The Slants

Its nearly impossible to write the musical history of the Pacific Northwest without including The Slants. In a world where music has the power to transcend boundaries and ignite social change, The Slants emerged as a remarkable force challenging norms in their pursuit of justice - all while offering catchy floor-filling dance beats, a bombastic live show, and punk rock swagger. Since forming in 2006, the band quickly became known as one of the worlds only all-Asian American dance rock bands. The music is the perfect combination of 80s driven synth pop with hard-hitting indie, floor-filling beats which fans affectionately dub as Chinatown Dance Rock. After heavy rotation on KNRK and a national story on NPRs All Things Considered, the band launched a nonstop series of national and international tours, with a bombastic live show not to be missed (The WestWord). As word spread, the band continued to release new music, racking albums and tour miles under their belts, catching the attention of radio stations, tv shows, and magazines around the world. The Slants won Album of the Year and Editors Choice from dozens of outlets, including The Willamette Week, LA Weekly, Shojo Beat, Village Voice, City Beat, and Rockwired.The Willamette Week wrote, While the band may well be best experienced live, Slants releases always promise a few blistering, note-perfect singles. Things took a twist in 2010 when efforts to register the bands name as a trademark pitted The Slants against the U.S government, resulting in a 7-year legal battle that tested the boundaries of free speech and the right to self-identify. Through it all, The Slants remained undeterred and produced music that resonated even deeper, addressing themes of identity, discrimination, and personal growth. Each album became a testament to their resilience, and their fan base continued to grow in numbers and passion. Ultimately, the band emerged victorious with a unanimous landmark decision that serves as a reminder for the power of art.The inspiring story of The Slants has been featured in thousands of media features worldwide, including Rolling Stone, Paste, Spin, and The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, and made frontpage headlines on The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, and many more. The band launched The Slants Foundation in 2018, a nonprofit that continues to fund, empower, and mentor artists of color using creative expression to drive social change.In 2019, the band went on an indefinite hiatus from touring to focus on writing and their philanthropic efforts. The Band Plays On is the highly anticipated eighth and final release from The Slants. Being launched with a series of limited live shows that feature numerous longtime members over the years, The Slants continue to serve as a testament to passion, justice, and rock n roll. The Slants is more than a band; they are an inspiration, a melody of defiance that will forever resonate - and continue to play on.