Embracing Austronesian roots: Exploring Mong Tong's new album Tao Fire 道火.

Mong Tong, the Taiwanese band known for their unique blend of Southeast Asian influences and boundary-pushing music, is gearing up for the release of their highly anticipated album, Tao Fire 道火. In this exclusive Q&A, the band sheds light on the concept and inspiration behind the album, their creative process, and their role in Taiwan's evolving musical landscape.

Congratulations on the upcoming release of your new album Tao Fire 道火. Could you tell us more about the concept and inspiration behind the album and how it differs from your previous work Indies 印? 

MT: The name of Indies 印 comes from the history of East Indies, so it’s more like a new beginning of Mong Tong finding our roots. And ”Tao Fire 道火“ as an full-length album, it’s like making a deep dive into Austronesian local attractions.

The first single from the album ‘Forest Show’ introduces listeners to the sonic landscape of Tao Fire 道火. Can you share the story behind this particular track and what it represents within the context of the album?

MT:  “Tao Fire 道火”  is an album about the heat, humidity & excitement from the subtropics. “Forest Show” the name says all itself, so choose this track as the first single of the album. So this is the best one for people to enjoy the sensation & vibe.

Mong Tong's music is heavily influenced by Southeast Asian culture, including mythology and folklore. How do these cultural elements shape your sound and creative process?

MT: The most challenging part was that we needed to learn the compositional methods from the local music, including the pieces we sampled, then reinterpret them. We don’t have a predetermined outcome in mind, as the final album naturally evolves and develops its own unique identity.

Tao Fire 道火 incorporates local instruments such as gamelan, phin guitar, tabla drums, and Taiwan sisomi. Can you discuss the significance of these instruments and how they contribute to the overall sonic palette of the album?

MT: What if all these instruments are very popular within pop music? Like they play the most important roles in modern music, instead of guitar solos or lead vocals. We guess you can say that's the significance and our intention to do that.

The album explores different folk sounds around Austronesia, sampling sounds from street events and traditional celebrations. How do these diverse cultural sounds blend together in your music, and what do you hope to convey through this fusion?

MT: As a fan of World Music, somehow the perspective behind it is too Western for us. Culture gaps are unavoidable, thus people get lost in interpretation easily. We are trying our best to introduce our culture & point of view as a local Asian band.

Mong Tong has been described as part of a new wave of Taiwanese music that draws on the country's rich cultural heritage while pushing boundaries and exploring new sonic territory. How do you see your music contributing to this evolving musical landscape in Taiwan?

MT: The West is running out of originalities for us, so it’s our huge advantage to introduce something deeper to the world. Not only ours but every culture is certainly different and has its own charm. That’s always what we wanna say!

Your music videos and album artwork are visually striking and captivating. Can you discuss the importance of visual aesthetics in conveying the mood and themes of your music?

MT: Our visual art is mostly collage art, which is very similar to sound sampling. We can combine anything we love together into our pieces. There’s no secret behind how we make art, we can only make sure to do everything by ourselves as possible, then all these puzzles can connect to each other perfectly.

Your band name, Mong Tong, is derived from your childhood nickname. Could you share the story behind the name and how it represents your identity and musical journey as a band?

MT: We had a popular a in childhood call 1, 2, 3 木頭人, similar to the 1st game in Korean series Squid Game. We brother called this game 矇瞳, which means “cover your vision”, and it pronounced “Mong Tong” in Mandarin.

The psychedelic genre is known for its exploration of otherworldly atmospheres. How do you strive to create these dreamy and hypnotic elements in your music, and what do you hope listeners experience when they immerse themselves in your soundscapes?

MT: Our music primarily takes the form of electronic music presented in various cultural packages. If listeners can find elements they enjoy within it, they can dig deeper into those contents on their own. It would be wonderful if this leads to a newfound appreciation for different ethnic groups.

Tao Fire 道火 is said to take the listener to a subtropical world that is both familiar and fresh. How does the album capture the essence of this environment, and what emotions or sensations do you aim to evoke through the music?

MT: Rather than the image we receive from Hollywood or Nat Geo, we try to tell people that we also have nice parties with nice tunes here. Maybe not the one you are used to, but that’s why you should try it with us!

Mong Tong has gained attention for its unique fashion sense and stage outfits. How do you approach visual presentation as a band, and how does it enhance the overall experience for your live performances?

MT: After almost every show there must be someone asking us if we can see it clearly through the blindfold, then we can explain our cultural reference (Taoist blindfolded ritual). This is our chance to have a nice conversation with our fans face to face, in order to give something else rather than just entertainment. This means much more for us! 

As part of Guruguru Brain, you're part of a label known for promoting diverse and boundary-pushing music. How has this collaboration influenced your artistic growth and the direction of your music?

MT: As an Amsterdam-based Asian label, they gave us many opportunities and we are really grateful for that! It’s still a huge challenge for most of the local Asian artists to promote ourselves outside of Asia, and that’s why we are still learning how.  

Looking ahead, what are your aspirations and goals for Mong Tong? Are there any specific musical or creative endeavors you hope to explore in the future?

MT: We will start our world tour next month, from China, Japan, Australia to Europe, and more info TBA! At the same time our next EP is called “ˇ30”, will experimenting on the percussion and its timbre, hope to release it in this December.