01Profile
A SoulFa Photo
SoulFa
Musicians — Taiwan
03Interview
Name, where are you from?
SoulFa, Taiwan.
What do you do?
One member is a radiologist, and the other three are full-time musicians. Lead singer: Ben-shan. Guitar: Poopoo. Drum: Look. Bass: Henry.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
One Ok Rock’s “Ambitions Asia Tour 2018” in Taiwan was the first large-scale concert I ever attended. They were also Henry’s favourite band while he was in high school. Touming Magazine is Poopoo and Ben-shan’s all-time favourite band. Although the band had already quit playing back then, their live performances were still legendary. We had a chance to perform with them during a long-anticipated comeback concert, and it was a mind-blowing experience. When the familiar classics began playing, the audience went crazy.
Which subcultures have influenced you?
Rock has probably had the biggest influence on us, especially being in a band and making indie music - we are so influenced by it that we’ve basically been doing the same thing ever since the beginning!
Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
Chuan-Mei Movie Theater in Tainan. We played at LUCfest last year - the venue was just extraordinary: a structure was built on the stage right in front of the big screen, with the four of us performing on four different platforms, each with different heights. The view we had was absolutely amazing. The only downside was that we couldn’t see each other.
If you could be on the line up with any bands in history?
Guitar god Jimi Hendrix. He created so many different guitar techniques; playing guitar with him would be a dream for most guitarists, I think. The Beatles have also had a big impact on our music!
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
Ben-shan wants to play rock-paper-scissors with John Lennon. Look would like to hang out for an hour with Eren Yeager from the ‘Attack on Titan’ manga series. Poopoo would want to share a curry meal with Gandhi. He always pays his respects and tribute to the great ones before us who have dedicated their lives to peace and love. I’m not sure why I thought of this, but having a chat over a meal seems like a good idea (Poopoo is a fan of curry himself).
Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Andy Baker, a sound mixer and the owner of Yucheng Recording Studio. He has co-produced many amazing songs in his awesome studio with many Taiwanese indie bands, such as the famous “There is No Party in Cao Dong”. Hopefully one day we can work with him. Also, fans who continue to support their favourite musicians are the greatest heroes, too! This is what fuels our momentum and creativity!
02Playlist
04Playlist Notes
The first track you played on repeat?
'2002' by Anne-Marie. Ben-shan stumbled upon a music contest TV show that happened to feature Anne-Marie casually singing her song with the most perfect delivery. He found out the title and listened to it non-stop for the next three weeks.
'21 Guns' by Green Day. Henry hasn’t stopped listening to it since the day his sister played it for him when he was in elementary school. Green Day was also the first Western band he listened to.
'Re:make' by One Ok Rock. The first song Poopoo fell in love with. During his junior high school days, a friend always played rock music on his iPod whenever the group met at a Mos Burger near school. Poopoo listened to the song and was enchanted. The beat, melody, the sound of the guitar - this musical encounter was the first and most memorable rock music experience for him.
A song that defines the teenage you?
'Happy Worship' was one of the few songs in my mp3 player’s small playlist. I listened to these songs so many times.
'Iridescent' by Linkin Park. Another song that I couldn’t stop listening to. I remembered when I saw Transformers 3 in a movie theatre, the song was played at the very end of the movie. I sat through the entire song and as soon as I got home, I looked it up so I could keep listening to it.
One record you would keep forever?
'1' by The Beatles. To Ben-shan, every piece in this album has the power to motivate and inspire one to keep moving on.
'What’s The Story, Morning Glory' by Oasis. Definitely the album I would bring to a deserted island. The guitar prelude alone is enough to get your mind off any troubles. I could see myself getting pumped up to go fishing and hunting after listening to this song.
'SoulFa', the namesake album to our band.
A song lyric that has inspired you?
'Come Together' by The Beatles. Ben-shan finds this song very inspiring each time he listens to it. There is just a pure essence to it that’s hard to explain: as simple as it may sound, it delivers something truly deep and complex.
'Still The New Wave Flow' by 1976. For Poopoo this brings about a lot of inspiration. Lead singer and lyricist, Raykai Chen, is quite a poet; his words carry an open and free feeling that effortlessly takes your mind away. Perhaps, Pooopoo has a longing, deep down in his heart, to be artistic and literary.
Best song to turn up loud?
'Dui Ai Ke Wang' (Longing for Love). Ben-shan first heard a cover of this song, sung by Aska Yang on 'One Million Star', a singing contest TV show. It had such a profound impact on him that he would only sing it in a shower because the echoes created in the tight space added a lot to the musical effect.
'Tenderness' by Mayday. Poopoo enjoys the ease of singing along with this song.
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
'Gin & Juice' by Snoop Dogg. This song is a classic from the early days of Snoop’s singing career. I first heard the song playing on the radio and was immediately drawn by how he rapped with such a laid-back style. This feeling was quite unusual. After all, what’s the chance that a rock guy falls head over heels for a rap song?
'Ice Cream' by Blackpink. A pop song by a Korean girl band, 'Ice Cream' is very successful in the way it recreates the feeling you used to get listening to classic Billboard megahits in the old days.
New bands you are listening to now?
Skinshape: an independent music producer from the UK. I first heard his music when I was in a café. I couldn’t wait to look him up once I got home, and ended up listening to all of his works. Whether it was the retro and novel touch or his instrumental sound choice and arrangements, I just couldn’t get over how he marvellously spins acid rock, reggae, and funk into something so fresh. I definitely wouldn’t keep this music to myself, sharing his music is a must!
03Interview
Name, where are you from?
SoulFa, Taiwan.
What do you do?
One member is a radiologist, and the other three are full-time musicians. Lead singer: Ben-shan. Guitar: Poopoo. Drum: Look. Bass: Henry.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
One Ok Rock’s “Ambitions Asia Tour 2018” in Taiwan was the first large-scale concert I ever attended. They were also Henry’s favourite band while he was in high school. Touming Magazine is Poopoo and Ben-shan’s all-time favourite band. Although the band had already quit playing back then, their live performances were still legendary. We had a chance to perform with them during a long-anticipated comeback concert, and it was a mind-blowing experience. When the familiar classics began playing, the audience went crazy.
Which subcultures have influenced you?
Rock has probably had the biggest influence on us, especially being in a band and making indie music - we are so influenced by it that we’ve basically been doing the same thing ever since the beginning!
Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
Chuan-Mei Movie Theater in Tainan. We played at LUCfest last year - the venue was just extraordinary: a structure was built on the stage right in front of the big screen, with the four of us performing on four different platforms, each with different heights. The view we had was absolutely amazing. The only downside was that we couldn’t see each other.
If you could be on the line up with any bands in history?
Guitar god Jimi Hendrix. He created so many different guitar techniques; playing guitar with him would be a dream for most guitarists, I think. The Beatles have also had a big impact on our music!
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
Ben-shan wants to play rock-paper-scissors with John Lennon. Look would like to hang out for an hour with Eren Yeager from the ‘Attack on Titan’ manga series. Poopoo would want to share a curry meal with Gandhi. He always pays his respects and tribute to the great ones before us who have dedicated their lives to peace and love. I’m not sure why I thought of this, but having a chat over a meal seems like a good idea (Poopoo is a fan of curry himself).
Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Andy Baker, a sound mixer and the owner of Yucheng Recording Studio. He has co-produced many amazing songs in his awesome studio with many Taiwanese indie bands, such as the famous “There is No Party in Cao Dong”. Hopefully one day we can work with him. Also, fans who continue to support their favourite musicians are the greatest heroes, too! This is what fuels our momentum and creativity!
04Playlist Notes
The first track you played on repeat?
'2002' by Anne-Marie. Ben-shan stumbled upon a music contest TV show that happened to feature Anne-Marie casually singing her song with the most perfect delivery. He found out the title and listened to it non-stop for the next three weeks.
'21 Guns' by Green Day. Henry hasn’t stopped listening to it since the day his sister played it for him when he was in elementary school. Green Day was also the first Western band he listened to.
'Re:make' by One Ok Rock. The first song Poopoo fell in love with. During his junior high school days, a friend always played rock music on his iPod whenever the group met at a Mos Burger near school. Poopoo listened to the song and was enchanted. The beat, melody, the sound of the guitar - this musical encounter was the first and most memorable rock music experience for him.
A song that defines the teenage you?
'Happy Worship' was one of the few songs in my mp3 player’s small playlist. I listened to these songs so many times.
'Iridescent' by Linkin Park. Another song that I couldn’t stop listening to. I remembered when I saw Transformers 3 in a movie theatre, the song was played at the very end of the movie. I sat through the entire song and as soon as I got home, I looked it up so I could keep listening to it.
One record you would keep forever?
'1' by The Beatles. To Ben-shan, every piece in this album has the power to motivate and inspire one to keep moving on.
'What’s The Story, Morning Glory' by Oasis. Definitely the album I would bring to a deserted island. The guitar prelude alone is enough to get your mind off any troubles. I could see myself getting pumped up to go fishing and hunting after listening to this song.
'SoulFa', the namesake album to our band.
A song lyric that has inspired you?
'Come Together' by The Beatles. Ben-shan finds this song very inspiring each time he listens to it. There is just a pure essence to it that’s hard to explain: as simple as it may sound, it delivers something truly deep and complex.
'Still The New Wave Flow' by 1976. For Poopoo this brings about a lot of inspiration. Lead singer and lyricist, Raykai Chen, is quite a poet; his words carry an open and free feeling that effortlessly takes your mind away. Perhaps, Pooopoo has a longing, deep down in his heart, to be artistic and literary.
Best song to turn up loud?
'Dui Ai Ke Wang' (Longing for Love). Ben-shan first heard a cover of this song, sung by Aska Yang on 'One Million Star', a singing contest TV show. It had such a profound impact on him that he would only sing it in a shower because the echoes created in the tight space added a lot to the musical effect.
'Tenderness' by Mayday. Poopoo enjoys the ease of singing along with this song.
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
'Gin & Juice' by Snoop Dogg. This song is a classic from the early days of Snoop’s singing career. I first heard the song playing on the radio and was immediately drawn by how he rapped with such a laid-back style. This feeling was quite unusual. After all, what’s the chance that a rock guy falls head over heels for a rap song?
'Ice Cream' by Blackpink. A pop song by a Korean girl band, 'Ice Cream' is very successful in the way it recreates the feeling you used to get listening to classic Billboard megahits in the old days.
New bands you are listening to now?
Skinshape: an independent music producer from the UK. I first heard his music when I was in a café. I couldn’t wait to look him up once I got home, and ended up listening to all of his works. Whether it was the retro and novel touch or his instrumental sound choice and arrangements, I just couldn’t get over how he marvellously spins acid rock, reggae, and funk into something so fresh. I definitely wouldn’t keep this music to myself, sharing his music is a must!