When Chordblossom came into existence, it was always our aim to shine a spotlight on the artists and bands that make up the music scene in Northern Ireland. We’ve been doing it for over ten years now and one of our favourite methods is our Introducing feature.
Put the kettle on, curl up on your sofa and and join us for a quickfire Q&A with some of our favourite new musicians. Who knows, maybe you’ll even discover your new favourite artists.
This iteration of Introducing features the musical talents of TOUZAI who released their latest single ‘Tiger Song’.
What was the inspiration behind your artist name?
Touzai (“t-oh z-aye”) is Cantonese for bunny. It’s inspired by the folklore of the rabbit on the moon. I wanted to have a name that’s short, easy to remember, and also something that carries meaning from my heritage.
You’ve just released a new single. How did it come about and what does it mean to you?
Tiger Song was written during the pandemic when the Asian hate was going on. It mainly focuses on the experience of wanting to belong in the same place you’ve grown up and lived in your whole life. It also features some references to Asian folklore – “Back when the tiger used to smoke” is like “Once upon a time” in old Korean tales. An early demo of it was first featured in Diana Cheung’s short documentary “Northern Chirish” a few years ago. Since then, we’ve played it live as a band and continued to build upon the song together.
This time last year we had the brilliant opportunity to be part of Scratch My Progress and we recorded Tiger Song properly in the studio as part of the programme. It was the first track I’ve recorded with permanent band members Dan and Danny. Despite the events of summer, it’s really touching to see how many people connect with the song since it’s been released. I hope people feel a sense of hope when they listen to Tiger Song and are reminded that they aren’t alone.
Have you any more releases or studio time lined up for later in the year?
We’ve been in the studio over the last few months working on some new stuff. We’ll update our socials on what’s coming up next, so give us a follow on @touzaiband wherever. You can expect some new music after the new year.
Tell us about your song writing process.
I have a book where I’ll just write any lyrical idea that comes to mind. It can start off with a couple of words and work from there. Other times, it’ll be a guitar riff and then I’ll see if I can fit in the lyrics after. I’ll then bring these ideas to the band, often an acoustic demo I recorded late at night to get their thoughts on it. The bulk of the song gets captured when we get together during our rehearsals and figure out what we want to present in a live setting and see how everything fits together.
Who were your favourite artists/bands growing up? Have your influences changed over time?
The Smashing Pumpkins and Jane’s Addiction definitely shaped my guitar playing growing up. I used to stick on CDs and figure out the guitar parts by ear and play along.
At the moment I’m really loving NewDad and Fontaines D.C. They’re always in my rotation. I’ve collected all their discography on vinyl over time. Just can’t get enough of them. Think that really sums up our 90’s alternative and modern indie influences.
What’s been your favourite local release from the last twelve months?
It’s a pretty recent release. Ocnus by Reflect. It’s amazing to see a new band do so well and have a clear vision from the start. Also totally here for the revival of 2000’s pop-rock.
If you weren’t musicians, what line of work would we find you in?
I always wanted to be an animator when I was a kid. Art was my main hobby before I found a passion in music. I’d carry sketchbooks around and just draw whenever I felt like it. I actually did work experience at an animation company when I was about fifteen. It just felt like I was really good at this thing for my age, and then expectations started rising, and my age sort of just caught up with my capabilities. Don’t think I took the pressure well and I just fell out of love with it. Guess that’s when music started to become my outlet.
But back to the point, I guess I’d like to go back into the artsy side of things. I still apply it sometimes, like with my cover arts for my singles. To go back into illustrating, animating, all that, now I think would be great.
If you could collaborate with one artist or band from NI, who would it be and why?
Esmeralda Road. Saw them recently and their production and live performance are class. Think with the direction each of our bands are going in, their rawness and our grunge would blend very well.
It is intensely difficult to be successful in the music industry. What does NI need to do to invest in/develop to boost your chances?
The gradual and continuous support from the NI music industry has been really encouraging. The music scene is passionate and the people are dedicated for the love of music. The coverage is small, but not limited. That being said, I feel more awareness should be made for diversity and inclusivity in the scene.
Many people from ethnic minority backgrounds have experienced that they have to work twice as hard, if not more, to get even the slightest bit of exposure. But it’s not a setback. I’ve highlighted the importance of diversity from the beginning of my music career and hope people feel inspired to pursue their passions.
What does success look like for you?
I think success looks like improvement on yourself. You’d be stuck in one place if you compared yourself to others all the time. There’s also a great thing in growing with others. The local music scene is tightly knit and everyone wants each other to do well. It’s a really nice thing to have that sense of community.
You’re going out on tour and can have anything you want on your rider, what would we find on yours?
I’d love to have some bao from a Hong Kong bakery. Importantly, fresh pints of Guinness as soon as we step off of stage.
Where and when can we next catch you live?
We’re stoked to be supporting Beauty Sleep for the Belfast stint of their Whole Damn Cake album tour! November 20th. See you there.
If you enjoyed this feature and fancy discovering some more new artists, we suggest you jump on over to our archive of Introducing pieces.
If you are a band or musician based in Northern Ireland interested in taking part in our Introducing feature, we recommend submitting new music to us via our Contact page and if we enjoy it, you’ll no doubt hear from us.
