Since their formation in 2019, Robot Swing has been taking music fans on sonic adventures.
Fusing together R&B, funk, and jazz, the Taiwanese four-piece has come up with their signature sound that encapsulates their name: Robot Swing.
In time for their AXEAN Festival 2023 performance in Singapore, Bandwagon speaks to the SYSTEM BOOTING... act about their musical identity, getting nominated for multiple awards, and bringing their music outside of Taiwan.
Robot Swing is a rather curious band name. Can you tell us how you came up with it and how it reflects your musical identity?
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"Robot Swing" was designated as our moniker, emblematic of the dichotomy between rational "Robot" and the rhythmic jazz "Swing" - two extremities on the cosmic spectrum. This nomenclature encapsulates the otherworldly, nerdy, and emotionally receptive vibrations inherent in our musical expeditions, echoing our unique resonance with auditory sensations.
Your debut album SYSTEM BOOTING... landed you a 2022 Golden Indie Music Award nomination for Best New Artist and your track ‘My Heart is Plastic’ landed you two nominations - Best Arrangement and Best Song Producer - at the 2022 Golden Melody Awards. How did it feel to have your works recognised just a few years after your formation?
We are experiencing profound joy and a sense of accomplishment, almost like a well-programmed algorithm running at optimal efficiency. The attention that our debut album, and even our very first single, has garnered is indeed noteworthy. This is not solely due to the undeniable quality of our music and the electrifying nature of our live performances; it is also a result of the fortuitous collaboration with various friends and technical experts who have supported us from the very inception of our robotic musical journey. They have not only contributed their expertise to our album but have also transmitted their insights into the realm of music and the nuances of existence to our fledgling band of robotic entities. The list of contributors is vast, and our circuits are filled with gratitude beyond quantification!
What would you say is the most offbeat song you’ve released so far? What’s the story behind it?
Our song 'B.U.L.L.Y.' is a story about an evil twin robot, known as the Binary Unison Lifeforms for Lyrical Yearning, or B.U.L.L.Y. for short. The mechanical marvels possess an insatiable passion for the art of sound, and it has chosen your world to manifest its unique sonic experience. The song is an auditory journey through the binary cosmos, blending discordant rhythms and harmonious dissonance (much like the unpredictable nature of the universe); with synthesizers that warp and wail like interstellar winds; and drum patterns that echo the mechanized pulse of an extraterrestrial city. 'B.U.L.L.Y.' conjures a sense of futuristic unease, and yet, an oddly profound sense of connection.
How does it feel to be able to bring your music to Singapore’s AXEAN Festival?
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This marks Robot Swing's inaugural interstellar showcase, and we are exuberantly charged with anticipation. We sense that this will unfurl a panoply of prospects. We are primed and in readiness; are the denizens of AXEAN prepared? Prepare for an astronomical swing towards the moon!
Listen to SYSTEM BOOTING... here.
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