LEO37 chuckles when asked how he acquired his nickname "The Sofa King." He retells a "sofa king" story that involves some drunken guys (including himself) hanging out in front of a 7-Eleven at 3am in Taipei. It's not exactly the kind of mischievous caper that you'd expect from a guy with a sophisticated demeanor, but you can't judge a book by its cover, and nor should you judge an MC by his or her ethnicity, because catching LEO37 (aka Leo Shia, a Canada-born Taiwanese) in action just might give you a new take on Taiwan's hip-hop music.
Those who dig the likes of Mushroom Jazz, Ninja Tune, DJ Cam and (((WeFunk))) radio (www.wefunkradio.com) would find LEO37's sound interesting. Having been a radio host for a popular hip-hop show during his college years in Toronto, LEO37 is not only an articulate MC, he's a turntablist and producer in his own right. At 24, he's got two albums and a compilation under his belt. "The first one WINTER was mostly done by [computer] programs but the second one SUMMER was a live [jazz] band recording, " LEO37 says.
His music is diverse and playfully fuses jazz, laid-back hip-hop, electronica and house beats in a unique way. "I think the best way to show respect to the artists you like is to mix up their music and make it sound like something totally new," LEO37 says of his music-making philosophy.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF ALEJANDRO COLLADOS-NUNEZ
LEO37's music style is hard to describe in a few words; knowing that he's a fan of Radiohead, Bjork, Jay Dilla, D'Angelo and Miles Davis gives the uninitiated a hint. In addition to inspiration drawn from the aforementioned artists, LEO37's most significant and direct influences are his two elder brothers (Tim Shia and Howie Shia) whom he plays and makes music with and are also co-owners of his PPF House record label. At a tender age, LEO37 listened to De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest and Black Sheep with his siblings. He followed in their footsteps and learned to play the drums, piano and trumpet
"When I became good enough, my brothers would let me play with their bands," LEO37 said. "It was great experience … and it really forced me into becoming a better musician."
After touring Canada with his band and opening for some of underground hip-hop's biggest acts including Del tha Funky Homosapien, Swollen Members and C-Rayz Walz in Toronto for the last three years, Leo moved to Taiwan shortly after he successfully toured Asia in November. "I'm really happy and excited to be here," he says of life in Taipei. "It feels like home! I love the food and the fact that I look just like everybody else!"
Though it might take a while before LEO37, as a newcomer, gets proper recognition here, it doesn't seem to bug him at all. He's been planning another Asian tour and in the meantime has gigs, including a bi-weekly residency at DP Fashion Bar in Taipei, with his partner Charles every weekend until the end of May.
Check out www.myspace.com/leo37 and www.ppfhouse.com or catch LEO37 live at PS Cafe, 181, Dunhua S Rd, Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市敦化南路一段181號) tonight; The Sportsman, 26, Ln 403, Sanmin Rd, Changua City (彰化市三民路403巷26號) on March 29; Spring Scream, Kenting (墾丁), on April 6; and DP Fashion Bar, 18, Ln 27, Renai Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市仁愛路四段27巷18號) on April 12.
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