[Exclusive] JpopAsia Interviews Silver Ash

Silver Ash has always marched to the beat of their own drum. As band after band have recently announced their disbandment, Silver Ash bucked this trend, announcing instead that they would be rising from the ashes, coming together once again after an 8 year hiatus to reform the band.
The band originally formed in 2000 in Beijing, China, becoming the country's first visual rock band in the style of Japan's visual kei movement. They quickly gained popularity and found success, carving out their own place in a music industry dominated by ballads. Despite their initial success, things started going south for a number of reasons, including government censorship and the SARS epidemic. These difficulties eventually led the band to go on an indefinite hiatus in 2005.
In 2013, Silver Ash surprised many by announcing their long-awaited comeback. They started out the year by releasing their comeback single "Pretty but Evil", a song written mostly in English, with the intent of not only making a comeback, but broadening their horizons to become an international band. With the band preparing to release their 2nd comeback single, "Reborn", on April 6th, JpopAsia had the opportunity to discuss with Silver Ash's Lin the band's recent comeback, the difficulties they face, and more in this exclusive interview.
 
PA: What made you decide to have a comeback after 8 years?
Silver Ash: We don’t want to give up our dream. That is the reason. Though Silver Ash actually did not really completely disband, we had some activities those years, but they weren’t formal. Now, since Yue came back to Beijing and I’ve almost completed my studies in Canada, it’s a good time to be together again.
- JPA: Why do some members of the band live in China while others live in Canada?
Silver Ash: In 2009, I decided to stop my nine-to-five job because it was killing me. One of my friends who lived in Canada for ten years told me that Vancouver is a comfortable city with a good environment and it’s a friendly place for foreign people. I thought why not to try another place to live for a while, so I came to Vancouver in 2010, and actually this is a really nice place for “lazy” people. Zhen and Yue have their own jobs in China and they were good at them. But in Beijing, I was just so tired of struggling in my music career and stupid “normal life”, so I chose to leave a while. I met Cain at a friend’s party in Vancouver. We were talking about electronic dance music and we found out we both prefer dubstep and drum ‘n bass etc. so we decide to create some music together. When Silver Ash decided to make a comeback, I invited him to join us, and he was happy to do so.


JPA: What is it like recording music while part of the band is in China and the other part is in Canada?
Silver Ash: It is fun. We use Skype or other forms of communication software to have video meetings online. Cain and I do our parts and send them to our drummer, Zhen, and our guitarist, Yue, and then they put their parts in and give ideas of how to make it better. We should thank the network era.
- JPA: Why did you decide to release music in multiple languages and become an international band?
Silver Ash: Performing around the world is our dream, and it is the most important reason why we decided to make a comeback. Releasing music in multiple languages makes it easier for people to understand what we are expressing in a song.
- JPA: Do you plan to break into the American and/or the Japanese market? How will you go about doing so?
Silver Ash: Yes, even if it’s hard for a Chinese band. Actually, our music has no problems to gain acceptance in American or Japanese markets, but the language is the problem. As I stated before, we will release music in multiple languages to make it easier for people from other countries to accept us. But at the same time, we won’t do anything specifically to cater to any market. We will retain our own idea of Silver Ash’s look and music. We won’t be a typical Japanese visual kei band (we are not Japanese), even we are grateful to some veteran bands who inspired us when we first formed. “We are what we are” is the spirit of Silver Ash. However, all we can do is try to get more chances to perform in America and Japan; I think they will like a band which is unique and different to what they have usually watched. 

JPA: Where do you draw inspiration for your music?
Silver Ash: Anywhere, sometime from dreams. Anytime, anywhere something touches my mind.
- JPA: How has your music changed during your 8 year hiatus?
Silver Ash: This past year, Silver Ash has been trying to find out a way to combine different genres of music. We put some electronic elements to our music in 2002 and 2004’s EPs, but not too much, because we had not found a good way to mix the Electronic and rock music perfectly. Now we have Cain, who is an indie EDM musician. He is able to bring many Electronic elements to Silver Ash’s music, and that is what we have wanted for years. Now, we are trying to express a special heavy sound which combines many EDM elements and heavy rock music. Please look forward to it.
- JPA: What role does Chinese music play in Chinese culture? How do you fit in to this?
Silver Ash: Traditionally, Chinese music was an important part in social life in China. From the 50s to 80s, it became a tool for government control the way of thinking. Nowadays, it finally has returned to common people’s life. The music market has become freer and more diverse. Unfortunately, audiences prefer to participate by watching music festivals, rather than pay for what they are downloading. I think this is a big problem for music industries all over the world not just China. I think the only thing Silver Ash can do is make our live performance better and better to bring people to our gigs. Trust me, Silver Ash is a very good live band, you won’t regret coming to see us.

JPA: Has your new music experienced the same level of government censorship in China?
Silver Ash: Things have become better and easier than 10 years ago, but we cannot say everything is ok now. We might need to change some lyrics, if we want to release or promote our music in a formal, public way.
- JPA: What has the band been doing during its hiatus?
Silver Ash: I came to Canada to study something that I am not that interested in. Zhen joined a pop band in China called “The Red” and he also supports some solo singer’s performance. Yue has similar jobs.
- JPA: Has anyone in the band found love? Started a family? Etc?
Silver Ash: Oh, sorry, but we don’t want to talk about this. We are Silver Ash, with makeup and costumes on the stage, but we want to be very normal people in our normal life. I enjoy the fluidity of that dual identity, so I don’t want to talk too much about our personal lives.
- JPA: What’s the biggest challenge you face with your comeback?
Silver Ash: I think it is the impression of old Silver Ash. Everyone is changing as the years go by. 8 years is a long time for anyone. Silver Ash has changed because our ideas have changed. I respect the bands who insist on maintaining their style forever, but that is boring to us, since we are always excited to create something new and special. My hero is David Bowie, so you might understand what I am talking about.
- JPA: What prompted the band’s recent lineup change?
Silver Ash: The pressure from life, that’s all. Our former bassist, Yu, and keyboardist, Bai Niao, have their own choices in life. (Plus, the demands of an international comeback are pretty big!) We’re all still good friends though.
- JPA: What final message do you want to give all your fans?
Silver Ash: Silver Ash should be the best choice of your rock youth, come to our gigs and join our family to become the most unique group on the earth!