Ministry of Culture

• Chinese Name: 亂彈阿翔
• Date of Birth: Dec. 17, 1970
• Did You Know That… ?
• Luantan Ascent's signature long hair did not come from a desire to look cool, but because he thinks it saves money.

Ascent formed the rock band "Luantan” in 1996, which became one of Taiwan's earliest alternative rock groups. In 1998, the group won the best performance group at the Golden Melody Awards, Taiwan's equivalent of the Grammy's, with its first album "Hope.” Two years later, they beat popular bands such as Mayday to grab the Awards' best pop band title.

The critical acclaim did not translate into wider popularity for the four-member indie rock band, however, despite their unique fusion of traditional Taiwanese folk opera with modern rock music. During the late 1990s and early 2010s, the Yilan-born musician even went to mainland China to look for opportunities. Eventually Ascent returned to Taiwan and began working on film and television series scores.

From a high-profile, award-winning singer to a music writer working behind the scene, Ascent adjusted his career path and waited to make a comeback. His determination to stay in the profession, which he said does not make one rich, finally paid off.

"Perfect Landing,” the theme song he wrote for the 2011 Taiwanese movie "Jump Ashin!” won him a Golden Horse Award, the Oscars for Mandarin films, that year. A year later, he was crowned as Golden Melody's Best Male MandarinSinger after releasing an album collection of various songs he wrote for films and television dramas over the past decade.

Ascent has not gotten used to his revived celebrity status. Most of the time, he enjoys growing vegetables and making wooden furniture at home. When he goes shopping at traditional markets, he even pins up his breast-length hair and hides it in a scooter helmet to avoid being recognized.