Ersha Island are Chinese-European sisters who play stunning Indie Folk music and would be welcome on any WOMAD festival already.Danielle Hao-Aickin and Tee Hao-Aickin are Kiwis who have a Chinese mother and a white Kiwi Father. They started music lessons before they got to school. The are truly bicultural in that they have also lived in China extensively.
They have studied classical music at the China Conservatory of Music in Beijing. This is evident in their playing. Danielle on the piano keyboards and Tee on violin.
This is their journey into the world of popular music, and they combine East and West with a Folk sound which appears fully formed. Even though they are young breakout performers.
This show at the intimate venue Big Fan is a perfect launch. They are previewing their debut EP Back to Our Roots which is due for release in February 2024.
The exploration of their ancestral roots and the embracing of their twin heritage through music is a boon for us.
The opening number, which may be Back to Our Roots establishes their merits from the start. Danielle has a powerful voice with definite Kate Bush elements in displaying some keening witchiness.
Tee has the lower register and does not belt it quite as fiercely as sister. Her violin and stage presence does suggest Scarlett Riviera. The few Boomers in the audience will remember her from Bob Dylan’s Rolling Thunder Revue.
The sterling band behind the sisters are Sam Nakamura guitar, Hon Manawangphiphat bass and Dean Rodrigues drums.
Gut Feeling features as a great R’n’B and Soul workout from Danielle. The drums are able to walk in behind the vocals.
Good Day is a two-hander with just the sisters. A lockdown song, where they show a slightly more sophisticated lounge Pop style. Which means it is easy-listening Jazz.
They perform a cover of Kali Uchis’s Moonlight. I just wanna get high with my lover. Asian influences are buried deep so far. There are Middle Eastern cadences here which make it distinctive from the original version.
Where the Chinese does rise is with My Mother’s Mountain and My Father’s Sea. Iris Zhang comes on to play the gu zheng or Chinese zither. Zhang has played the opening set for the evening.
But it has a particularly Western flavour still. The zither has violin and harp tones. The drums lay down a march rhythm. The guitarist plays liquid George Benson tones. When Tee comes in with her violin at the halfway point, she really does look like a wild Riviera. The whip-cracking snake-charming one.
Beijing is addressed to their cathartic and revelatory time in the Chinese capital. The piano opening sounds familiar. Close to Past, Present and Future by the Shangri-Las. Their unison singing does invoke that legendary Girl Group’s sound.
Their musical approach is from the West, with colour highlights from the East. Contrast that with Sa Dingding, who has also been described as a Chinese Kate Bush, and makes distinctly oriental music with a little Western flavour.
Geoff Ong
Geoff Ong is from Auckland and says he wants to be a Pop star for dorks. He is keen in promoting diversity and Asian influence into the local scene. The future of this country is firmly headed in that direction, which remains a triggering emotion for some. Less as time goes on.
Geoff is the lead singer and guitarist. The rest of his band, Robert Picot guitar, Joel Griffin bass and Dean Rodrigues drums.
Neon Ocean is Indie Pop. Save Me for the Weekend is a nice Soul Pop song which can swing a little.
Unfortunately, the sound mix has his vocals sounding a little muffled and sludgy.
Over and Over Again has a bouncing rhythm which fizzes and pops.
They rev things up in the latter half. Fingerprints is Power Pop with the underpinnings of R’n’B. Reminds me of the early Who when they were channelling James Brown. Nice touch of wah-wah Funk guitar. Who becomes Hu.
Iris Zhang
Iris Zhang is an Auckland musician and I know little else about her. She took piano lessons before starting primary school, which does conform to a stereotype.
A classically trained flautist, and she plays the Chinese zither which we hear in Ersher Island’s set.
First brace of songs are bedroom girl Folk. Which is fine if a little undistinguished from the plethora these days.
A great sound from her acoustic guitar and the bass notes resonate with a depth that approaches the quality of the Auckland Town Hall. The sound desk does excel there.
When she steps to the keyboards, she can bring soft café Jazz tones to her songs.
I understand she has a reputation for great cover versions. She does a little Shakira impression to close her set.
Ersha Island finish the evening with Like the Other Kids. Geoff Ong and Iris Zhang are singing too. A big soulful Pop sound. Great ensemble playing, with the guitar adding tasty licks. A robot breakdance from a guest in front of the stage.
A great showcase tonight for Ersha Island and we look forward to the release of Back to Our Roots.
Rev. Orange Peel
Photography by Leonie Moreland
Ersha Island
Geoff Ong
Iris Zhang