Taiwan Grooves

Join me today for a geometry lesson accompanied by music! I will have all three members of the band, How Many Hippos, joining me. The first episode is about how each member learned to play their instruments, how they formed the band, and the story behind their unique name. Additionally, we'll explore the inspiration for their songs, what makes their live performances special, and which song they recommend for newcomers.

How Many Hippos (幾何碼) is a band founded in 2023 by YuChia Wang (bass), Shan Lin (piano), and FlyingPP (drums). The band aims to blend elements of breakbeats, drum and bass, and other electronic rhythms into the mainstream and jazz music scenes.

Their musical inspiration is drawn from images, seeking to interpret various visual concepts through timbre, rhythm, melody, and more. Geometry is the primary visual theme they explore, which is why the keyword "geometry" is emphasized. They also incorporate a variety of sounds as codes to represent visual images that they analyze and integrate into their arrangements, making "code" another significant term. This merging of concepts is what "Geometric Code (幾何碼)" signifies.

In Chinese, "Geometric Code" also has a playful pun that translates to "How Many Hippos."

For more information about the members and their music, please go to:

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Good day and welcome to another episode filled with classical music! Once again, I am joined by Gwhyneth Chen, a Taiwanese-American concert pianist who is widely regarded as one of the foremost pianists of her generation.

Last week, we discussed how she began playing the piano, her early education, and the dedication required for practice. We also explored her work teaching piano to Alzheimer's patients for cognitive benefits, as well as her achievements, including winning a cash prize.

Today, we will continue our discussion by examining the differences between playing solo and with an orchestra. We will highlight the importance of soloists performing from memory, how to manage situations where someone plays from the sheet music, and the necessity of thoroughly understanding the scores. Later, we will delve into the changes that have occurred over time in Taiwan's classical music scene. Lastly, we’ll talk about which genius composer she would choose to have dinner with from any era, along with her album, *Chopin Favorites*.

Ms Gwhyneth Chen (陳毓襄) is a Taiwanese-American pianist who, in 1993, won the biggest cash prize in the history of piano competitions ($100,000.00.) Ms. Chen, then a young lady of 23, was the youngest contestant at the Ivo Pogorelich International Piano Competition. After the award, Mr. Pogorelich himself said of her talent, “She is too good to be true.” Immediately recognized as one of the foremost pianists of her generation, the victory was broadcast internationally on CNN television. In recent years, she has played joint concerts with Ivo Pogorelich in Switzerland and in Taiwan.

Born in Taiwan, Ms Chen emigrated to the United States with her family in 1980, where she continued her musical studies with Eduardo Delgado, Robert Turner, and Aube Tzerko. She received her Bachelor's and Master's of Music degrees from the Juilliard School. While in New York, her teachers were Martin Canin, Byron Janis, and Yin Cheng-Zong.

At the age of 12, she was the first prize winner of the 50-state National Piano Competition, sponsored by the Music Teacher’s National Association. Three years later, she won the National Competition again, setting a record by winning in both Junior High and the Senior High Competitions.

At the age of nineteen, she was a laureate in the 1990 Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition. In 1992, she was once again a laureate, this time in the Prokofieff International Piano Competition. She was the grand prize winner of the International Web Concert Audition Competition in 1999.

A leading Chinese musical figure, Gwhyneth Chen, was included in the 1995 edition of the One Hundred Most Successful Chinese People and appeared in a nationally televised gala concert at the Presidential Palace in the presence of President Lee of Taiwan. In 2002, she was invited to perform and speak in Washington DC during the First Lady Wu Shu-chen’s Peace Journey to the United States. In 2008, she performed at the inaugural festivities for the newly elected President of Taiwan, Ma Ying-jeou.

Ms. Chen represented her country with the Taipei Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Lu Shao-chia, as “the Pride of Taiwan” in the opening concert in the National Grand Theatre (“Steel Egg”) in Beijing, China, to celebrate the 2008 Olympics.

Ms. Chen’s CD on the Chimei label, “Gwhyneth Chen: Chopin Favorites,” celebrating Chopin’s 200th anniversary, won “Best Performance” in the Golden Melody Awards in 2011.

Hello and welcome to the world of classical music! Today, I am excited to be joined by the incredible pianist Gwhyneth Chen, who will share with us what it takes to perform and play concerts at a high level. In the first part of our interview, we will discuss her journey in music, including how she began playing the piano, her early education, and the dedication required to practice to be among the top.

We will also talk about her most nerve-racking performance, the connection between music and health, including her work teaching piano to Alzheimer's patients to help prevent and alleviate symptoms, and her achievements, including winning cash prizes. Finally, we'll explore how her relationship with the piano has evolved and the importance of approaching each piece with a beginner's mindset.

Ms Gwhyneth Chen (陳毓襄) is a Taiwanese-American pianist who, in 1993, won the biggest cash prize in the history of piano competitions ($100,000.00.) Ms. Chen, then a young lady of 23, was the youngest contestant at the Ivo Pogorelich International Piano Competition. After the award, Mr. Pogorelich himself said of her talent, “She is too good to be true.” Immediately recognized as one of the foremost pianists of her generation, the victory was broadcast internationally on CNN television. In recent years, she has played joint concerts with Ivo Pogorelich in Switzerland and in Taiwan.

Born in Taiwan, Ms Chen emigrated to the United States with her family in 1980, where she continued her musical studies with Eduardo Delgado, Robert Turner, and Aube Tzerko. She received her Bachelor's and Master's of Music degrees from the Juilliard School. While in New York, her teachers were Martin Canin, Byron Janis, and Yin Cheng-Zong.

At the age of 12, she was the first prize winner of the 50-state National Piano Competition, sponsored by the Music Teacher’s National Association. Three years later, she won the National Competition again, setting a record by winning in both Junior High and the Senior High Competitions.

At the age of nineteen, she was a laureate in the 1990 Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition. In 1992, she was once again a laureate, this time in the Prokofieff International Piano Competition. She was the grand prize winner of the International Web Concert Audition Competition in 1999.

A leading Chinese musical figure, Gwhyneth Chen, was included in the 1995 edition of the One Hundred Most Successful Chinese People and appeared in a nationally televised gala concert at the Presidential Palace in the presence of President Lee of Taiwan. In 2002, she was invited to perform and speak in Washington DC during the First Lady Wu Shu-chen’s Peace Journey to the United States. In 2008, she performed at the inaugural festivities for the newly elected President of Taiwan, Ma Ying-jeou.

Ms. Chen represented her country with the Taipei Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Lu Shao-chia, as “the Pride of Taiwan” in the opening concert in the National Grand Theatre (“Steel Egg”) in Beijing, China, to celebrate the 2008 Olympics.

Ms. Chen’s CD on the Chimei label, “Gwhyneth Chen: Chopin Favorites,” celebrating Chopin’s 200th anniversary, won “Best Performance” in the Golden Melody Awards in 2011.

Hello, and thank you for joining us to learn more about the band Mild Orange, a dream pop indie rock group from New Zealand. This is the second part of our interview. Last week, we discussed their origins, their relocation, and their current tour that brought them to Taiwan. Today, we will focus on their thoughts about performing their biggest hits, how they put together their setlist, and their expectations for certain songs and how well those songs resonate with their fans.

We will also explore the concept behind their recent album, "The Glow," as well as some of their favorite touring moments and concerts. At the end, they will share insights about the challenges of being touring musicians that are often overlooked, as well as which song they feel best represents the band. So please welcome three members of the band to the studio.

Mild Orange are quietly one of New Zealand’s most influential and globally resonant groups – a band capable of selling out a massive Monday night show in Zagreb, Croatia; debuting songs on a festival stage in Seoul in front of thousands; co-hosting their own free outdoor concert on a beach in Morocco, and even extending their impressive never-ending album tour to finish in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

These types of worldly endeavours are quintessentially Mild Orange, and this is just what the band have been up to in the year since the release of their fourth album ‘The//Glow’ - an album made with viewing life as a beautiful adventure. For The//Glow, the band relocated to London along with their partners, landing themselves in a 9-person flat together. It somehow took the band moving halfway around the world to live in the same city, with London being the only place they could all agree to live in. Much of the album was written while adjusting to living in a city with twice the population of New Zealand, as well as in between extensive touring in North America, Europe, NZ, and Australia.

After finding early viral success from a signature ‘bedroom pop’ sound, the band has continued to step beyond the confines of bedroom walls, now finding themselves with a sound fit for stadiums. The//Glow presents a dual sonic experience: one half delves into heartland rock, capturing the glow of lesser-known roads, while the other explores late-night psych rock, embodying the glow of city lights. It was recorded over a span of 2 years and then meticulously pieced together by frontman and producer Josh Mehrtens.

The//Glow ultimately captures the restless nature, understated charm and independent spirit that defines the band, who at its core are just four friends that share a lot of camaraderie.

For more information about the band, please visit:

https://mildorange.com/

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Join me for the first part of a two-part interview with three members of the New Zealand band Mild Orange! In this episode, we’ll discuss how the band came together, their move to London, and their return to New Zealand for a show after being away for some time. We’ll wrap up the episode by exploring how they achieve certain sounds during their live performances.

Mild Orange are quietly one of New Zealand’s most influential and globally resonant groups – a band capable of selling out a massive Monday night show in Zagreb, Croatia; debuting songs on a festival stage in Seoul in front of thousands; co-hosting their own free outdoor concert on a beach in Morocco, and even extending their impressive never-ending album tour to finish in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

These types of worldly endeavours are quintessentially Mild Orange, and this is just what the band have been up to in the year since the release of their fourth album ‘The//Glow’ - an album made with viewing life as a beautiful adventure. For The//Glow, the band relocated to London along with their partners, landing themselves in a 9-person flat together. It somehow took the band moving halfway around the world to live in the same city, with London being the only place they could all agree to live in. Much of the album was written while adjusting to living in a city with twice the population of New Zealand, as well as in between extensive touring in North America, Europe, NZ, and Australia.

After finding early viral success from a signature ‘bedroom pop’ sound, the band has continued to step beyond the confines of bedroom walls, now finding themselves with a sound fit for stadiums. The//Glow presents a dual sonic experience: one half delves into heartland rock, capturing the glow of lesser-known roads, while the other explores late-night psych rock, embodying the glow of city lights. It was recorded over a span of 2 years and then meticulously pieced together by frontman and producer Josh Mehrtens.

The//Glow ultimately captures the restless nature, understated charm and independent spirit that defines the band, who at its core are just four friends that share a lot of camaraderie.

For more information about the band, please visit:

https://mildorange.com/

Spotify

YouTube

Hello, and thank you for joining me today! Have you ever considered how important music is in movie scenes? Have you ever wondered how it is created? That’s why I am once again joined by Belgian-Taiwanese composer and pianist Thomas Foguenne for the second part of our discussion.

Last week, we explored his early education, the career paths available for composers and film scorers, and the composers he admires. In this episode, we will discuss overcoming creative block, working with multinational clients, and using traditional instruments, along with some of Thomas's work. Let us begin!

Have you ever considered how much better some of our favorite scenes on TV are due to the powerful music that accompanies them? We often become so immersed in the experience that we don’t even think about the music separately; yet, it resonates with us on a deep level. Today, I am joined by Thomas Foguenne, one of the talented composers responsible for this impact. We will discuss his early education, the different career paths available for composers versus film scorers, the composers he admires, and the various approaches he takes in his work.

Thomas Foguenne is a Belgian-Taiwanese composer and pianist based in Belgium and Taiwan.

He holds degrees in composition, piano, chamber music, and harmony from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Mons (Belgium), where he also studied orchestral conducting and electroacoustic music.

In 2024, he won the Taipei Golden Horse Award for Best Film Music for his score for the Singaporean film Stranger Eyes by Yeo Siew Hua, after being nominated the previous year for his work on the Taiwanese film Trouble Girl. He has also been nominated six times for Best Sound in a Film or TV Program at the Golden Bell Awards (Taiwan), with two wins: in 2016 for The Cat in the Closet and in 2018 for The Thorn. In 2021, he received two nominations for Best Film Music at the Taipei Film Awards, and in 2025, he also won the Taipei Film Festival Best Score award for Stranger Eyes, and won the Golden Harvest Award (Taiwan) for his compositions in three short films: In Their Teen, Bin-bin, and Before and After.

He teaches film scoring, music analysis, and classical composition at ARTS² in Mons (Belgium).

For more information about Thomas and his music, please visit:

https://www.thomasfoguenne.com/

Have you ever considered how much better some of our favorite TV scenes are thanks to the powerful music that accompanies them? We often become so immersed in the experience that we don’t even think about the music separately; yet, it resonates with us on a deep level. Today, I am joined by Thomas Foguenne, one of the talented composers responsible for this impact. We will discuss his early education, the different career paths available for composers versus film scorers, the composers he admires, and the various approaches he takes in his work.

Thomas Foguenne is a Belgian-Taiwanese composer and pianist based in Belgium and Taiwan.

He holds degrees in composition, piano, chamber music, and harmony from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Mons (Belgium), where he also studied orchestral conducting and electroacoustic music.

In 2024, he won the Taipei Golden Horse Award for Best Film Music for his score for the Singaporean film Stranger Eyes by Yeo Siew Hua, after being nominated the previous year for his work on the Taiwanese film Trouble Girl. He has also been nominated six times for Best Sound in a Film or TV Program at the Golden Bell Awards (Taiwan), with two wins: in 2016 for The Cat in the Closet and in 2018 for The Thorn. In 2021, he received two nominations for Best Film Music at the Taipei Film Awards, and in 2025, he also won the Taipei Film Festival Best Score award for Stranger Eyes, and won the Golden Harvest Award (Taiwan) for his compositions in three short films: In Their Teen, Bin-bin, and Before and After.

He teaches film scoring, music analysis, and classical composition at ARTS² in Mons (Belgium).

For more information about Thomas and his music, please visit:

https://www.thomasfoguenne.com/

Welcome to the second part of our interview with Joyce! Last week, we discussed her early influences and the music experiences that launched her journey as a songwriter, as well as the realities of pursuing a music career and the various elements that accompany it. Today, we will talk about her latest album, "Talent Flower," and how she developed the concept. We’ll also discuss her collaboration with multiple artists on the album and the meanings behind their work. Key themes include the exchange of talent for love and luck, coping with emotions, and the stories behind some of her songs.

JOYCE 就以斯 is a Taiwanese singer-songwriter who has been making waves in the indie music scene since 2019. With her dreamy vocals and introspective lyrics, she has quickly gained a loyal following. Her music often explores themes of love, loss, and the search for meaning in life.

To know more about Joyce and her music, please visit:

YouTube

IG

Spotify

Hello, and join us for a chat with Taichung's amazing Joyce! Today's episode will include some of her early influences and musical experiences that launched her journey as a songwriter, some of her inspiration for her music, and the reality of pursuing a career in music beyond just playing. At the end, we will also take a sneak peek into Joyce's creative methods.

JOYCE 就以斯 is a Taiwanese singer-songwriter who has been making waves in the indie music scene since 2019. With her dreamy vocals and introspective lyrics, she has quickly gained a loyal following. Her music often explores themes of love, loss, and the search for meaning in life.

To know more about Joyce and her music, please visit:

YouTube

IG

Spotify

Thank you for joining us again for our exciting discussion with Ale Maya for the second time! Today, we will take a look at the concepts Ale has stored in her mind for the upcoming album, as well as get some samples of her existing work with some background info about them. Later, she will share with us her plans for this year and some advice that works for her whenever she finds herself struggling.

Ale Maya is a Paraguayan singer-songwriter based in Taiwan. She crafts retro-inspired indie pop that explores love, identity, and becoming who you are on your own terms. Her first EP was released in 2023, a few singles came out in 2025, and her first album release is scheduled for 2026.

To know more about her music, please visit:

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