Songs of place

Wild Fire Music's tour showcases singer-songwriters inspired by the indigenous folk music of Taiwan, Chen Nan reports.

In 1996, music industry veteran Hsiung Ju-hsien, who at the time worked for the Taiwan record company Magic Stone, listened to Elders' Drinking Song, a traditional ethnic Amis Palang song performed by Difang Duana (1921-2002). She was overwhelmed by the beautiful melody and the singer's haunting voice.

For Hsiung, who had worked in mainstream record companies and managed many pop icons for more than 20 years, the traditional Amis song was much livelier and realer than pop music.