Chinatown rock

It’s OK, you don’t have to feel bad for reverting to racial stereotypes when confronted with an all-Asian band called The Slants. In fact, that is what Simon Young, Aron, Gaijin, Johnny and Tyler Chen intended when they formed the group in 2006. Since then they have been boasting an all-Asian line up, cranking out a hybrid of electronic rock aimed equally at dance floors and rock clubs. Young, bass player for The Slants, was able to sit down with the Vanguard earlier this week and talk over the finer points of Portland’s foremost Asian rockers.

Daily Vanguard: When did the band form? And how?
Simon Young: The band formed in fall of 2006 when [I] and Gaijin started working together. Originally, [I] had been posting ads for Asian musicians for quite some time but things didn’t get rolling until they started writing and recording music. Shortly after that, the rest of the lineup was formed and the band began aggressively touring the country.

DV: So what is the story behind the band name?
SY: The band’s name is a tongue-in-cheek reference to our slanted eyes. Many of us grew up having other kids taunt us, saying, “Chinese, Japanese, look at these” and then having the kids pull their eyes back. We decided to be proud of the trait. Having slanted eyes is actually a beautiful thing!

DV: How would you describe the sound of The Slants?
SY: Chinatown dance rock. It’s our self-proclaimed style of music that encompasses the spirit of the band—a slight mixture of our Asian heritage with music that makes you want to move.

DV: Is there a certain style or genre you are aiming for, or does the music naturally fall into place?
SY: We generally just write songs. It kind of naturally leans toward a certain sound in our heads, though we generally don’t limit ourselves. We at least like to explore different sounds and see how they work in a live setting with all of the band members there.

DV: What can an audience expect from a Slants show?
SY: An audience can definitely expect the most energetic, passionate, fun performance they have ever seen in a band. We really go all out and often say that it wasn’t a good show if one of us doesn’t end up bleeding.

DV: Have there been any shows that stand out in the band’s memory?
SY: Probably the first anime convention that we played. There was [sic] about 800 kids there packed in a room, going crazy for the band. It was the biggest show that any of us have ever played and it was only the band’s sixth show.

DV: How do you view yourselves in the Portland music scene? What is your view of the Portland music scene?
SY: We definitely stand out in the Portland scene. We’re one of the only bands of color and definitely the only Asian band in this genre. It seems that most of the Portland scene caters to indie hipster rock but more and more acts are starting to appear, bringing greater diversity of sounds to the scene.

DV: Outside of the band and music, what are you interested in?
SY: We love having “cultural” days by supporting local businesses—eating, shopping and visiting places like the Portland Chinese or Japanese gardens. However, between our day jobs and the band, we hardly have any free time to enjoy these things!

DV: Where do you see The Slants going? Where would you like to take The Slants?
SY: We’d love to be doing this band full time, touring and recording and taking the Asian-American entertainment industry to a new level.

This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity