Go Chic Interview: SXSW 2010

Hailing from Tapai, Taiwan, Go Chic is an energetic electropop band whose great sense of personal enthusiasm compliments their music. The band's debut album titled I Am Confused was independently released in March 2010. Recently, Spinner spoke with Ariel Zheng about Bill Nye the Science Guy, SXSW, and her band's influences.

Describe your band's sound in your own words.

Asian porn. [laughs]

How did your band form?

We started our band in the spring 2007, all of us used go to the same high school in Taipei, and we thought it'd be pretty rad to form a kick-ass girl band.


What are your musical influences?

We started out listening to stuff like Primal Scream and the Stone Roses, but somehow ended up really liking the electro scene in Europe and the United States. Chicks on Speed has influenced us a lot in particular though, not just through their music, but mainly through the whole spirit of playing music and being crazy chicks for life!

How did you come up with your band name?

I wish we had an amazing story to tell you about how we came up with the name Go Chic, but there isn't. However, I do want to stress that it's "sheek," not "chick." Many people still think we're Go Chick or Go Sh*t.

What's your biggest vice?

Hmm, being an Asian. The worst thing I've ever done would be coming home after 10pm and getting locked outside the door by my mom. [laugh]

What's in your festival survival kit for SXSW?

We're a band of three girls, so I think with some glitter outfits and sexy lingerie walking on 6th Street, we'll do just fine.

Who was your first celebrity crush?

Bill Nye the Science Guy from Disney Channel.

What's your musical guilty pleasure?

Celine Dion's "All By Myself."

Beatles or Stones?

Beatles! Chicks always dig those English boys!

What's the craziest thing you've seen or experienced while on tour?

We've never been on tour, hopefully we'll have the opportunity to do it soon. But we have seen some crazy stuff here in Taiwan, like a whole family of five people riding on one scooter. That's crazy for me, even as a Taiwanese!

Why do you create music?

We do it so if we make it big, we can get free access to festivals around the world and share backstage VIP rooms with our childhood fantasy artists!

How do your surroundings affect your writing process?

This is a great question for us as we come from Taiwan and grew up in a different environment from the West. The culture, language, and music scene here is very different. But given the factors, we have written some stuff about the conflict and confusion of being Asian, living in a world under the influence of a Western civilization. We tend to see things in a more refreshing perspective, I guess.

Do you prefer to be on the road touring or in the studio recording? Why?

The perfect scenario would be to spend months in the studio recording new awesome tunes, then getting ready to be on the road. The two are inseparable! Being on tour doesn't mean shit if you are not productive in the studio. You won't get much inspiration if you stay in the studio forever!

What are you looking forward to at SXSW?

We were so psyched when we saw that South Central was playing this year, as we are trying so hard to get them to come to Taipei to play. We love them! But now I just can't seem to find them anywhere in the lineup! So right now, we are looking forward to attending some mind-blowing dubstep showcases! Can't wait, can't wait! F*ck yeah!


Ken Bachor is a contributor from Seed.com. Learn how you can contribute here.