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Elusive singer opens up at Witch's

Chen Chian-nian, who picked up Best Male Performer at the 11th Golden Melody Awards, is back after a stint on Orchid Island to share his experience of nature. PHOTO COURTESY OF TCM

Chen Chian-nian (陳建年) is one of the most elusive popular singers in Taiwan. Few had heard of his name or his album Ocean until 2000, almost a year after its release, and that was only because he beat out other higher-profile pop stars for Best Male Performer at the 11th Golden Melody Awards (金曲獎).

Since then, the story of Pur Dur, Chen's Aboriginal name, the musician, police officer and nature lover who lived quietly in the Taitung hills began to emerge in the media.

Instead of quickly churning out more albums on the strength of his sudden fame, the usual practice in Taiwan's pop music scene, Chen chose to avoid the media spotlight altogether by applying for a transfer to Orchid Island. There, Chen resumed his quiet lifestyle made up of police duty, fishing, diving and music making.

Except for occasional tour groups visiting him and asking for his autograph, Chen's life was largely undisturbed on the island.

Mother Earth (大地), released two months ago, is the result of Chen's three years as a recluse on the island.

Love of Earth, which Chen wrote with his fans in mind, is the track that best illustrates the change in his life since his first album.

"My decision to transfer to Orchid Island was quite a shock for people around me, but that was the step I had to take for myself and my creative career ? People often talk about getting closer to nature but few can do so. Here I can enjoy solitude in the midst of nature. How lucky I am. Maybe there are fascinating things in cities too, but I believe life in nature suits me best," Chen said.

Other tracks document aspects of his daily life. Balaba is a musical portrait of the city life Chen experienced when he was in Taipei preparing his first album. You Are Heaven (for my Wife and Children) is a collaboration with a friend, who was about to become a father at the time the album was being prepared, as indeed Chen was. Their genuine affection for their families is evident in the song.

In Mother Earth, fans will find Chen has matured as a musician. Repelled by the idea of "singing into a machine," Chen was not comfortable recording in a studio. The past two years has changed that. Not only has Chen become more at ease with recording studios, he also demands higher recording quality.

Experimenting with different musical genres, Chen fused cool jazz, bossa nova and blues into his characteristic folk style. The sounds of nature accompanying the music on the album were recorded on Orchid Island. You can hear the sound of shepherds' piping, the roar of bulls and the sounds of children's laughter in this visually rich album.

Overall, the tone is very mellow, with lots of New Age touches, but Chen manages to defy too-easy pigeon-holing.

To present a more authentic Aboriginal flavor, Chen made a vibraphone out of bamboo gathered in the mountains of Taitung. The sound of this handmade instrument can be heard on the track The Heart of Taitung is an Orchid which is dedicated to his hometown.

Chen Chian-nian will perform at 10pm at Witch's House today. Tickets are NT$250 at the door. For more information, call Witch's at (02) 23625494.
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