Exclusive video premiere of ‘Will You Let Me Know’ by The Slants, featuring Surrija, from their new vinyl and digital release.

“‘The Band Plays On’ is a natural progression for The Slants, blending old and new songs that reflect our personal journeys in music and activism,” says Jiang. The album, featuring collaborations with talented Asian American artists nationwide, continues the band’s mission of supporting marginalized artists after retiring from touring in 2019.

Tam recalls, “Stepping down from touring before the pandemic allowed us to focus on telling our stories through music and my memoir. Our nonprofit, The Slants Foundation, connected us with hundreds of Asian American artists, inspiring new artistic possibilities.”

This past year has been busy for The Slants, despite their last release in 2019. They debuted their rock opera, ‘Slanted: An American Rock Opera,’ in March, telling their Supreme Court battle story through a blend of synth-pop and rock n’ roll, stage directed by Rajendra Moharaj at the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis.

Discussing ‘The Band Plays On,’ Tam explains, “The album was born from the pandemic. Instead of forming a new band, we collaborated with friends, featuring different vocalists and performers on each track. It made us realize The Slants is more than just a band—it’s a community of artists expressing themselves through song.”

Adds Jiang, “The opera and the album have pushed our evolution to new heights, telling personal stories through collaboration with some of the world’s best performers. Hearing our melodies sung by opera singers has been thrilling.”

For Tam and Jiang, The Slants have always been about more than politics and reclaiming a racial term. It’s about the music and the community it creates.

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