From Taiwan to Colombia, psychedelia knows no borders. Holotropics enters Bunka Wave’s orbit with a sound that vibrates between the earthly and the spiritual: dense guitars, ritual rhythms, inner visions that move between punk, Mesoamerican mysticism, raw distortion, and meditative trance.

Holotropics is a band that’s hard to pin down. While psychedelia serves as their backbone, they’re not afraid to absorb diverse influences, from punk and garage rock to experimental music and traditional sounds from around the world.

Formed by Pei (vocals, guitar), Steve (guitar, backing vocals), Khloe (drums), and Wei (bass), the group delivers an energetic rock sound that’s both heavy and harmonious, introspective and explosive at once. With this ever-evolving identity and a deeply collaborative spirit, the band has become one of the most unique projects in Taiwan’s independent music scene.

To celebrate the release of their new EP Yuanfen, we spoke with their frontwoman Pei (who also speaks Spanish) in an exclusive interview for Colombia and Latin America.

By: Duvan Prada (Colombia)

B.W. Welcome to Bunka Wave. Tell us briefly, how did you all come together as a band?

Pei: I’ve been writing Holotropics songs for about seven years now. I met the other members at a place here in Kaohsiung called Rocks. We jammed together, and then I asked if they’d like to play Holotropics songs with me.

B.W. Holotropics has a very distinctive sound: heavy psychedelia with experimental and mystical touches. How would you describe your sonic identity as a band?

Pei: I used to play in a lot of punk bands, and I think that’s a big part of our musical identity. Psychedelia is also a huge influence, but I’ve always been more drawn to the darker side of the genre.

B.W. What inspires you when creating your songs?

Pei: More than anything, nature. Few things inspire me as much as freediving, walking through the jungle, or climbing a mountain.

B.W. Your debut album Nikanash takes its name from Nahuatl, an Indigenous language from Mexico. What led you to explore that cultural connection, so far away geographically?

Pei: I lived in Mexico for a while, and a dear friend taught me the Nahuatl language and culture. I wrote Nikanash there, and the worldview of the ancestors really inspired me.

B.W. Your lyrics and visual aesthetic evoke inner worlds, dreamlike landscapes, and philosophical themes. What role do spirituality, science fiction, or psychology play in your art?

Pei: A huge one, definitely. I’ve always been fascinated by the connection between spirituality and psychology. I really love Carl Jung’s ideas, and I’m interested in finding synchronicities between mysticism, folklore, and the human condition, how they all connect to our minds.

B.W. Taiwan has a growing independent music scene. How do you feel you fit in—or stand out—within it?

Pei: What I really love about our local scene is how diverse it is. Many of our friends play in metal or punk bands, or are DJs, and many shows mix different genres. Everyone supports each other. I guess the only real difference is that I’m a foreigner here.

B.W. What challenges and freedoms come with being an independent band in Taiwan? Have you thought about signing with a label or do you prefer the DIY path?

Pei: The costs of being independent can be a challenge sometimes. I also handle the band’s administrative work and all the behind-the-scenes stuff most people don’t see. But the DIY path, while tough, brings a lot of rewards, it lets you connect directly with amazing bands and everyone who makes the scene possible (promoters, live house owners, producers, etc.). That said, we’d be happy to sign with an independent label.

B.W. The band has played at festivals, won competitions, and toured across Asia. What’s been your most meaningful live performance so far?

Pei: Playing in Japan was a really powerful experience for us. It was amazing to meet so many musicians from around the world and share the stage with them.

B.W. Do you know any Latin American musicians? If not, what would you like to learn about Latin American music?

Pei: I love so much music from Latin America! Some of my favorite artists are: Bisonte (Mexico), Margaritas Podridas (Mexico), Boogarins (Brazil), Mi Amigo Invencible (Argentina), Dengue Dengue Dengue (Peru), BALTHVS (Colombia), Sgt. Papers (Mexico). I also love cumbia, especially psychedelic cumbia from Peru.

B.W. You’ve just released your new album Yuanfen. How do you feel your sound has evolved compared to Nikanash?

Pei: Our second album is called Yuanfen, a concept from Daoist and Buddhist philosophy that speaks about destiny. The record deals a lot with time and its inevitability. I feel like it’s a bit more experimental than Nikanash.

B.W. Could you tell us a bit about your musical collaboration with Tofu Kingdom?

Pei: We met Tofu Kingdom when we played at Music Bridge Tokyo in Japan in April 2025, and we got along super well. I’d been wanting to write a shoegaze track, and I think Rita from Tofu Kingdom has a phenomenal voice.

So I asked her to collaborate, and she wrote the lyrics in Cantonese. Collaboration has always been one of my favorite parts of making music, it allows you to bring multiple perspectives and stories into a single medium.B.W. If you could bring Holotropics’ sound to any stage in the world, what would be your dream venue, and why?

Pei: So many places! But I think playing at Levitation Festival in Austin, Texas would be incredible. A lot of my favorite bands have played there, and it would be a dream to share that stage. I’d also love to play at Hipnosis Festival in Mexico and share the stage with so many great bands (and also because I miss tamales!).

B.W. Finally, could you send a message to Bunka Wave in Colombia and Latin America?

Pei: Hello Bunka Wave! Thank you so much for all your support and for the interview! You can find our music on all digital platforms (except Spotify). We hope to visit you very soon!