Interview with Doris Yeh of Chthonic

We had the chance to get Doris Yeh, bandleader, bassist and background vocalist of taiwanese extreme metal band Chthonic, for an interview. Read here what she has to say about her band, their music and their country:

TrashAndRiot: There are lots of people around here who don't know you yet.
How did you come together and how did you find your style in Black Metal?
Doris: CHTHONIC formed by vocalist Freddy in 1996, the band uses elements of music style from extreme metal but inside the concept and story behind are talking about the history and mythology of Eastern Asia.
In the begging the band has no consensus about the music style because it's hard to find extreme metal lover at that period. But in 1999 and 2000, me and guitarist Jess joined the band, we all have the agreement to do extreme music, and CHTHONIC start to make many good extreme songs from that time.
Since our music is combined with the music style of black metal, death metal, folk metal, and we even use traditional instrument "Hena"(two string violin)to describe the feeling of sadness, so we don't define us only as a black, we'd better like to use "extreme metal" for our band.

TrashAndRiot: Almost noone would think of metal while thinking of Taiwan. Is there something like a scene or are you an exception?
Doris: Taiwan starts with metal music in late 90's. And now there're more and more metal bands coming out, at least 100 metal bands in Taiwan. But not only metal, other genre like punk, post-rock, indie-pop…they grow up faster than metal in Taiwan.
We know there're also many good metal bands in Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore…but most of them don't tour in Western countries so often, so that's why there're few people know about them. But I think in the near future, there'll be more and more Eastern-Asian metal bands coming out in international metal scene.

TrashAndRiot: Did you try to play other genres as well before?
Doris: Yes, for me, I played a Jazz band in University, and meanwhile, I have another power metal band with all girls.

TrashAndRiot: Black Metal, seen as musical genre, is more or less ruled by a couple of Scandinavian bands. Do you remember the reactions of the audience while your first concerts in Europe?
Doris: Our first show in Europe was in Wacken Open Air 2007 in Germany. The reaction was Amazing!!! I still can't forget the scene there. That must be one of the best reactions we've got in N.A. tour and European Tour so far. There're full of crowded people waiting for us in our stage and when there 2 girl friends of mine want to squeezed to the front to see us, and the guys in the front yelled back to them and said: "Hey! Please! We've been waiting for CHTHONIC for 4 years!! Stay back!!" And the fans were singing so loud that I can't image how they can sing our songs!? I was shock but happy with it :)

TrashAndRiot: It took a couple of years until the European audience got in touch with your music. What did you think when this finally happened?
Doris: From our last album "Seediq Bale", we start to distribute the album in Europe, I think it's time for us to move on to other music scene, and right after we've been attending in Ozzfest 2007 and W:O:A, SPV records starts to contact with us for re-issuing our former album and compilation. And finally, after we recorded the latest album "Mirror of Retribution", Spinefarm records shows their interests on us, and it makes us have more chances to present our works in front of European fans.

TrashAndRiot: As it is a main part in this genre, your music contains religious and ideological topics. Only a few of us have a certain knowledge of Taiwanese culture - so can you explain us a little of your cultural background?
Doris: Taiwan is a country with countless tragedies. We've been occupied by many countries before, so our culture combines with different elements from aboriginals called "Tayan", and Holland, Spain, Japan and China. In 1945, after one of the Chinese Army(called KMT) lost their inner war with communism in mainland China, they brought millions of Chinese retreated to Taiwan, Taiwan starts to burden the conflicts and unfair treatments under the rule of Chinese army(KMT). All of the properties were been robbed by Chinese and they printed their New Taiwan Dollars to replace old Taiwanese Dollars. So like my grandma, she saved all the money in her whole life but in the end she can't even buy a bag of rice. KMT forbids Taiwanese speak their own mother language and teach Taiwanese they're Chinese. They don't respect our own culture at all.
The worst tragedy was happened in 1947, which is our album mentioned as the story background. KMT broke up a massacre called "228 Massacre" all over Taiwan, over 100,000 people and elites were killed or missed. Now after 8 years Taiwanese finally ruled the country, KMT uses every resources and the forces from Media and China to effect Taiwanese and got restoration in last year.
Now the situation is even though Taiwan is an independent country, but no foreign countries recognize us as an independence country. It's because pro-China party(KMT) was so close to China government, and despite the truth that Chinese government have over 1000 missiles toward to Taiwan and claim Taiwan is a part of China, like Tibet. We're fighting with those bull-shit situations for years, we have an organization to teach people who they are and what value of our own culture and the importance of the regime of a country.

TrashAndRiot: Have you ever dealt with the topics of your European colleagues?
Doris: Yes, sometimes. I still remember when we toured with Ensiferum in late 2007 in Europe, one day they started to celebrate their independence day on the tour bus. I felt happy for them but also felt deep sadness inside my heart. I wish one day we could celebrate our own independence day as a national day. (PS. Now our national day is the day to celebrate Chinese Army's one victory battle in mainland China….how ridiculous)

TrashAndRiot: What are your main influences?
Doris: Taiwanese and Eastern Asia's history, mythology, philosophy of traditional culture; In music style, we've been influenced by Extreme metal, thrash metal, power metal and also our traditional folklore music.

TrashAndRiot: Do you think it is more difficult or maybe easier for you as "exotics" to gain attention outside of Asia?
Doris: I don't know yet. Because some parts are good and some are bad. Some people will absorb total different melody and concept from our music and appreciate we brought such different elements to inspire them, and they're trying to get into the beauty inside our music; but some people will look down on us honestly, they think metal is the patent of western world. But I think different band has different difficulty to overcome, and we have the determination to face this part of question.


TrashAndRiot: Women are - outside the gothic metal scene - still pretty rare in metal scene. What is Doris' role in the band and how is it for Doris to go on tour with four guys?
Doris: Now I'm the leader of the band. And I think other members don't see me as a girl, I do what every they do, so there's nothing special to me in the tour! How poor I am…!

TrashAndRiot: You toured around a lot. What are the differences in fan behaviour in the different continents?
Doris: I think Canadian fans are the most passionate, American fans are the most crazy and insane, and European fans are amazing and with a little bit polite(PS. East-Asian fans are the most polite fans in the world though). But I'm impressed by the fans in Finland, they're so "calm" when we playing on the stage, just like the weather there :) But they're all very nice and will talk to us after the show! I had a very good time to hang out with the fans there!

TrashAndRiot: Did anything change for you personally since you are touring outside of Asia as well?
Doris: Yes, I think I have more expectation in getting success in international metal scene than ever before. Because there're so many challenges and frustrations in front of me and needed to be overcome, it's an endurance in my life. Time past so fast, I don't want to give up or miss any chances, so I train myself to be ready anytime.

TrashAndRiot: Are there any concerts that have a special place in your memory?
Doris: I'm so impressed in the backstage of Fuji Rock Festival in Japan. They prepared everything you need including bed, various fresh fruit and delicious food.. to make you totally relax and feel confinable before or after the show. As an artist, you just like a King or Queen over there.

TrashAndRiot: Is there any band you'd really like to tour with? If yes, why this band?
Doris: Slayer!! They're the first band I played the covered song with my high school mates!

TrashAndRiot: How do you create songs? Is there one person mainly responsible?
Doris: Most of the time there will be our vocalist Freddy and guitarist Jesse to do that. They'll write down a basic structure and other members start to compose and complete it. As to the lyrics, they're all Freddy's work. But in English lyrics, we always ask our foreign friends to translate it. In this latest album "Mirror of Retribution", our producer "Rob Caggiano"(Anthrax guitarist) helped us writing and translating English lyrics a lot.

TrashAndRiot: Since a few days your current release is in the stores. Is there a special story behind the album?
Doris: It's about a young man "Tsing-guan" who is a medium (psychic) intruding to the Hell to steal the Book of Life and Death from the Ghost King. His purpose is to control the Book and kill the tyrant of the Chinese Army(KMT) which occupied Taiwan in 1947. KMT killed over 100,000 Taiwanese, which we called "228 Massacre" in our history.
The young man's friends were all joining the rebels of the "27th Brigade" in fighting back the Chinese invaders, Tsing-guan made a solemn pact with them that he would leave his earthly body in the basement of "Sing-Ling Temple" to enter into the spirit world and steal the Book of Life and Death. But in the end, he failed. And he was been punished by Ghost King to stay in front of the "Mirror of Retribution" to see all the lives come and go, to suffer this pain until the earth and all the creatures disappeared.

TrashAndRiot: Is there something like a favourite song on the album? And is there a favourite one to play live? And why this song / these songs?
Doris: I like the song of " 49 Theurgy Chians" the most, it's also be made as our first music video. I love the song because it describes the struggle inside Tsing-guan's heart when he decided to suicide to re-enter the Hell for stealing the Book of Life and Death. It's just like an inevitable fate with tragedy he has no choice to face to. The determination is firm and solid, even he finally failed, but the spirit remained.
As for playing live, I like "Rise of the Shadows" the most. Because the melody, the riffs are very directly, strait songs bring more power on the stage.

TrashAndRiot: Are there already any plans to come back to Europe / Germany?
Doris: Our European booking agent is now arranging our Europe tour in late this year or early next year. I believe we'll announce the tour dates in Europe soon!

TrashAndRiot: What are your goals for the future?
Doris: For the near future, I want my band to be successful. For the whole future, my goal is to do my best and try to make everything I want to be accomplished.

TrashAndRiot: How did you find your first name? Is there any story behind? (Meaning here your untypical Taiwanese names.)
Doris: You mean "Doris Yeh"? In Taiwan, in our English class at school, you should have an English name for yourself or teacher will give you one. Everyone start with their English name even as early as they're an elementary school student. It's weird for kids to find an English name for themselves because they don't even good in speaking English when they're only kids. So most of the people start with their English name as a "cute" name, like "Annie", "Jackie", "Jesse", "Sunny"…etc.
I found "Doris" according to a misunderstanding. I like the vocalist of The Cranberries in junior high school, when teacher asked me what English name do I want to have, I faltered out a name like Do….ro…ris(?)….But my English teacher didn't get it, he is an American, and he finally said: "Oh! You mean Doris!" So that's the story of my English name. As to my family name "Yeh", it means "leaf", we always put it behind our English name.
As to my Taiwanese name " Hsiang-Yi Yeh", it's only uses in close friends or family. Sometimes in not-English class at school.

TrashAndRiot: Do you have any hints for your fans in case they are coming to visit Taiwan?
Doris: Don't go to Chang-Kai-Shek Memorial Hall in Taipei. That's the tyrant of Chinese Army(KMT). Don't listen to the TV News, most of them are owned by pro-China investors or related to Chinese government. It's the tool to teach people that Taiwanese are Chinese and our future is in China…..all the bullshit. You can't get any useful and correct information from it.
Most important, I suggest people go to Southern Taiwan. Taipei is nothing special compares other city in the world, but Southern Taiwan has a lot of traditional Taiwanese local culture and innocent people.

TrashAndRiot: Famous last words.
Doris: The result is just a process. The process is the result.

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