By: Malasha Parker
Photo Courtesy of Our Shame
Q) The opening song on Hidden Album, “Face ID” has a wilder and upbeat vibe while the closing track, “So in love with you” is more melodic and harmonious. What was the intention behind structuring the album this way?
A) We’ve heard people say how dynamic the album feels. The opening song feels like sinking underwater in a really vivid way, the chords that feel pretty different from our first album Modern Problem. Some people have told us this record feels less tied to an urban, office-like atmosphere and more like stepping out into something freer, whether that’s a reckless road trip or a deep dive into the ocean.
Q) How has the response from fans on your new album, Hidden Album, been and how has it encouraged you to move forward?
A) Starting with being captured by the cover art, we are very encouraged by how curious and passionate they are for our sound design and visual attempts. In the era of “singles,” we are very happy to be able to bring the full concept album and have people enjoy a whole 40-minute trip with us.
Q) Your newest album isn’t as traditionally cohesive as people would imagine a full length album to be. Talk about the choice behind making this album with songs that are all so completely different but right for the story you are trying to tell. The focal point of your songs is based on the sounds and instruments used. What is your process like for developing your songs?
A) Balancing sonic cohesion versus narrative cohesion was definitely something we had struggled with throughout the making of this album, especially when there are so many different genres of music we genuinely love experimenting with. In the end, we chose to be honest about the core idea of the album: an album in the sense of a photo album. Everyone’s photo album is filled with strange, vivid, wildly different images – each with its own color and texture. We decided to embrace that sense of chaos because it felt like the most natural way to hold everything we were feeling and putting our energy into. We also wanted listeners to feel like they were really diving into Our Shame’s photo album.
Q) What are your favorite tracks on Hidden Album?
A) All the tracks. For rhythmic IDM vibe we love “Snow in Osaka,“ “Face ID“ and “Hidden Album;” for folky-electro emotional moments we love “Hollywood Dream“ and “A Star.” For summer feelings we love “So In Love With You“ and “Summer Air.” For nostalgic times we love “Beach Cat“ and “Loml for Now.“
Q) You both are moving through festivals and getting on larger stages. How rewarding does it feel to see your music grow and touch wider audiences?
A) Extremely rewarding. It’s the most wonderful thing to realize that, through music, we’re actually connecting with people so far away that we might never have had a chance to know or meet each other in our lifetime, yet we’re sharing the same resonance.
Q) We’re seeing you here at SXSW. What does performing at this established festival mean to you?
A) Playing a festival like SXSW, one of the most important spaces for indie pop, has always been a dream of ours. It feels incredible that music has brought us all the way to Austin, a city with so much creative energy. That already feels like a gift. And this time being part of the Taiwan showcase adds another layer to it: there’s something really exciting and meaningful about representing where we’re from. It almost feels like being the athletes on a national team.
Q) How did you go about preparing your set list for SXSW?
A) Festival set changes are always really tight, so we built the set around the songs that best capture who we are, while also making sure the overall sound feels cohesive from one song to the next. We’re opening with “Face ID” from Hidden Album to draw the audience into our immersive world.
Q) What can fans expect from a live Our Shame performance?
A) A real folk + electronica experience. We’re gonna bring our semi-modular synth set + acoustic instruments. Also, we have our personal favorite bass player and electric guitar player with us this time. It’s going to be very vibrant.
Q) What upcoming music have you been busy working on?
A) We’re experimenting with a more atmospheric, glitchy sound design on our upcoming EP, which is likely to be an extension to Hidden Album with different songwriting and ambience, while conceptually continuing the sense of intimacy and hidden memories.
Q) Who would you love to collaborate with on music in the future?
A) We adore Boards of Canada and Leifur James’ works very much. And we’re happily discovering artists through SXSW, for instance Amie Blu, Karina Galicia and JOPLYN are all very cool and talented.
Q) What would you like to say to the fans and supporters of you and your work?
A) You are the coolest people in the world. We love you. See you soon.