Chuang Yu-Chieh

A: It starts with sleeping in. After the alarm goes off, I basically sleep as much as I can and time my departure so that I leave at just the right moment. Then I start checking LINE to see what work needs to be handled today. Luckily, I currently live very close to work, so there’s absolutely no poetic, idyllic morning. (Haha)

A: Near CTS, the studio (Banqiao), and live houses.

1. A popular vegetarian restaurant located in Yansan Night Market (near Daqiaotou Station), recommended for its vegetarian meatballs and tofu-skin noodles.

2. Tic Tac Cafe, also known as 踢他咖啡, is known for its cocoa espresso, which combines chocolate with a shot of espresso for a sweet and invigorating drink. It also offers melon fresh milk tea, with a subtle melon flavor and rich milky aroma. You may want to add some sugar or ask for a little honey.
   
   Facebook page:www.facebook.com/tictaccaf

A: Rehearse with the band and make music, watch movies and TV series. Recently, I watched a German TV series, “Dark.” It was so good!! I feel that European and American aesthetics are quite different, so the ways dramas are presented are also different. In addition, Germany itself has a strong philosophical outlook, so the series is quite profound, and the storyline it conveys is really worth thinking about.

A: Turning 30 felt like a watershed in my growth, a kind of sense of ceremony!

At that time, I had been with CTS for quite a long period and wondered whether I should change environments and find a new place to work. As it happened, The Tic Tac wanted to release an album around then, so I thought, “Should I take this opportunity to seriously pursue something?” If you ask whether I had to give up certain things in order to fulfill my dream, not really. Whether or not you have a job, when there is something you want to do, you can still go ahead and do it.

I have many friends around me who create music while also working very hard. Have they given up on their dreams? They simply haven’t publicly announced that they were going to pursue them. Besides, my profession is considered a pretty good job by many people, so when I left the anchor desk, everyone made a bigger deal of it. I’m really not that great; what is truly great is “sticking with one thing and doing it well for a lifetime.” Dreams are not unattainable—they simply depend on whether you “want to” pursue them.

A: From a listening perspective, it is much like a mirror because you cannot deceive it. Your feelings and emotions at that moment are reflected in the music you choose. One interesting thing is that when chatting with friends, you can analyze their preferences and behavior based on the type of music they choose. When creating music, a person’s personality is manifested in the way they arrange and perform it. You see, “It is simply a mirror.”

A: “Love in the Time of Cholera” tells a story spanning more than half a century and is a novel about a love triangle. After reading it, I felt that I was the female protagonist (laughs). I also came to realize that the more chaotic the times and uncontrollable the circumstances, the more romantic it is if you are willing to persist in doing what you want to do. It is truly a wonderful book. After finishing it, you will want to read it again from the beginning. I once heard that novelists set a threshold, and once you cross it, you can quickly enter the world they have created. I’m not sure whether this is because I had read some of his other works, but while reading this book, it was easy to understand the story he wanted to tell.

A: Taiwan is very convenient and full of human warmth. It is a highly inclusive and free place, which is what attracts me the most. In some ways, I consider it quite prosperous; it’s just that everyone is so accustomed to it that they fail to appreciate it.

In terms of safety, it is also very safe to walk alone on the streets in the early hours of the morning. This would be dangerous in other countries. There are convenience stores, fast-food restaurants, beauty stores, and hypermarkets open 24 hours a day, as well as night markets featuring snacks from all over. Taiwan is wonderful!

A: Rather than saying it is something I look forward to, I would say it is my standard for accommodations. When looking for a place to stay, I pay particular attention to the bathroom. Basically, the bathroom needs to be bright and spacious, and having separate wet and dry areas would be a plus!

A: I pass by CityInn Hotel quite often, usually on my way to get a late-night snack (laughs). Every time I pass by, I take a couple of extra glances inside. It’s bright and clean, with a touch of stylish design. The front desk staff are very attentive—when I checked in, they even handed me a glass of water, which made me exclaim inwardly!

I highly recommend the bathroom area. It is spacious and has excellent natural lighting, so women should really like it. The marble countertop is also incredibly beautiful, so I took several Instagram-worthy photos (laughs).