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Elephant Gym (Chinese: 大象體操) is a jazz fusion[1][2] band from Kaohsiung, Taiwan, founded in February 2012. The group consists of siblings KT Chang (bass) and Tell Chang (guitar), and drummer Chia-Chin Tu. The word "elephant" in the band name symbolizes their bass-driven melodies, and "gym" refers to their agile and irregular rhythms.[3]

Elephant Gym
Elephant Gym in 2023
Elephant Gym in 2023
Background information
OriginKaohsiung, Taiwan
Genres
Years active2012–present
LabelsTopshelf
Members
  • KT Chang 張凱婷
  • Tell Chang張凱翔
  • Chia-Chin Tu徐嘉欽
Websitehttps://elephantgym.co/
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese大象體操
Transcriptions

History

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Formation, Balance EP, Angle and hiatus (2014–2016)

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As children, KT and Tell Chang were trained in classical music by their mother, while Chia-chin Tu learned classical percussion. After the siblings met Tu at a music club in high school, the trio formed Elephant Gym in February 2012,[4] hand-produced a limited edition EP,[citation needed] and toured Taiwan on the single "Ordinary Route" (later released on their album Angle). On May 8, 2013 the band released Balance, their first EP, which included the song "Ocean in the Night" which was produced in collaboration with Hom Shenhao, the lead singer of indie band Touming Magazine. In 2014, they collaborated with Yoga Lin on a song, "Speaking in Tongues",[3] which they performed with him in Hung Hom, Hong Kong and at the Taipei Arena.

In June 2014, their debut album Angle was released, with singles featuring Panai Kusui and Enno Cheng. In December 2014, the group members announced a year long hiatus due to Taiwanese compulsory military service, and held a performance entitled See You Then in addition to a short documentary of the same name.[5][6]

Post-hiatus: Work EP and Underwater (2016–present)

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In August 2016, their earlier work Angle was released in Japan and the group was invited to participate in the Summer Sonic Festival.[7] The group released their second EP Work in October 2016, followed by a tour of Taiwan in small venues. In June 2017, the group was invited to Tokyo to play with American math rock band The Fall of Troy and special guest Hikes. The band played in the Megaport Music Festival in 2018.[8]

In November 2018, they released their second full-length album Underwater followed by a world tour, which included a performance at SXSW[9] and a live session at Audiotree.[10] In August 2019, they performed at the ArcTanGent Festival.[11] They released a single, "Gaze at Blue," on October 18, 2019.[12] They announced their latest studio album, World, in late 2023.

Awards

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Year Award Category Recipients Result Ref.
2013 4th Golden Indie Music Awards Best New Band Balance Nominated [13]
2014 5th Golden Indie Music Awards Best Style Category Album Angle Won [14][15][16]
Best Album Angle Nominated
Best Band Elephant Gym Nominated
Best Musician KT Chang (張凱婷), bass Nominated
Best Musician Chia-chin Tu (涂嘉欽), drums Nominated
Best Rock Single "Whistle" Nominated
Best Jazz Single "Body" Nominated
Best Style Category Single "Games" Nominated
2017 8th Golden Indie Music Awards Best Style Category Single "Spring Rain" Nominated [17]
2019 10th Golden Indie Music Awards Best Band Elephant Gym Won [18][19]
Best Album Underwater Nominated
Best Musician KT Chang (張凱婷), bass and synthesizer Nominated
Best Rock Single "Underwater" Nominated
Best World Music Album Underwater Nominated
Best World Music Single "Half" Nominated

Discography

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Studio albums

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Balance (平衡) [2013]
No.TitleFeatured artistLength
1."Finger" 5:02
2."Ocean in the Night" (夜洋風景)Hom Shenhao [zh] (洪申豪)4:54
3."Dance Together" (一起跳舞) 2:03
4."Galaxy" (銀河) 5:04
Total length:17:03
Angle (角度) [2014]
No.TitleFeatured artistLength
1."Intro" () 1:05
2."Day Time" (白日)Enno Cheng [zh] (鄭宜農)4:14
3."Games" (遊戲) 4:05
4."Light" () 2:56
5."Strong Ladder" (堅固耐用的梯子) 3:44
6."Ordinary Route" (日常的航道) 5:08
7."Head" () 0:56
8."Body" (身體) 4:09
9."Frog" (青蛙) 5:12
10."Whistle" (鳥鳴) 4:31
11."Swan" (天鵝)Panai Kusui (巴奈)10:13
Total length:46:13
Work (工作) [2016]
No.TitleLength
1."Mirror" (鏡子)0:38
2."Midway" (中途)3:59
3."D"4:09
4."Spring Rain" (春雨)4:26
5."Celebrate" ()2:41
Total length:15:53
Underwater (水底) [2018]
No.TitleFeatured artistLength
1."Shower" (陣雨) 1:39
2."Underwater" (水底) 4:00
3."Satellite" (人造衛星) 3:45
4."Half Asleep" (彌留) 1:30
5."Bad Dream" (噩夢)Sowut4:57
6."Half" (半個) 4:24
7."Shell" (順從的殼)Cudjiy Ija Karivuwan (張威龍)3:41
8."Lake" () 0:59
9."Quilt" (被子) 4:18
10."Walk" (散步) 4:36
11."Speechless" (走在沒說完的話裡) 0:36
12."Moonset" (月落)Yeye [ja]3:31
Total length:37:56
Dreams (夢境) [2022]
No.TitleFeatured artistLength
1."Anima" (阿尼瑪) 2:40
2."Go Through the Night" (穿過夜晚) 3:49
3."Shadow" (影子)9m883:45
4."Witches" (女巫) 3:51
5."Dreamlike" (如夢一般) 3:36
6."Wings" (振翅)Kaohsiung City Wind Orchestra (高雄市管樂團)3:51
7."Happy But Sad" 1:59
8."Deities' Party" (眾神的派對)Chio Tian Folk Drums & Art Troupe (九天民俗技藝團)3:05
9."Dear Humans [JP Version]" (敬啟者) 3:42
10."Gaze at Blue [Album Version]" (凝視) 3:54
11."Fable" (托夢)MC JJ2:57
12."Dream of You" (發夢到你)Lin Sheng Xiang (林生祥)4:09
Total length:41:18
World (世界) [2023]
No.TitleFeatured artistLength
1."Jhalleyaa[a]"Shashaa Tirupati4:18
2."Feather" (羽毛)Whyte (壞特)3:51
3."Adventure" (探險) 2:33
4."Flowers" (花束) 0:48
5."Name" (名字)Seiji Kameda (亀田誠治)3:16
6."Galaxy [Orchestra Version]" (銀河)Kaohsiung City Wind Orchestra (高雄市管樂團)5:48
7."Light [Orchestra Version]" ()Kaohsiung City Wind Orchestra (高雄市管樂團)2:58
8."Ocean in the Night [Orchestra Version]" (夜洋風景)Kaohsiung City Wind Orchestra (高雄市管樂團) & Hom Shenhao [zh] (洪申豪)5:00
9."Happy Prince" (快樂王子)Yile Lin (林以樂)4:19
10."Feather" (羽毛)Tendre3:52
Total length:36:43[b]
  1. ^ Omitted in some releases.
  2. ^ 32:25 without Track 1.

Singles

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  • Gaze at Blue (2019)
  • Dear Humans (2020)
  • Go Through the Night (2021)

References

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  1. ^ Fong, Vania (21 March 2024). "More Than Math: Elephant Gym Showcases Versatility and Experimentalism in Sold Out Tour". Asia Blooming. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  2. ^ Smith, Collin (13 May 2022). "Elephant Gym: Is it even math rock?". Fecking Bahamas. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  3. ^ a b Chan, Boon (September 20, 2017). "Taiwan's Elephant Gym say audiences are learning to love their math rock". The Straits Times. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  4. ^ "Top Shelf Records, Elephant Gym Roster".
  5. ^ "SEE YOU THEN Official Short Documentary". YouTube. 29 December 2014.
  6. ^ "Taiwan's Elephant Gym bring back bass-driven math rock". South China Morning Post. August 14, 2014. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  7. ^ "SUMMER SONIC 2016 LINE UP".
  8. ^ "Taiwan math rock band Elephant Gym release multi-cam live video from Megaport Festival". July 2018.
  9. ^ "SXSW 2019 Schedule".
  10. ^ "Elephant Gym -- Audiotree".
  11. ^ "Elephant Gym to perform at ArcTanGent Festival with Coheed and Cambria, Polyphia, Meshuggah, and more".
  12. ^ "Elephant Gym". Bandcamp.
  13. ^ "第4屆金音創作獎入圍名單" [4th Golden Indie Awards Nominees]. Ministry of Culture, Taiwan. October 28, 2013. Archived from the original on September 27, 2019. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  14. ^ "第4屆金音創作獎入圍名單" [5th Golden Indie Awards Nominees]. Ministry of Culture, Taiwan. October 14, 2014. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  15. ^ "第5屆金音創作獎得獎名單" [5th Golden Indie Awards Winners]. Ministry of Culture, Taiwan. December 6, 2014. Archived from the original on September 27, 2019. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  16. ^ "Taiwan, Malaysia musicians to hold joint bash in Kuala Lumpur". Central News Agency. August 20, 2019. Retrieved October 8, 2019.[dead link]
  17. ^ "第8屆金音創作獎入圍名單" [8th Golden Indie Awards Nominees]. Ministry of Culture, Taiwan. September 26, 2017. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  18. ^ "第10屆金音創作獎入圍名單" [10th Golden Indie Awards Nominees]. Ministry of Culture, Taiwan. October 3, 2019. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  19. ^ "金音獎完整得獎名單" [Golden Indie Awards Winners]. Central News Agency. November 17, 2019. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
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