Finding Inspiration in Nature and Waking up to the Sound of Yi-Cheng Yi-Ching. Taiwanese independent band YiCheng Yi-Ching soothed the souls of everyone in attendance at the 2016 O’right Green Life festival with their heartwarming voices. After the event, the sisters shared their joy of being a part of our tour around Taiwan. “Before O’right approached us, we had just made a wish of singing in an environment surrounded by nature!”
Singing a Reflection of Themselves
Yi-Cheng Yi-Ching is one of the few independent band formed by twins in Taiwan. Born just 60 seconds apart, the sisters developed a distinct bond with each other before they were even brought into the world. They share undeniable womb chemistry and connection. Ever since they were kids, they developed a passion for painting, which motivated them to attend an arts class. Yi-Cheng likes the cleanness of watercolors and its delicate nature, while YiChing has a fondness for oil painting and the layers and endless possibilities it creates, like musical symbols. “We often wonder if we took an interest in music instead, perhaps we wouldn’t have chosen to go down that path,” Yi-Ching said thoughtfully. For them, singing was a beautiful mistake. Upon hearing the arrangement by a well-known Taiwanese music producer, Yi-Ching began to learn how to play the guitar in hopes that one day she can be as talented as her idol. In senior high, she formed a band on campus with her sister for fun. It was only until the year 2010 when their band won first place in the Golden Melody Awards did their life begin to transform, when they came to the realization of their talent. “Wow, we’re actually quite good!”
Photo /// Yi-Cheng Yi-Ching’s strong performance brought in new opportunities. They joined Kowen Ko on tour as guitarists. Standing up on stage in front of many fans, Yi-Cheng Yi-Ching hopes to share their music to more people in the future. Yi-Cheng Yi-Ching inspired and touched the hearts of the hairdressers in attendance with their soulful voices, making them instant fans.
Creative Inspiration: Anastasia
Making a living on creativity is not very romantic. The sisters need to hold multiple jobs to support themselves. Yi-Ching gives guitar lessons, but Yi-Cheng chose to do something different, making it a little more difficult for her on her musical journey. “I’ve heard many people sing, but I still like Yi-Cheng’s voice the most,” Yi-Ching said of her sister. As soulmates, they are inseparable in their musical creation. Ever since Yi-Cheng read the book Anastasia, she believed more than ever in the energy green plants bring people. Anastasia is the first volume in a best-selling Russian book series available in more than 20 languages worldwide that focuses on humans living in symbiotic harmony with nature. Touched by this act of warmth, Yi-Cheng and Yi-Cheng hopes to inspire and nourish other people with similar dreams with their voices and deliver this message.
Photo /// Musicians’ home in Taipei filled with inspiration. Yi-Ching’s graduation exhibition at the Department of Visual Arts of University of Taipei. Inspired by the muse of lyric and love poetry in Greek mythology, she uses lyre as the theme to deliver the message that music has the power to make people forget about sadness and enjoy the joy in life. Once the lyre starts playing, all creatures listen silently. The beautiful sound of lyre has the power to calm the society, and this is the power Yi-Cheng Yi-Ching spread at the Green Life festival.
The Law of Attraction Exists! Yi-Cheng’s Trip to Tibet
Having studied at the Department of Material Arts and Design of Tainan National University of the Arts, Yi-Cheng takes a liking to handmade fishing nets. As children, the sisters used to play around at the textile factory their father worked at, surrounded by colorful yarns that symbolize a wonderful future. Yi-Cheng also founded the October Garden Workshop, where she spends her spare time making eco-friendly, stylish bags to promote sustainability and reduce the use of plastic bags in daily life.
During a trip in Taitung, Yi-Cheng met Mu Zi-Peng, a man from Xinjiang and the vice principal of a charity school in Tibet with the aim to provide education to nomad children who often moves from one place to another. Mu Zi-Peng hopes to give these children deprived of proper education the chance to learn the knowledge and skills needed to face and be prepared for an increasingly urbanized future.
Photo /// Yi-Cheng’s adventure in Tibet connected the bridge between Taiwan’s cultural and creative industry and Tibet. This life experience and challenge gave her more creative inspirations to bring even more moving songs to the Taiwanese music industry. (Photograph by Tsai Yi-Cheng)
Inspired by this, Yi-Cheng was reminded of the skills she learned in university, where she was taught to use accessible materials such as paper to create handmade books. She showed Tibetan students how to properly use materials, make paper, and bind a book. This later contributed to the launch of the Tibet Paper Workshop Project Fundraising Proposal, which successfully reached its goal at O’right Green Life. After the Yilan event, with everyone’s support, Yi-Cheng found the courage to face the altitude of 4,000 meters and embarked on a voyage to Tibet on her own.
Small Steps, Big Changes
After returning from her journey to Tibet, Yi-Cheng found it much easier to face the unknown. No matter how prepared she was, when she was standing 4,000 meters high, the feeling was still extremely overwhelming and made her weak in the knees; all she could do was adapt to the lifestyle. Her Paper Workshop Project became a success. Recycling is not very common in Tibet, so Yi-Cheng seized this opportunity to encourage and raise awareness among local people about the importance and value of paper recycling.
Yi-Cheng and Yi-Ching never in their life imagined that they would have such an impact to the society. They believe in themselves and live life to the fullest. Like O’right, they believe that small steps lead to big changes. Their story renewed our faith. Everyone is a powerful seed; as long as you are willing to spread the seeds, you will see the world becoming a better place right before your eyes.
Founded in 1977, the Golden Melody Award is a singing contest hosted by National Chengchi University for university students in Taiwan. The contest gives students who love music a platform to perform and record labels to discover young music talents.
