By: Malasha Parker
Photo Courtesy of the Artist
Q) What do you think it is about your music and sound that connects with your audience so much?
A) I feel that my music, through my voice, becomes vessels of many different shapes. Each person hears a story of their own in them, and they gently hold everyone who listens.
Q) You have a clean voice that smoothly moves over instrumentals. What Still Moving was an ode to femininity and women moving through different stages of womanhood. You have such a beautiful and vibrant visual storytelling mindset. What can you share as the creative process behind this music video?
A) First of all, I want to thank you for your thoughtful and sensitive observation.
My team and I have been in close conversation about the ideas of “physicality” and allowing things to “unfold through intuition.” Through all the sharing, reflection and communication between us, we came to realize that regardless of gender, everyone carries an inner feminine force that is both resilient and powerful. As we grow, that force reveals itself differently at each stage of life.
For me, one of the core thoughts behind this work is whether we are able to embrace those intuitive impulses “in the present moment” to receive the messages our bodies are sending us and to stay with them without judgment. By remaining open to receiving and experiencing, while also bringing our attention back to ourselves, that sense of trust and certainty can lead us toward a very different future.
Q) I was absolutely in awe of the cohesiveness of the sound and performance in “Still Moving” while watching the music video. The song has a bit of a haunting undertone, but also a bold overarching firmness that portrays the delicateness, power and beauty of womanhood. What was it like recording this song?
A) This song feels very much like a poem. While recording it, the words and sounds created so many images for me. I could feel the whole world continuously expanding outward, while at the same time there was a clear sense of energy gathering inward and rooting all the way down through the soles of my feet. “Still Moving” is a moment of celebration, an expression of anticipation and gratitude for the coexistence of birth and death. It was the first song we recorded for the album and also the last one we finished, holding the concept of the entire record within it.
Q) You have received awards for “Best Original Film Song” and “Best New Artist.” What has it meant to you to be gaining that kind of recognition from your peers?
A) For me, receiving an award feels more like an encouragement for the entire team.
As the singer standing in front of the audience, I know that many of the collaborators who contribute ideas and creativity are often the ones supporting everything from behind the scenes. But without them, it is hard for me to imagine being able to stand before everyone as I am now. We spend time discussing the themes we want to explore and each of us offers the ideas we want to share from the place we know best. That is how the work comes together and, in the end, it is through me that it is shared with the audience. Everything that is heard and seen exists because of the participation of so many people.
Q) Since you have such a background in pop music performance art, what new styles and genres would you like to work in next?
A) I would say that I’m very excited and I want to stay open to exploring all kinds of music. I’ve always loved R&B, jazz and electronic music and I hope I’ll have the chance to work with these genres in the future.
Q) You have various collaborations in your latest album Still Moving. What collaborations would you like to have in the future?
A) It feels as though the universe has been listening to my wishes. [laughs]
In the past, whenever we talked about a project, we would start from the key words or ideas we had in mind and think about the people we wanted to collaborate with. We tried not to overthink it, just making a list first and reaching out. In the end, the most suitable collaborators always seemed to appear. So, I think we’ll continue working in this way moving forward, staying open to whatever possibilities may come.
Q) We’ll be seeing you perform live at SXSW. What went into compiling the set list for this show?
A) This will be my first performance in the United States, and since I just released my second album last year, the setlist will mainly center around songs from Still Moving, along with a few of my personal favorites from my first album.
Q) What can fans expect from a live Pei-Yu Hung performance?
A) I don’t really like to set too many expectations. I’d simply invite everyone to come into the venue, listen, put their phones down and just enjoy the evening.
Q) Which songs are you most excited to perform at SXSW?
A) All of it! Come with a sense of anticipation, this setlist will be something uniquely made for SXSW.
Q) Who are some artists you are looking forward to watching live while you’re at the festival?
A) I already saw Lola Young’s incredible set and next I’m hoping to see Amie Blu, Lovpune and Kofi Stone as well.
Q) What would you like to say to the fans of you and your work?
A) Coming to SXSW with Taiwan Beats Showcase this time has been an experience beyond anything I imagined. It made me feel once again that music is truly boundless, that sometimes it can move beyond language and connect with each person’s emotions and story. I also want to sincerely thank every listener who stopped to hear these songs. You made each moment of the performance a unique memory and I hope to see you again very soon. [smile]