The Hsu-nami
Encyclopedia
The Hsu-nami is an international renowned progressive rock
band from the United States
. The Hsu-nami, named after the frontman Jack Hsu, became known as the first "Progressive Erhu Rock" band in the world.
The Hsu-nami integrates an amplified "erhu", a two-string spike fiddle
used in Chinese classical and folk music, into an instrumental progressive rock sound. Their music is marked by virtuosic erhu melodies and shredding licks, in place of vocals, as intertwined by heavy guitar riffs, tasteful guitar solos, funky rhythms, and metal-driven rock drumming. Part of the new-fusion rock movement, the Hsu-nami redefines the 1960s and 1970s fusion rock sound.
outfit "Bleed the Stone". The members met in the musical circle of Ramapo College of New Jersey. The name Hsu-nami was derived from the nickname of frontman Jack Hsu. Their touring career started at the momentous last night of CBGB
's, and has included opening for international acts such as ChthoniC
, Yellowcard
, Nightmare of You
, The Parlor Mob
, World Leader Pretend, and Jet Lag Gemini
. Hsu-nami's original rhythm guitarist, Vinny Belcastro, left the band to form pop rock
band "Fifteen Fleeting" in the spring of 2008.Tony Aichele Hsu-nami's 2nd rhythm guitarist also left the band after 3 years for work related reasons in the summer of 2011.
The band's first successful song was "Rising of the Sun." It was featured in the 2008 Summer Olympic in Beijing
. It was used specifically as the entrance theme for the Chinese Basketball team. The song was also used during walk-ins, timeouts, and was incorporated with a martial arts routine during halftime.
In November 2008, Hsu-nami was featured on the MTV IGGY show "Radar", a television show that features up and coming world music artists. It aired on MTV 2, MTV U, MTV Australia, MTV Hong Kong, and many others.
The Hsu-nami have performed internationally. Touring the whole country of Taiwan starting from the famous Spring Scream festival in Kenting to Kaoshung, Taichung & Taipei in April 2011. Other festivals they performed are Taiwan Fest held at the Toronto Harbor Front Centre, Vancouver's Plaza of Nations, Coalition of Asian Pacific Americans Festival (CAPA Fest), the Passport 2 Taiwan Festival at Union Square NYC, and the Asian Film Festival (ACV/AAIFF). The Hsu-nami has also played at many conventions including: Tekkoshocon
(Pittsburg, PA), ArmegediCon (Columbus, Ohio), Another AnimeCon (Nashua, New Hampshire), Tandokucon, Zenkaikon
(the Philadelphia area), PortConMaine
(Portland, Maine) and Sakura Con (Seattle, Washington).
The group has headlined many clubs and venues such as the Stone Pony (Asbury Park NJ), the Mexicali Blues Cafe (Teaneck, NJ), Brooklyn Bowl (Brooklyn, NY), Highline Ballroom (Manhattan, NY), Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre (East Meadow, NY), the Trocadero Theatre
(Philadelphia, PA) and CBGB
in (Manhattan, NY).
The band also support a lot of charity performed for organizations such as Ronald McDonald House. and also organize their own charity concerts in 2009 they raise money for Typhoon marokot victims and in 2011 they raised money for Japan Earthquake/Tsunami victims.
The first track of the CD, titled "Rising of the Sun", was featured in the 2008 Summer Olympics
in Beijing
representing the 2008 Chinese Basketball Team.
Jim Beckerman from The Bergen Record wrote a feature published 08/10/08 regarding the Hsu-nami's music feature in the Beijing Summer Olympics. When the story was picked up by the Associated Press, Hsu-nami instantly received national coverage from media outlets such as WCBS 880, 1010 wins, Fort Mill Times, NJ.com, Philly.com, redorbit.com, spokesmanreview.com, NBC sports, USA Today, International Herald Tribune (the global edition of the New York Times).
Because Hsu-nami's Music represented the Chinese basketball team and Front man Jack Hsu is Taiwanese-American, the Taiwan Organization in New York did not warmly congratulate the band for its success. This is because of the global political issue of conflict between Taiwan and China regarding the violation of IOC rules and calling Taiwan "Taipei, China". They believe China oppresses the Taiwanese people, Tibet and many others. In an interview on MuchMusic, Jack Hsu was quoted, "The struggles suffered by the Taiwanese people are, of course, terrible, but that's only if you truly believe any of those conflicts occurred in the first place. The past is past. I look forward and have no problem with China especially when they want one of our songs!"
The songs on the 2nd album were also inpired by different occurrences in the band members' lives. In an interview with Chinese World Journal, Jack mentioned "The new album song title 'Passport to Taiwan' is a medley of 'dark sky', 'throw pen' and 'missing spring wind' (3 Taiwanese popular Traditional Tunes) rearranged from traditional to the raw hard rock/punk rock style." The song 'Luxy NYE' was inspired by Hsu's visit to Taipei, Taiwan celebrating New Year's feeling.
The Hsu-nami's lineup underwent one change during the time between "Entering the Mandala" and "the Four Noble Truths". This explains why the track "Moonlight" features Adam Toth on piano while keys for the rest of the album are played by Dana Goldberg, a new arrival to The Hsu-nami in 2009.
Jack was also quoted "comparable to death metal band Chthonic (also from Taiwan), The Hsu-nami want to put out a message of peace and friendship, shying away from the Political and negative perspectives."
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
band from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The Hsu-nami, named after the frontman Jack Hsu, became known as the first "Progressive Erhu Rock" band in the world.
The Hsu-nami integrates an amplified "erhu", a two-string spike fiddle
Huqin
Huqin is a family of bowed string instruments, more specifically, a spike fiddle popularly used in Chinese music. The instruments consist of a round, hexagonal, or octagonal sound box at the bottom with a neck attached that protrudes upwards...
used in Chinese classical and folk music, into an instrumental progressive rock sound. Their music is marked by virtuosic erhu melodies and shredding licks, in place of vocals, as intertwined by heavy guitar riffs, tasteful guitar solos, funky rhythms, and metal-driven rock drumming. Part of the new-fusion rock movement, the Hsu-nami redefines the 1960s and 1970s fusion rock sound.
History
The group was formed in 2005 from the remnants of the acoustic Duo "Genso Fantasia" and power metalPower metal
Power metal is a style of heavy metal combining characteristics of traditional metal with speed metal, often within symphonic context. The term refers to two different but related styles: the first pioneered and largely practiced in North America with a harder sound similar to speed metal, and a...
outfit "Bleed the Stone". The members met in the musical circle of Ramapo College of New Jersey. The name Hsu-nami was derived from the nickname of frontman Jack Hsu. Their touring career started at the momentous last night of CBGB
CBGB
CBGB was a music club at 315 Bowery at Bleecker Street in the borough of Manhattan in New York City.Founded by Hilly Kristal in 1973, it was originally intended to feature its namesake musical styles, but became a forum for American punk and New Wave bands like Ramones, Misfits, Television, the...
's, and has included opening for international acts such as ChthoniC
Chthonic (band)
Chthonic is a Taiwanese metal band, formed in 1995 in Taipei. The group incorporates influences from traditional Taiwanese music including the classical Asian instrument erhu...
, Yellowcard
Yellowcard
Yellowcard is an American pop punk/alternative rock band formed in Jacksonville, Florida in 1997, and based in Los Angeles, California since 2000. Their music features the use of a violin, unusual for the genre...
, Nightmare of You
Nightmare of You
Nightmare of You is an American indie-rock band from New York City. Formed in 2004, the band currently consists of original founder vocalist Brandon Reilly, guitarist Joseph McCaffrey, and drummer Michael Fleischmann....
, The Parlor Mob
The Parlor Mob
The Parlor Mob is a rock band founded in New Jersey in 2004 and named after a notorious 19th Century gang. The band consists of singer Mark Melicia, guitarists David Rosen and Paul Ritchie, drummer Sam Bey and bassist Anthony Chick.-Formation & Capitol Records:The original members of The Parlor...
, World Leader Pretend, and Jet Lag Gemini
Jet Lag Gemini
Jet Lag Gemini is a rock band from the United States. Formed in 2004, they released their debut EP, Business, in the summer of 2006. Their first full-length album, "Fire the Cannons" was released on January 22, 2008...
. Hsu-nami's original rhythm guitarist, Vinny Belcastro, left the band to form pop rock
Pop rock
Pop rock is a music genre which mixes a catchy pop style and light lyrics in its guitar-based rock songs. There are varying definitions of the term, ranging from a slower and mellower form of rock music to a subgenre of pop music...
band "Fifteen Fleeting" in the spring of 2008.Tony Aichele Hsu-nami's 2nd rhythm guitarist also left the band after 3 years for work related reasons in the summer of 2011.
The band's first successful song was "Rising of the Sun." It was featured in the 2008 Summer Olympic in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
. It was used specifically as the entrance theme for the Chinese Basketball team. The song was also used during walk-ins, timeouts, and was incorporated with a martial arts routine during halftime.
In November 2008, Hsu-nami was featured on the MTV IGGY show "Radar", a television show that features up and coming world music artists. It aired on MTV 2, MTV U, MTV Australia, MTV Hong Kong, and many others.
Tekkoshocon
Tekkoshocon is an anime convention in the Pittsburgh Metro Area. Tekkoshocon is run by the non-profit organization Tekkoshocon, Inc. The convention's name is a blend of the Japanese word tekkosho, meaning steel mill, and adapting the suffix "-con" , which is a common nomenclature archetype among...
(Pittsburg, PA), ArmegediCon (Columbus, Ohio), Another AnimeCon (Nashua, New Hampshire), Tandokucon, Zenkaikon
Zenkaikon
Zenkaikon is an anime convention that was formed by the merger of two Philadelphia-area events -- the anime and science fiction convention Zentrancon , and the anime convention Kosaikon...
(the Philadelphia area), PortConMaine
PortConMaine
PortConMaine is an annual anime and gaming convention held in the summer in Portland, Maine. Founded by Julie York, it has been held every year since 2002 and hosts many anime and gaming events such as anime screenings, an anime music video contest, a masquerade, guest panels, workshops, game...
(Portland, Maine) and Sakura Con (Seattle, Washington).
The group has headlined many clubs and venues such as the Stone Pony (Asbury Park NJ), the Mexicali Blues Cafe (Teaneck, NJ), Brooklyn Bowl (Brooklyn, NY), Highline Ballroom (Manhattan, NY), Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre (East Meadow, NY), the Trocadero Theatre
Trocadero Theatre
The Trocadero Theatre, opened as the Arch Street Opera House in 1870, is a historic theater, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Over the years, it has offered musical comedies, vaudeville and burlesque. Burlesque performer Mara Gaye performed at the Troc in the 1950s...
(Philadelphia, PA) and CBGB
CBGB
CBGB was a music club at 315 Bowery at Bleecker Street in the borough of Manhattan in New York City.Founded by Hilly Kristal in 1973, it was originally intended to feature its namesake musical styles, but became a forum for American punk and New Wave bands like Ramones, Misfits, Television, the...
in (Manhattan, NY).
The band also support a lot of charity performed for organizations such as Ronald McDonald House. and also organize their own charity concerts in 2009 they raise money for Typhoon marokot victims and in 2011 they raised money for Japan Earthquake/Tsunami victims.
Entering the Mandala
The Hsu-nami's first album, "Entering the Mandala" was named after the closing track of the CD. The song was inspired by the Tibetan Buddhist belief in the quest for the highest level of enlightenment.The first track of the CD, titled "Rising of the Sun", was featured in the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
representing the 2008 Chinese Basketball Team.
Jim Beckerman from The Bergen Record wrote a feature published 08/10/08 regarding the Hsu-nami's music feature in the Beijing Summer Olympics. When the story was picked up by the Associated Press, Hsu-nami instantly received national coverage from media outlets such as WCBS 880, 1010 wins, Fort Mill Times, NJ.com, Philly.com, redorbit.com, spokesmanreview.com, NBC sports, USA Today, International Herald Tribune (the global edition of the New York Times).
Because Hsu-nami's Music represented the Chinese basketball team and Front man Jack Hsu is Taiwanese-American, the Taiwan Organization in New York did not warmly congratulate the band for its success. This is because of the global political issue of conflict between Taiwan and China regarding the violation of IOC rules and calling Taiwan "Taipei, China". They believe China oppresses the Taiwanese people, Tibet and many others. In an interview on MuchMusic, Jack Hsu was quoted, "The struggles suffered by the Taiwanese people are, of course, terrible, but that's only if you truly believe any of those conflicts occurred in the first place. The past is past. I look forward and have no problem with China especially when they want one of our songs!"
The Four Noble Truths
The band released their 2nd album, "The Four Noble Truths" march 24th 2009, named after the 10:35 long song on the CD. The meaning of the song delves deeper into the theme behind "Entering the Mandala". It attempts to illustrate the The Four Noble Truths, especially the idea that the quest for enlightenment starts with pain, sickness, injury, tiredness, old age, death, sadness, fear, frustration, disappointment, and depression.The songs on the 2nd album were also inpired by different occurrences in the band members' lives. In an interview with Chinese World Journal, Jack mentioned "The new album song title 'Passport to Taiwan' is a medley of 'dark sky', 'throw pen' and 'missing spring wind' (3 Taiwanese popular Traditional Tunes) rearranged from traditional to the raw hard rock/punk rock style." The song 'Luxy NYE' was inspired by Hsu's visit to Taipei, Taiwan celebrating New Year's feeling.
The Hsu-nami's lineup underwent one change during the time between "Entering the Mandala" and "the Four Noble Truths". This explains why the track "Moonlight" features Adam Toth on piano while keys for the rest of the album are played by Dana Goldberg, a new arrival to The Hsu-nami in 2009.
Jack was also quoted "comparable to death metal band Chthonic (also from Taiwan), The Hsu-nami want to put out a message of peace and friendship, shying away from the Political and negative perspectives."
Current
- Jack Hsu - erhu, violin (2005–present)
- Brent Bergholm - guitar (2005–present)
- Derril Sellers - bass (2005–present)
- John Manna - drum set (2005–present)
- Dana Goldberg - keys (2009–present)
Former
- Tony Aichele rhythm guitar (2008–2011)
- Vinny Belcastro - rhythm guitar (2005–2007)
- Adam Toth - Keys (2005–2008)
Singles and compilations
- In 2006, the band released the single "Rogue Wave," on the Po Records ComPOlation Volume III a Ramapo CollegeRamapo CollegeRamapo College of New Jersey is a public liberal arts and professional studies institution of the New Jersey system of higher education.- Location :...
Based Record Label. - In 2007 the band released single, "MimosaMimosaMimosa is a genus of about 400 species of herbs and shrubs, in the subfamily Mimosoideae of the legume family Fabaceae. The generic name is derived from the Greek word μιμος , meaning "mimic."...
," on the Po Records ComPOlation Volume IV. - In 2008 the band released single, "Entering The Mandala" on the Po Records ComPOlation Volume V.
Albums
- Entering the Mandala - November 30, 2007.
- The Four Noble Truths - March 24, 2009.
- The Hsu-Nami are currently in pre-production for their 3rd Full Length album expected to be released in 2012.
Press
- WoawaTV
- The Bergen Record, the second largest circulation of New Jersey's daily newspapers
- Chinese World Journal Newspaper
- Chorus & Verse Magazine
- The Aquarian WeeklyThe Aquarian WeeklyThe Aquarian Weekly is a regional alternative weekly newspaper based in New Jersey. Founded in 1969, its focus is popular music. It is accompanied by a pull-out section, The East Coast Rocker, which is freely distributed throughout the New Jersey/New York City/Eastern Pennsylvania region.The paper...
- WCBS 880
- New York Times
- Herald TribuneHerald TribuneHerald Tribune may refer to:* International Herald Tribune, widely read international newspaper, based in Paris since 1887*Sarasota Herald-Tribune, daily newspaper in Florida*New York Herald Tribune, daily newspaper in New York, created in 1924...
- Fort Mill Times
- 1010 WINS
- NY1NY1NY1, New York One, is a 24-hour cable-news television channel focusing on the five boroughs of New York City. In addition to news and weather forecasts, the channel also features human-interest segments such as the "New Yorker of the Week" and the "Scholar Athlete of the Week", and specialty...
- News 12 New JerseyNews 12 New JerseyNews 12 New Jersey is a 24-hour cable news television channel reaching more than 1.8 million television homes within the New York City metropolitan area. The channel operates as an independent unit of News 12 Networks, the first, largest and most watched regional news network in United States...
- USA TodayUSA TodayUSA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
- Associated PressAssociated PressThe Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...