Pop newcomer Nylon Chen (陳乃榮) will perform in a concert, titled One Man Nakashi (一個人的那卡西), in support of his sophomoric album Same Species (同種異類).
Chen will bring two albums’ worth of songs and his acting experience to his Legacy Taipei concert today at 4pm.
“Writing a song is like falling in love,” Chen told the Taipei Times. “You have to safeguard that precious instinct or the politics of the music business will rob you of it.”
The actor/singer/songwriter released his debut album Paradise in 2009, and quickly achieved pop idol status. Determined to become a bona fide songwriter, he spent three years writing one song per week, accumulating over 100 songs before releasing his follow-up album Same Species.
The title track is a rock-tinged anthem that asserts Chen’s determination to pursue his music dream. Heard (聽見) is a J-pop influenced ballad about receiving the pledge of a lover. Despite his good looks, the albums’ songs reveal a musician dealing with personal struggles.
“There is only one song that you could call happy,” Chen said. “I’m the sort of person who is always contemplating and questioning.”
Chen calls himself a “musical zhainan” (音樂宅男) because similar to zhainan (“home boys”) — so-called because they live with their parents and play computer games all day and night — he spends his whole day playing and writing music, often forgetting to eat meals or go to the toilet. “If not for acting and commercial gigs, I’d never leave the house,” he quipped.
Because of his matinee idol good looks, Chen has acted in numerous television commercials as well as seven television dramas, including Beauty’s Dragon Hot Spring (美人龍湯).
Still, Chen is not your average packaged pop star. He enjoys the spontaneity of performing live, and has spent a lot of time playing in bars and clubs to perfect his stage persona.
“I love the organic feeling of performing live and interacting with other musicians,” he said.
One Man Nakashi (一個人的那卡西), today at 4pm at Legacy Taipei (傳音樂展演空間), located at Huashan 1914 Creative Park (華山1914), Center Five Hall (中五館), 1, Bade Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市八德路一段1號). Tickets are NT$600 and NT$800, and are available through 7-Eleven ibon kiosks or at www.tickets.com.tw.
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