Lin Sheng Xiang

Taiwanese musician from the Hakka minority group. Influenced by traditional Hakka mountain songs and Western folk and rock ‘n’ roll. Formed his first band, 觀子音樂坑 (Kuan-tsu [Guanzi] Music Pit), which became involved in the fight against a government plan to build a dam in his home place of Meinong. In 1999, following some personnel changes, 觀子音樂坑 changed its name to the Labor Exchange Band and began incorporating traditional instruments into their sound, including suona (a trumpet-like instrument) and Sheng Xiang’s yueqin (sometimes called a “moon guitar”) and sanxian (a three-string guitar-like instrument). Sheng Xiang also began writing songs with activist and poet Zhong Yongfeng. In 2003, the Labor Exchange Band split up and a new group, Water3, was formed. Lin Sheng Xiang also started to release solo albums.