Album Notes

"In the crowded music world, it`s all about pop. And there are precious few standout piano-centric artists out there--all happen to be pretty big: Elton John, Billy Joel, Tori Amos, Norah Jones, Coldplay, Ben Folds--just to name a few. That`s not to say singer/songwriter piano man Scott Tang has instantly graduated to that level with his debut album, Late Night Drives--only time will tell. However, he has drawn his mighty sword with eight (that good old Asian lucky number) solid cuts and has hit the ground running. Catchy pop songs like "Boomerang" and "Put Your Heart Into It" defy temporary residence in your head, while the crucial lead track "Freeway" simply soars triumphantly--a clear choice for a lead-off hit. Tang`s brand of music is also intelligent and poetic--check his lines like "kisses and cigarette burns" ("By The Way") and "I`m firing drunken arrows at the moon" ("The Chance To Fight"). The production is also impressively sophisticated--radiant and polished, without the disposable cheap veneer that reduces some pop songs into bubblegum. There`s something overtly genuine about these songs, emanating the kind of enduring soul that many pop artists wish for just a small fraction of. Late Night Drives is sparkling contemporary pop music with a rare kind of purity and verve." -Denise Park, ChopBlock.com Scott Tang is a pianist singer-songwriter who has followed his music to the other side of the globe, to ancient temples and mazes of neon-lit streets. He writes songs from the point of view of someone who has traveled the landscape of love as long and tirelessly as he has the world. Scott's first copyrighted work goes back to age 9, but it wasn't until his late teens that he began to realize how crucial a role music would play in his life. He went on to major in music at U.C. Berkeley, becoming one of the most involved and popular composers in the school's Undergraduate Composers group. Scott's neo-romantic work included string quartets, piano rhapsodies and choral pieces. His work for large chorus, "Trail Of Stars," was premiered by Grammy award-winning Chanticleer director, Joseph Jennings. Upon earning his Bachelor of Arts degree in music with distinction, Scott traveled to Hong Kong, living in a Buddhist nunnery and learning about the Chinese music industry. He went on to write the theme song for the opening ceremony of the largest Buddhist temple in Hong Kong. The song was recorded by Jacky Cheung and Alan Tam, two of Asia's most popular singers, and quickly sped to the Top Ten on the local radio charts, earning well over a million HK dollars for charity. It was eventually incorporated into the daily routine of the school at the temple, so the children would gather each morning to sing the song together. Scott's experience at the Buddhist temple led to a stint writing songs for Polygram Records at their Tsimshatsui publishing department. Since relocating to Los Angeles, Scott has been steadily involved with emerging Asian-American entertainment groups such as KSCI TV, ImaginAsian TV/Radio, Sushi & Tofu, Rafu Shimpo, JD8 Records, Aarise Media, the Tuesday Night Project, Aziatic Empire, Cold Tofu, Dark Horse Media and more. He has helped organize a variety of shows in the Los Angeles area such as ChopRock, a showcase of Asian-American artists, the 3rd Annual Asian Hip Hop Summit in Koreatown, and YellowHouse in Silverlake. Local venues he has played include Room 5, The Derby and Zen Sushi, as well as various festivals in Chinatown and Little Tokyo. Recent appearances include Nisei Week, the 10th Annual Harvest Moon Festival, the OCA Image Awards and a guest spot on LA-18's talk show, "L.A. Living." Scott's debut solo album, "Late Night Drives," was released independently in July 2005 and has been described as "sparkling contemporary pop music with a rare kind of purity and verve" (Denise Park, ChopBlock.com). The album is full-fledged piano pop, and features a production team that has collec