台湾のHIP HOP〜R&
Leo王（リオ・ワン）
元々インディーズロックバンドのボーカルからキャリアをスタートさせた、異色のラッパー。台湾の最高学府である台湾大学を中退し、音楽の道に進んだ。2016年に初のソロアルバム『藝術家脾氣』をリリース。人気女性歌手9m88とコラボした「陪你過假日」はネットで大ヒットし、視聴回数一千万回を超えている。同じくKAO!INC.所属のラッパーの春艷（Chunyan）と「夜猫組(YEEMAO)」というユニットを結成しており、2017年に1stアルバム『健康歌曲 OwO』をリリース。同年、KAO!INC.のワールドツアーを参加し、東京、大阪でライブを行った。2019年、台湾グラミー賞と呼ばれる金曲奬では、Leo王の2ndソロアルバム『無病呻吟有情抒情』が評価され「最優秀男性歌手」のタイトルを手にしている。ラッパーが最優秀男性歌手を受賞するのは、台湾史上初で大きな話題となった。彼のメロディックなラップに加え、独特な雰囲気のあるライブは激しくて魅力的。2020年、金音賞で「最優秀ライブ賞」を受賞。
雷擎
台湾のアンダーソン・パークとも称される、ドラマーボーカルでありマルチプレイヤーでもある雷擎（レイチン）。9m88を筆頭に昨今盛り上がりを見せる台湾のネオソウルシーンにおける重要人物の1人。実はその才能は台湾インディシーンでは既に十分に知られており、落日飛車Sunset RollercoasterやLeo王らと同じ界隈でインディシーンを盛り上げてきた。2020年にEP「神仙眷侶Twin Flames」でソロデビュー、2021年にはデビューアルバム「Dive&Give」をリリース。このアルバムでは制作期間中に台湾東部を訪れ、フィールドレコーディングで様々な音を収集し、楽曲に収録している。
雲端司機 CLOUDRIVER
またの名を李權哲（Jerry Li）、バンドThe Loophole（露波合唱團）のメンバーでもあり、シンガーソングライター、編曲家、hiphopアーティストのプロデューサー、セッションミュージシャンなど多彩な顔を持つ。ブルースやソウル、ファンク、ロックに多大な影響を受けて創作を開始しており、2017年に若干19歳でデビューした後、作品を出す毎に様々な音楽賞を獲得し、その才能は早くから知られることとなる。2021年にリリースしたアルバム《愛情一陣風》はあらゆる音楽賞を総ナメするなど、新世代で最も注目を集めるアーティストの1人。
Leo Wang
Leo Wang (aka Leo 王) got his musical start in the Taiwanese rock band Gigantic Roar. His sharp wit, spit-fire vocal delivery and keen songwriting skills helped him transition into a hip-hop career marked by a highly original, jazz-inflected sound. Today, Leo is not only Taiwanese hip-hop’s hottest star, he’s also taken the Mandopop world by a storm, having nabbed the Golden Melody Award for Best Male Vocalist in 2019 — a first for any hip-hop artist. Despite the mainstream attention, Leo is always about keeping it real, relentlessly following his wide-ranging, creative whims. Lyrically, his songs focus on the unique flavors of Taiwanese life, from the mundane to the humorous to the ever-so strange.
雷撃
Taipei based artist L8ching (pronounced “Lay-Ching”) arrived at 2018, with his unique blend of old fashioned soul music and millennial pop grooves, he has cultivated a substantial following in the local scene since his music released. L8ching’s music, known for its combination of mixed Taiwanese and English lyrics and his powerful on-stage presence — playing drums while performing his songs has created an undeniably charismatic artist that has captivated fans from streaming platforms to international music festivals all over the world. L8ching has accumulated tremendous live performing experiences. After his music release, he was Invited to perform at Spain’s iconic music festival “Primavera Sound”, Japan’s Ringo Music Festival and Taiwan Plus Music Festival, all shows had great response from foreign crowds and positive press reviews. After releasing few singles, L8ching became a resident artist and travelled around Taiwan. In 2021, L8ching returned with his first debut album Dive & GiveÄi0. Inspired by his traveling stories, L8ching try to express all his feeling with his own music, gathering all the great musicians and sounds, built a whole unique music journey for everyone. In 2022, L8ching was nominated for The Best New Vocal in GMA 33 (Golden Music Award)
CLOUDRIVER
Producer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jerry Li hit the ground running in 2017 with his debut album “Stay Sober,” which earned him a Golden Melody Award nomination for best new artist. Just 19 years old at the time, Jerry had already proven himself as a mature composer and producer with an impressive grasp of 1960s/70s soul, R&B, and funk – his primary musical passions.
Today he continues to absorb these styles into a unique, groundbreaking sound, which can be heard on two releases for KAO!INC. in 2021: the EP “SUNNY AFTERNOON” (under the pseudonym “CLOUDRIVER”) and his second full-length solo record, “AI-CHING,” which was nominated for three major awards at the 33rd Golden Melody Awards, including Best Album of the Year, Best Mandarin Album, and Best Producer. At the age of 25, he won the Best Producer award, and also won the Best Album award at the Golden Indie Music Awards that same year.
Whether playing bass or drums for the rock band The Loophole, producing for hip-hop artists, or conjuring up new ideas for solo projects, Jerry Li aka CLOUDRIVER will be an artist to watch for a long time to come.