Shuffled! The Slants
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Today’s Shuffler: The Slants
It’s been said that everything that could be done in music has been done already; new artists are inherently boring, with nothing that is original or creative to offer. But those people hadn’t heard The Slants (yet), a band who has everyone screaming for some “Chinatown Dance Rock.”
It was early 2006, when Simon Young decided to leave his group, The Stivs, to start a synth-pop outfit. In essence, he wanted to create synthesizer-driven rock n’ roll but with an Asian twist. Enter Gaijin, who answered one of Young’s numerous calls for Asian musicians. Though he wasn’t Asian himself, the two found a common love for The Faint, Depeche Mode, New Order, Joy Division, and of course, sushi. After some shuffling with the line up, The Slants were formed and began playing in mid-2007.
Within three months of their first show, The Slants have already found themselves with international press. Also, within this time, they released their first record: Slanted Eyes, Slanted Hearts.
On the album, Aron’s voice powers through songs reflecting of love and loss, as well as thoughtful prose about struggling with an Asian identity in American Society. Jen Cho leads the way with danceable synth leads, as well as adds sultry back-up vocals in tracks like “Kokoro (I Fall to Pieces)” and “I Want Everything.” Throughout the album, AC’s drums keep the dance flavor alive.PDX-Pole calls The Slants “controversial but well loved.” It’s true, the name has stirred some controversy, bringing the band even more attention. Bassist and founder Simon Young explains, “Most of the people that find our name racist aren’t even Asian! We’re saying to the world ‘We’re proud of who we are, we aren’t going to hide it.’ In fact, our biggest support has been from the Asian community itself!”
The culmination of all of the band members’ experience totals to over 2,500 live performances, cross-country tours, hundreds of hours in the studio, and working with some of the biggest names in the business. The Slants are now poised to take on the world with their own music and presence, their own name.
Now on to the shuffle…
For today’s shuffle, we’re doing something a little different. We have a few song selections from different members of the band. This was an idea put forward by the Slants. I hope you enjoy it.
It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Want to Rock n’ Roll)
AC/DC
(selected by Aron Moxley – Vocals)
This song is one of my favorites of all time. Wow, what a long title. As the title suggests, you have to pay your dues in sweat and hard work if you want to succeed in this buisness; you’ve gotta leave it all on stage and bleed for it. If you want to reach the top, you have to kill every live show, tour constanly, live out of suitcases, write and record, sacrifice relationships and jobs…in hopes that you will have a decent crowd at every show. But you are to never take it for granted. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
I Disappear
The Faint
(selected by Jen Cho – Keyboards, Vocals)
Late winter 2007, I get a friend request on Myspace for an all-Asian band based in Portland. Influences: The Faint, Gang of Four, Depeche Mode, etc. They had an ad on their profile for a lead singer. I was not a vocalist, but I wanted to be a part of this band. The name “The Slants” had a provocative cockiness to it that was slightly insane, so, naturally, it struck a chord with me. So I nervously called in for an audition and met Simon, Micheal (Gaijin) and Pete (Gwei-Lo, our original guitarist) with an 18-pack of Pabst Blue Ribbon in tow for good luck.
I choked on the vocal audition, having never even sung so much as drunken karaoke before, but landed a spot as keyboardist and ended up doing back up vocals anyways, which is perfect for me. This song will always remind me of those early days because I used to practice singing along to it to figure out a style for the then-unwritten vocal parts on the demos Simon sent to me.
Same Cry
Jin
(selected by Simon Young – Bass)
Jin is one of the few Asian rappers in the industry. Both of us grew up in similar circumstances: first generation American Born Chinese (“ABC”) who had the privilege and blessing to grow up in the United States. This song reminds me of some of the toughest circumstances that the Asian community has had to endure: The Massacre At Tiananmen Square, the SARS epidemic, sweatshop labor/concentration camps, and China’s population control efforts.
It breaks my heart to see so many people take their freedoms for granted while many of my relatives are suffering across the ocean. Could you imagine the government making it illegal to talk about certain historical events and literally erasing history books? Even Google in China has many restricted search words and limits what websites are accessable. As Jin writes, “I gotta speak up, without me my people have no voice.”
Judy is a Punk
The Ramones
(selected by Simon Young – Bass)
Anyone who knows me knows that I’m a die-hard Ramones fan. I think I own more albums by them than any artist, including odd compilations, side-porjects, soundtracks, etc. so I guess it wasn’t a huge surprise when one their songs came up on Shuffle. I love the Ramones!
“Judy is a Punk,” as with many Ramones songs, reminds me that sometimes the most simple production and song writing is the most effective; great songs usually just boil down to catchy hooks that stay with you forever. As an artist, it’s always tempting to and create the most complicated masterpiece possible – sometimes for the sake of making something complicated or “sophisticated” – though sometimes the greatest works of art are just from the heart and full of simple fun. Did I mention that I love the Ramones?
The Man Who Sold the World
David Bowie
(selected by Johnny – Guitar)
I think back when I first heard this song and what it meant to me…the way the bass line flowed, while the guitar did it’s lead followed by Bowie “with the man who sold the world…” I was hooked since then. A song about trying to find oneself lost in multiple personalities. It’s easy to relate to this song. Anyone who personally knows me would say I’m calm and quiet, but when playing with The Slants, it becomes an instinct to become a “face melting” maniac.
[Editor's Note: By the time you read this, we should have tracks from The Slants streaming from our radio. Peace.]
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