1 min read

“Sonata for Smoke” stands out for its mastery of the technical aspects of filmmaking, playing with viewers’ expectations through its proficiency. The film begins with what appears to be a burning object, along with a blunt instrument that is eventually revealed to be a microphone. They are left to wonder what they are seeing for several moments, before the camera pulls back Read More

From Classical to Electronic and Beyond: An Interview with XIAOLIN

English Music

·February 18, 2022·7 min read

Brian Hioe spoke to XIAOLIN, the founder of Hex, who also DJs at 宀 Mihn Club. The following article originally appeared on Electric Soul, a Hong Kong-based electronic music magazine and ticketing platform, on December 23rd Read More

The ‘90s and 2000s LGBT Party Scene in Taiwan: A Conversation with Victor Cheng

English Life Music

·February 15, 2022·12 min read

Brian Hioe interviewed Victor Cheng, who organized the Paradise parties starting in 1995. The Paradise parties were the first regularly-held LGBT-focused party series in Taiwan. The following article originally appeared on Electric Soul, a Hong Kong-based electronic music magazine and ticketing platform, on February 14th Read More

Non-Binary Taiwanese Drag King Stars In Netflix’s Midnight Asia

English Music

·February 11, 2022·10 min read

From buzzy soap operas and historical dramas to award-winning films, programming centered on Taiwan continues to proliferate across Netflix. The latest entry: an episode of “Midnight Asia,” a six-part docuseries by InFocus Asia celebrating the diverse nightlife found in Asian metropolises, such as Seoul, Mumbai, Tokyo, Manila and Bangkok. Episode 5 stars the incandescent city of “Taipei, Taiwan” after dark Read More

From Photography to Party Organizing and Back: A Conversation with Roshan Menon

English Music

·February 8, 2022·12 min read

Brian Hioe spoke to Kuala Lumpur-based DJ Roshan Menon, who is the founder of SaturdaySelects and co-founder of Laksa Records. The following article originally appeared on Electric Soul, a Hong Kong-based electronic music magazine and ticketing platform, on January 21st Read More

Trying to Create a Level Playing Field in Thailand: A Conversation with UMT Radio

English Interviews

·February 4, 2022·8 min read

Brian Hioe spoke to Kyrie Manson from UMT Radio. The following article originally appeared on Electric Soul, a Hong Kong-based electronic music magazine and ticketing platform, on February 3rd Read More

Best Indie EPs of 2021

English Music

·January 28, 2022·5 min read

New Bloom members Peter Freestone and Brian Hioe pick some of their favorite indie EPs from 2021, focusing on bands from Taiwan. This is one of a series of Best Album lists compiled by New Bloom Read More