In 2017, with Matal v. Tam, Portland, Oregon-based all-Asian-American dance-rock band The Slants took on the U.S. Supreme Court to trademark their name. In a unanimous ruling, 8-0, the Supreme Court decided that a federal law prohibiting trademark names that disparage others was unconstitutional because “speech may not be banned on the grounds that it expresses ideas that offend.”
The Slants’ final full-length album, the aptly titled The Band Plays On, is a fourteen-track collection of the band’s melodic, highly-danceable synth-pop, which was released digitally and on vinyl. Unlike prior The Slants’ albums, The Band Plays On features a guest performer on each track, including a guest vocalist on almost every song. These guests are comprised of prominent, as well as up-and-coming, artists from the Asian American community.
Discussing the record and all the guests on The Band Plays On, Tam says the record was born out of the pandemic, and due to the pandemic, and not wanting to put another version of the band together, invited friends to guest on the album. The result is a record that redefines what The Slants are, as well as what constitutes a band.
For a self-proclaimed troublemaker who took on the Supreme Court with his dance-rock band, The Slants’ Tam and bandmate Joe X. Jiang are ready to prove that yes, the band was about politics and reclaiming a racial term for empowerment, but that it was also always about the music.
Today Glide is offering an exclusive premiere of the band’s video for “What Will People Say,” which features guest vocals from electro-pop artist Mikara. Speaking to themes that resonate in our current times, Mikara injects The Slants’ tune with a youthful dose of energy that is complemented by 80s-style synths. All of this is brought to life and given a visual with the help of a dance crew that captures the fun and infectiousness of the song.
“This was a song where Simon gave me a writing prompt that revolved around a chorus idea for “What would/will people say.” We discussed how growing up, everything we did came with a warning from our parents of “think of what people will say,” and for better or worse, there are bits of self censorship and awareness that linger still. The lyrics touch on the fact that, in the time of social media and semi-anonymous echo chambers, we really see how it can be a double edged sword. Navigating it is very much where freedom of speech and nuanced speech become so important.” – Joe X. Jiang
“I was thinking about how often we’re afraid of doing something or actually sharing our thoughts because of worries over what other people would say. Too often, we forget that many people are unable to fully express themselves all around the world. It led me to ask, “What would people say if they could simply say what they wanted?” I think that the answers would surprise us. To our delight, we were able to get Mikara on vocals. She’s an up and coming performer that we worked with through our nonprofit, The Slants Foundation. Bao Vo was able to bring in all of these great 80s sounding synths, which helped complete the vibe.
When I started thinking about the video, I wanted to give it a colorful, fun 80s aesthetic. I was inspired by an old Taiwanese drama series called “Hi My Sweetheart.” Coincidentally, many of the main characters in that show were often held back by social norms and expectations from being rich – and because neither could really be their honest selves, it was a barrier to their budding romance. When I sent the idea over to XP-Team, a dance group in Indonesia, they helped bring it to life through movement. It’s our first dance video we’ve ever had in the band and I love it.” – Simon Tam
WATCH:
