Sunset Rollercoaster

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Sunset Rollercoaster
Background information
OriginTaipei, Taiwan
GenresJazz, funk, disco, synth-pop
Years active2009–2011, 2015–present
Members
  • Kuo-Hung Tseng (vocals, guitar)
  • Hung-Li Chen (bass)
  • Shao-Hsuan Wang (keyboard)
  • Tsun-Lung Lo (drums)
  • Hao-Ting Huang (saxophone)
Past membersShih-Wei Huang (percussion)
Websitesunsetrollercoaster.com
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese落日飛車

Sunset Rollercoaster (Chinese: 落日飛車 Luòrì fēichē) is a 5-piece jazz-influenced synth-pop band from Taipei, Taiwan, consisting of Kuo-Hung Tseng (vocals, guitar), Hung-Li Chen (bass), Shao-Hsuan Wang (keyboard), Tsun-Lung Lo (drums), and Hao-Ting Huang (saxophone)—previously with Shih-Wei Huang (percussion). The name originated from a Photo Booth picture the group had taken for their MySpace profile in 2009, which had a rollercoaster in front of a sunset as the background.[1][2] The band mostly sings in English, despite being based in a Mandarin-speaking country, which, according to lead singer Kuo Kuo, is to allow them to speak indirectly and allow audiences to discern their own meaning.[3]

History[edit]

The idea for the band was inspired by Velvet Underground videos that lead singer Kuo found on the internet. The band formed in 2009 as a trio composed of Tseng Kuo Hung, Kevin Lee, and Lo Zun Long; they released their debut album Bossa Nova in 2011, but then disbanded shortly afterward. Singer Kuo Kuo and drummer Lo Tsun formed another band, Forests, with a different, much darker sound. Sunset Rollercoaster reformed in 2015[4] and released their second album Cassa Nova in 2018.[5] In 2019, the band released the EP Vanilla Villa, which revolves around the story of an alien who loves a human whom it wants to take to a villa.[6]

The band played at the Summer Sonic music festival in Japan in 2011.[7] After their hiatus, they performed at SummerStage in Central Park, New York City, as part of the Taiwanese Waves music festival in 2017.[3] They recorded a live studio session at Audiotree in 2018, the first Taiwanese band to do so.[8] The band toured North America as part of the "Business Trip Tour" in 2018.[9][10]

In early 2020, Kuo-Hung Tseng wrote in Los Angeles lyrics for Soft Storm and recorded in part with Ned Doheny.[11] Their 2020 album Soft Storm was named the 4th best album in Asia in 2020 by NME.[12]

They composed 3 songs featured in the anime Sonny Boy.

Discography[edit]

Studio albums[edit]

  • Bossa Nova (2011)
  • Cassa Nova (2018)
  • Soft Storm (2020)

Extended play[edit]

  • Jinji Kikko (2016)
  • Vanilla Villa (2019)

Singles[edit]

  • Villa (Jerry Paper Remix) (2019)
  • 我是一隻魚 I’m a fish (cover, 2019)
  • Candlelight (feat. Oh Hyuk, 2020)
  • 小薇 (cover, 2021)
  • 忘情水 (cover, 2021)
  • Coffee's on Me (2021)
  • Let There Be Light Again (2021)
  • 滾石40 滾石撞樂隊 40團拚經典 - 愛錯 (cover, 2021)
  • 金牛座的牢騷 (cover, 2022)
  • Little Balcony (2022)
  • Jellyfish (feat. Michael Seyer, 2022)
  • Impossible Isle (2022)
  • Levia (2023)
  • Balloon (cover/remake, 2023)

Awards[edit]

Year Award Category Recipients Result Ref.
2018 9th Golden Indie Music Awards Best Album Cassa Nova Nominated [13]
Best Band Sunset Rollercoaster Nominated
Best Musician Tseng Kuo-Hung Nominated
2019 30th Golden Melody Awards Best Music Video Namso, Youkim ("Slow") Won [14][15]
Best Band Sunset Rollercoaster Nominated
2021 32nd Golden Melody Awards Best Band Sunset Rollercoaster Won [16][17]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Vukmanovic, Iris (October 14, 2019). "Review: Sunset Rollercoaster's Pie Shop concert was out of this world". The Diamondback. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  2. ^ Vukmanovic, Iris (October 3, 2019). "Preview: Taiwanese Sunset Rollercoaster performing to sold-out show in D.C." The Diamondback. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  3. ^ a b Milano, Brett (September 21, 2018). "Sunset Rollercoaster swoops through '80s synth-pop". Boston Herald. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  4. ^ Fisher, Rachel (December 3, 2018). "Get to Know the Dreamy 5-Member Band Sunset Rollercoaster". WIUX. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  5. ^ Raygoza, Isabela (August 10, 2016). "Riding the Taiwanese Soul Whirlwind with Sunset Rollercoaster". Bandcamp. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  6. ^ Martin, Clare (May 1, 2019). "Daily Dose: Sunset Rollercoaster, "Villa"". Paste. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  7. ^ "SUNSET ROLLERCOASTER". Summer Sonic.
  8. ^ "落日飛車 Sunset Rollercoaster". Audiotree.
  9. ^ Lindsay, Cam (October 17, 2020). "Sunset Rollercoaster Horseshoe Tavern, Toronto ON, October 16". Exclaim!. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  10. ^ Ely, Paulette (October 10, 2019). "Sunset Rollercoaster- Villa (Jerry Paper Remix)". Flaunt. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  11. ^ "SOFT STORM, by Sunset Rollercoaster". Sunset Rollercoaster 落日飛車. Retrieved 2021-09-26.
  12. ^ "The 25 best Asian albums of 2020". NME. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  13. ^ "第9屆金音創作獎入圍名單" [9th Golden Indie Awards Nominees]. Ministry of Culture, Taiwan. September 17, 2019. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  14. ^ "第30屆金曲獎流行音樂類入圍名單" [30th Golden Melody Awards Nominees]. Ministry of Culture, Taiwan. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  15. ^ "第30屆金曲獎流行音樂類得獎名單" [30th Golden Melody Awards Winners]. Ministry of Culture, Taiwan. June 29, 2019. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  16. ^ TTV. "第32屆金曲獎頒獎典禮 - 入圍暨得獎名單" [30th Golden Melody Awards Winners]. Ministry of Culture, Taiwan (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  17. ^ Chiang, Yi-ching (August 21, 2021). "Indie quintet Sunset Rollercoaster wins best band at Golden Melody Awards". Focus Taiwan. Retrieved August 24, 2021.

External links[edit]