Globetrotting DJs who have never been to Taiwan usually have very little information before they arrive except for what the promoters or their managers tell them about the local delicacies. Giraffage (real name Charlie Yin), the producer who will be playing his version of twisted R&B tonight at Korner, knows the ins and outs of the country very well because he attended National Taiwan University (國立臺灣大學) for a semester via a study abroad program during his time at UC Berkeley.
A bit of an outcast at school, Giraffage turned inward and started producing music on his computer as an outlet for expressing himself. His alter ego, Giraffage, makes R&B music, but nothing like Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder or Aretha Franklin of years ago. Instead, he takes the vocal tracks of superstars like Janet Jackson or Keith Sweat, slows them down or speeds them up, and then creates sonic masterpieces with hand claps, boom baps and stuttered drum rolls behind them. The result is strangely familiar but borders on symphonic chaos.
Recently, Giraffage signed with A-Trak’s label, Fool’s Gold, and released a five-track EP, No Reason. There are no big vocal samples on the EP, but there is a melange of different noises from finger snaps to iPhone beeps and blurps which makes the songs highly danceable.
Photo courtesy of Ultra Dance Society
Giraffage got into R&B in elementary and junior high school, when he would rush home, turn to the local music channel and watch videos for hours each night instead of doing homework. The idea of being in a band intrigued him, but he soon decided that producing on the laptop was much easier.
“I don’t have to rely on anyone else, and I can literally just make music anytime I want from the comforts of my home in my underwear,” Giraffage said in an e-mail interview with the Taipei Times.
A surreal dream literally came true for Giraffage a few months ago when he found himself in the studio with R&B artist The Dream — the songwriter behind some of the biggest hits of the 2000s such as Justin Bieber’s Baby and Rihanna’s Umbrella.
Photo courtesy of Ultra Dance Society
For tonight’s show at Korner, the audience can expect Giraffage’s set to be mostly originals with a few classics thrown in. For his performances, he takes time to craft specialized versions of each of his songs so that it doesn’t feel as if people are just sitting at home and listening to a Giraffage album.
As for the rest of his time here, Giraffage said that he would spend it enjoying what Taiwan is known for around the world.
“I’m really excited to eat everything everywhere,” Giraffage said.
Ultra Dance Society presents TWISTED TASTE Vol. II featuring Giraffage tonight from 11:30pm to 5am at Korner, 200, Roosevelt Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路四段200號B1). Admission is NT$1,000 at the door and includes a drink.
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