The Slants

The Slants is an American dance-rock band composed entirely of Asian Americans. The band was formed in Portland, Oregon, by Simon Tam in 2006. The band went through a number of early lineup changes, but had a core lineup for its albums and tours by 2009 consisting of Aron Moxley (vocals), Tam (bass, keys), Jonathan Fontanilla (guitar), and Tyler Chen (drums, backing vocals). After experiencing some transitions, the core lineup consisted of Tam, lead singer Ken Shima, and guitarist Joe X. Jiang by 2015. The band's name originates from an effort of reappropriation and was the source of a protracted legal battle that took them to the Supreme Court of the United States in the case Matal v. Tam. Influenced by 1980s bands such as Depeche Mode and New Order, as well as modern acts such as the Killers and the Bravery, the Slants refer to their sound as "Chinatown Dance Rock". The band have released five studio albums, two EPs, and a feature length film, The Slants - Taiwan Tour. The group performed across four continents, including special tours with the Armed Forces and performing at Taiwan's Spring Scream festival. The Slants are deeply involved with the Asian American community and racial justice work. This includes raising money for causes such as funding research into disparate rates of cancer for Asian American women, bridging divides, fighting bullying, and building community centers. In 2018, the band launched their own nonprofit organization (The Slants Foundation) to support other artist-activists working to address racial inequities. In late 2019, the band took an indefinite hiatus from live touring to primarily focus on their nonprofit work. The group continues to compose music and perform, but only for special events to raise money for charitable causes.

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