セカンド・アルバム『When The Wind Came Across』では、モータウンとソウルの要素を取り入れた。「That Afternoon」という曲では初めて台湾語の歌詞を試みた。 このアルバムは、明るくも優しく、日常の瞬間に寄り添ってくれる静かな友人のような黄金色の温かなリスニング体験を提供する。
2025年には、台湾の福建語の曲「Words Unsaid」、北京語の曲「Afraid」、そしてアートの枠を超えたコラボ曲「Fracture - To W」の3枚のシングルをリリースし、さらなる進化を遂げた。 これらの作品は、穏やかな芯を体現しつつも、新たな境界線を探るために外へと手を伸ばし続けている。
2020年、Huan Huanはデビューアルバム『Water Can Go Anywhere』をリリースし、これまでのEPにあったポストロックやシューゲイザーの影響から、フォークロックやドリームポップを取り入れたヒーリング・サウンドへとシフトした。 収録曲「I'd Better Be On Time」は、Disney+のシリーズ「Small & Mighty」でフィーチャーされ、ソニーとコラボし、同曲のライブ・セッションを行った。
パンデミック規制の緩和により、Huan Huanは国際的なプレゼンスを拡大し続けた。 2022年のEP『Blue Room Orange Man』では、クラシック・ギターとシンセ・ベースを導入し、サウンドをより豊かにした。 彼らはマレーシアのCITY Plus Radioの独占インタビューに招待され、シンガポールのASEAN音楽祭にも出演した。
2023年、彼らはプロデューサーのユチェイン・ワンとコラボレートし、セカンド・アルバム『When The Wind Came Across』をリリース。 このアルバムの新鮮で風通しの良い台湾語の歌詞はリスナーの共感を呼び、広く称賛された。
特筆すべきは、「No Tears」がネットフリックス・シリーズ「At This Moment」のエンディング・テーマに選ばれたこと。 その後、沖縄で開催されたミュージック・パワー2023で日本のステージにデビューし、地元の観客から熱狂的な反応を得た。
2024年、ファン・ファンは "Huan Huan to Your Home "ツアーを開始し、ファンとのつながりを深め、彼らの音楽が感情に与える影響を探るため、親密なハウス・コンサートを行った。 こうした親密な交流を通じて、彼らは自分たちの音楽がリスナーの聖域となることを理解した。 2025年4月、ファン・ファンはリリースしたばかりのシングル「Afraid」と「Words Unsaid」を、台湾を代表して日本の有名な音楽フェスティバル「SYNCHRONICITY」のステージに持ち込んだ。
Huan Huan is an alternative rock band based in Taipei. The band consists of vocalist Coco, drummer Yi Jen, bassist Stone, and guitarist Baozi. After changing members, the band has been releasing music since around 2017.
At the time of their debut, their music was mainly dream pop and shoegaze. Gradually, they have broadened their musical horizons and have incorporated post-rock, jazz, soul music, and Asian pop into their musicality.
Today, Fan Fan's music leans in a slower direction, blending folk and rock influences with Coco's clear, soothing vocals. Their diverse lyrics span Mandarin, English, and Taiwanese, allowing them to connect with audiences from different cultures.
For his second album, "When The Wind Came Across," he incorporated elements of Motown and Soul. On the other hand, the song "That Afternoon" was the first time he tried Taiwanese lyrics. The album offers a golden, warm listening experience, bright yet gentle, like a quiet friend who accompanies you in your everyday moments.
In 2025, the group further evolved with the release of three singles: the Taiwanese Fujian song "Words Unsaid," the Mandarin song "Afraid," and the cross-artistic collaboration "Fracture - To W." These pieces embody a calm core, yet continue to reach outward to explore new boundaries.
Since its formation in 2015, Huan Huan has stood out in the Mandarin music scene with its unique sound. In 2017, they released their debut single, "Huan Huan". Following the release of their EP "Charlie" in 2019, they garnered attention from local and international critics. Next, their performance at the music festival LUCfest caught the attention of international curators, leading to invitations to Motel Mozaïque in the Netherlands and MIL Festival in Portugal.
In 2020, Huan Huan released their debut album, Water Can Go Anywhere, which shifted away from the post-rock and shoegaze influences of their previous EPs to a healing sound that incorporated folk rock and dream pop. The track "I'd Better Be On Time" was featured on the Disney+ series "Small & Mighty," and the band collaborated with Sony on a live session of the song.
The album also led to an offer for a physical release from Japan's Imperament Records and a live interview on Japan's TBS radio. Following the album's release, Fun Fun Fun was nominated for "Best New Artist" at the 2021 Golden Indie Music Awards and performed virtually at international festivals such as Primavera Pro in Spain and Bangkok Music City in Thailand. He has performed virtually at international festivals such as Primavera Pro in Spain and Bangkok Music City in Thailand.(Via Official HP)
ーーThank you for taking the time to do this interview! How the band was formed? Do you have a story about the formation of Huan Huan(緩緩)?
Huan Huan went through several lineup changes before gradually forming its current ensemble. It all started when vocalist Coco posted an online call for bandmates, hoping to play post-rock.
The band name "Huan Huan" came to her while she was taking a shower—she felt it perfectly matched her extremely slow-paced personality. In 2019, drummer Yi-Chen joined, followed by guitarist Baozi. It wasn’t until the recording of their second album that bassist Stone became part of the band. Over time, the band’s musical style also evolved, shifting from post-rock to what is now a sound more akin to folk rock.
ーーWhat kind of music influences each member of the band?
Baozi: The music genres that have influenced me the most are Rock, J-Pop / J-Rock, Alternative Rock, Post Rock, and so on.
Coco: The music that has influenced me the most is probably Western indie music from the 1990s to 2000s, such as bands like Beach House, Daughter, Kings of Convenience, Wilco, and Big Thief.
Stone: The music that has influenced me the most is Black music, especially soul and jazz. I enjoy listening to classic tracks from the 1960s to the 2000s—artists like Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, The Jackson 5, D’Angelo, Erykah Badu, and others.
Yi Jen: I have been influenced by different music in my different ages, such as rock music during my teenage years, and then post rock or electronic music during my college years, and now I pretty like the grooves of Motown music or the vibrant improvisations in jazz music.
ーーI get the impression that in recent years you have been putting more effort into your live performances. What do you consider important in your live performances?
Baozi: I think the most important part of a live performance is conveying the band's energy to the audience through both sound and visuals. When we plan our set, we want to create an experience that feels more intense and immersive than just listening to a CD or streaming.
Because live shows allow for more direct interaction, we also want to express not only the band’s overall personality but also the individual characteristics of each member. That’s why, starting this year, we’ve included solo segments from each member to bridge between songs.
ーーHuan Huan has released two good singles 「Words Unsaid」and「Afraid」this year. Can you tell us more about these new songs from the band?
Baozi: “Words Unsaid” is Huan Huan’s second song in Taiwanese. Although the lyrics are quite sorrowful, we chose to express that sadness through a passionate, upbeat dance style, hoping it could serve as an outlet for listeners’ emotions. It’s also our fastest-paced track so far. Our vocalist Coco really likes Kings of Convenience, and we’ve always wanted to try blending folk with dance music. When we finally pulled it off, we were so excited and happy—though our hands were sore from playing it! (laughs)
Stone:「Afraid」continues Huan Huan’s signature warm and organic style over the years. Coco’s lyrics capture the most delicate, intimate emotions from deep within. I feel that both the songwriting and the performance embody a very 'Huan Huan' atmosphere.「Words Unsaid」is a new direction for us. While maintaining emotional depth, we incorporated more groove—something the live audience can really immerse themselves in. The response during the tour has been quite positive.
ーーYou guys had a tour in Japan this year. How did you feel about it? Did you do any sightseeing?
Baozi: Performing in Japan was both an exciting and nerve-wracking experience for us. We've always seen Japan’s music scene as extremely strong, so getting selected to perform at a major event like SYNCHRONICITY was a huge encouragement.
We also had a smaller show at mono record in Shimokitazawa. When we saw that our music could cross language barriers and still bring healing and joy to Japanese audiences, it was a truly touching and validating moment. As for sightseeing, I went to Sunshine City in Ikebukuro and had a ton of delicious izakaya food and drinks—so good! (laughs)
Stone: During this Japan tour, we visited some great live houses and also watched performances by other excellent bands at SYNCHRONICITY. I was impressed by the diversity and engagement of the audience—it really felt like music is a way of life. Since most of our events and interviews were around Shibuya, we spent several days exploring the area in depth. The bustling streets were so vibrant that I often got lost (laughs).
Yi Jen: I went to Nintendo store in Shubuya just right beside our venue in SYNCHRONICITY because I’m a fan of their game “Pickmin Bloom”. We also went to several “kissaten” to enjoy the vintage vibe that we can hardly find outside of Japan!
Coco: This time, we were warmly welcomed by our friends in Japan. Not only did many people come to our shows to show their support, but the staff also took us and other performers to dine at restaurants with a unique atmosphere. Everyone sang together enthusiastically—it left a deep impression on me. It’s truly a rare and cherished memory!
ーーWhat are Huan Huan's plans for the future? Any plans for releasing an album or EP in the near future?
Coco: The concept for the next album already has a rough initial direction. After releasing three singles in 2025, we hope to maintain our creative momentum and begin preparing for the full album.
ーーWhat kind of music is popular in Taipei now? And what do you think is attractive about this city?
Baozi: In Taipei, all kinds of music have their own fan bases. Just like global trends, hip-hop and K-pop are still really popular, but Japanese-style music has always had a strong following here too. What attracts me most to Taipei is its diversity and warmth.
The open-minded atmosphere allows all kinds of cultural elements to thrive, and both shop owners and everyday citizens are incredibly kind. That’s what I love most about the city.
Stone: I agree with Baozi’s observation that Taipei is a city where subcultures thrive, with each group having its own preferred genres. Recently, I’ve noticed that Shoegaze music is gradually becoming popular among university students, which surprises me—it almost feels like I’ve gone back to my college days (laughs).
ーーFinally, if you had to name something that you can only get from Huan Huan's activities, what would it be?
Baozi: I think Huan Huan as a band feels like that one especially gentle friend we all have. When you share your worries with them, they won’t immediately tell you what to do—they’ll just stay with you, listen, and offer the comfort you need most. The way we sing the softest voices of the heart is something we hope is uniquely comforting to our listeners. I believe that this special kind of tenderness is Huan Huan’s most unique charm.
Coco: We approach things with a spirit of openness and compassion, and we hope our music can offer a sense of healing to those who listen.
Stone: After all these years, I feel that Huan Huan now reflects more of the natural, genuine sides of the four of us. We don’t need to pretend to be grand; we just honestly present and share ourselves. Moving forward, we want to keep bringing this kind of atmosphere to every corner of the world.
Yi Jen: An introverted an candid friend, a warm company.
ーThank you so much. We look forward to seeing your future activities. Please come visit in Japan again!
Interview : Music Tribune (Tokyo)
Special Thanks To: Meng(In Utero [Manager of Huan Huan])
0 comments:
コメントを投稿