OVDS

Name, what do you do?
K: Kalis. OVDS lead singer / lyricist / English teacher for young children.
G: Gioreno. OVDS lead singer / lyricist / DJ / vocal coach.
KI: KITrust. Music producer / DJ.
S: S.D. Drummer / Jazz drum teacher.
H: Hann. Interior designer.
Y: yShin. OVDS VJ / P.C.B VJ / visual artist.

Where are you from?
Taipei & Taichung, Taiwan.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
K: The Prodigy Live at Taipei, Taiwan 2006.
G: Korn Live, Taipei, Taiwan 2015 - that performance was the first time I was so close to a singer of a Western band that had a profound influence on me. When they started playing the intro to 'Blind', a song I had listened to countless times since my high school days, it evoked feelings from my teenage years when I suppressed both my hopes and fears of the future. As the guitars and cymbals slowly layer on top of each other, my pent up feelings and emotions were ready to explode out like a red dragon... before I knew it I was crashing around in the mosh pit and headbanging like crazy.
KI & Y: Aphex Twin at Fuji Rock 2017 - I had the very rare opportunity to see an Aphex Twin live performance. I’m guessing they dedicated most of the festival’s resources to this performance - the combination of an over-the-top laser show and live video feed of the audience created an amazing visual spectacle - heavy rain throughout the performance made for a sensory explosion that is still my number one live performance experience to this day.

Which subcultures have influenced you?
K: Hip-hop and Taiwan’s band culture since 2000.
G: The beat generation that emerged from the post-World War II literary trend - this generation’s exploration of freedom, anti-materialism, Eastern religious philosophy etc became an important source of nourishment for many future artistic and literary creations. From time to time, I will think about the questions that emerged from this era regarding post-war humanism and culture.
KI: I’ve been attracted to the late '80s to '90s rave scene ever since I first encountered electronic music. To this day, I still find myself deeply influenced by different types of music, parties, art, fashion and ideas.

Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
K: KODA KUMI LIVE TOUR 2014～Bon Voyage～Taipei, Taiwan.
KI: The Spring Scream Festival in Taiwan has changed venues and formats several times over the past ten years we’ve attended, but every time we’re back on stage there, we feel like: “This is awesome - We’re finally back at Spring Scream.”
S & G: Kaloo Bang Festival at La Réunion 2015 - that was my first journey to Africa. Just as the performers and audience were starting to vibe together, we suspect an overly-excited audience member released tear gas. Concert security demanded that we stop the show, but we continued to sing until the audience was completely cleared out - only then did we realize that something wasn’t quite right. After that, Kalis had breathed in a little tear gas and was throwing up backstage and S.D. was choking a bit. After we were sure it was safe, we returned to the stage and continued having a great time with the audience until the end of the show.
H: DOMe Kashiwa Live House.
Y: Spring Scream, Héng chūn, Taiwan 2013.

If you could be on the line up with any bands in history?
K: I Am Legion.
G: Anpu - ever since she started performing, I’ve admired her music and even her gestures on stage, and the warmth and joy she gives people. On top of that, she is like my spiritual leader, helping me see the profoundness and meaning of people in our society, and leading me to be more kind and caring.
KI: I remember when my history teacher introduced the famous instrumentalist Bo Ya of Jin, of the Spring and Autumn and Warring States period. She spent more than half of the lesson sharing many stories about Bo Ya’s incredible instrumental skills. If I could have the opportunity to perform together with Bo Ya, I think it would give true meaning to what I learned in that history class.
S: Kurt Cobain.
H: John Frusciante.
Y: Successione di Fibonacci.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
K: If it was possible, I’d like to perform together with Keith Flint, create music with J Dilla, write songs with 6lack, rap together with PAV4N… in any case, there are a lot, lot more. If this wish could come true, then I’m sure it would be possible to spend another hour in another dimension with many others. There are too many others I’d like to meet.
G: I’d like to share a meal and some drinks with Ying Zheng, King of Qin during the Eastern Zhou era. I’d try to understand the mind of this king - his pursuits and fears - and how to realize one’s goals.
KI: I had a drink with a friend recently and I was telling him that I really want to experience a Taiwanese religious ritual called Guanluoyin (a folk ritual whereby the living soul is brought to the netherworld for a spiritual journey). If I could meet Jimi Hendrix during this ritual, I’d ask him to show me a riff or two - I bet that would be really awesome.
S: Kurt Cobain.
H: I’d have a conversation with Nobunaga Oda (of the Honnoji Incident), one hour before he committed suicide.
Y: I’d like to persuade Monet to treat his failing eyesight in his later years.

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
K: A&R.
G: The listeners. It’s hard to imagine how great music can be without them!
KI: Probably agents? I can get them to do anything I can’t or don’t want to do if I say “please” enough times!
S: Our musical predecessors.
Y: Alexander Perls Rousmaniere.