The Creative Team
Joe X. Jiang
(Music, lyrics, story)
Joe X. Jiang is a versatile and celebrated musician, composer, filmmaker, and performer known for his dynamic presence in alternative rock and his innovative work across the performing arts. As lead composer and instrumentalist for the trailblazing Asian American dance-rock band The Slants, he spent over a decade at the forefront of artistic activism, including the band’s landmark Supreme Court victory for free expression, performing everywhere from sold-out international festivals to the TEDx stage.
His musicianship helped define The Slants’ signature blend of infectious new wave hooks and modern rock energy, experience that directly informed his stage work as co-creator of Slanted: An American Rock Opera, a critically acclaimed adaptation of the band’s real-life legal battle now featured in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame library. Beyond music, Jiang is an award-winning filmmaker and visual artist whose work—ranging from intimate documentaries to experimental sci-fi—has been presented at festivals and exhibitions worldwide. Dedicated to creating sonically daring, narratively rich work that authentically represents the Asian American experience, he is also the co-founder and co-chair of The Slants Foundation, a nonprofit supporting artists of color using their work to drive social change, and brings a uniquely holistic, collaborative perspective to the contemporary music theater landscape.
Simon Tam
(Music, Lyrics, Story)
Simon Tam is a musician, author, and composer whose work bridges performing arts, community-based activism, and powerful storytelling. As the founder and bassist of The Slants, he pioneered innovative forms of arts-driven social justice, earning over 3,000 media features across 150 countries—including The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, NPR, the BBC, The New York Times, and Rolling Stone—and winning a landmark, unanimous Supreme Court case that strengthened civil liberties for minority communities.
His storytelling has been recognized through distinguished fellowships, residencies, and awards in music, theater, and writing with organizations such as Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Cincinnati Fringe Development, and the UNC Process Series, and his groundbreaking work Slanted: An American Rock Opera is now featured in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame library. A deeply collaborative artist, Tam has worked alongside major artists such as Jay-Z, Killer Mike, and Chance the Rapper to protect creative expression, co-founded The Slants Foundation to mentor emerging artists, and specializes in translating personal experience into bold, socially resonant work ideally suited for musical theater. Exhibits of his work have appeared at institutions including the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, National Constitution Center, First Amendment Museum, Wing Luke Museum, Oregon Historical Society, and Portland Chinatown Museum