Taipei’s dream-pop five-piece I Mean Us are walking into a new chapter. Ahead of their single “DOVE,” the band reflects on how a chance beginning turned into shared vision, why a cloud keeps drifting through their visuals, and what makes Taiwan’s indie scene feel both inclusive and global. From a twilight first appearance on Megaport’s main stage to giving guitarist VITZ the lead vocal spotlight, here’s where they are right now—and what they want the world to hear next.

ABOUT THE BAND

How did I Mean Us form, and what shared goal still ties the members together today?

Hank (Bassist): I.M.U. started through our mutual friend Chun (a former member). At first, we barely knew each other—those early rehearsals were honestly a little hilarious and awkward. After Chun left, we struggled to find the right person, then met OHAN by coincidence and asked him to join on the spot. Luckily, he said yes.
It’s hard to force everyone to share one specific “goal” in a group; one second thought and a band can fall apart. For us, “vision” and “passion” matter more. Fortunately, all five of us truly share one vision: to let more people around the world hear our music. Everything makes sense if we treat that as our basic creed.

Within Taiwan’s indie landscape, what one musical or visual hallmark makes people say “That’s I Mean Us”?

Mandark (Vocal/Keys): Visually, our recurring cloud motif has become a subtle signature. Musically, it’s the emotional haze of dreampop. Put together, those are what people tend to recognize instantly.

Before “DOVE” even arrives, what has been the band’s proudest moment in 2025?

PP L (Drummer): Any time we achieve something together and feel genuinely good about it, I’m proud—even if it’s small. If I have to choose one standout: Megaport Festival in March. It was our first time there, on the largest outdoor stage, collaborating with YouTuber-musician Huang Da-Chien. The sky shifting from day to night while the field filled up—it felt magical, almost like a dream. I won’t forget it.

ABOUT “DOVE”

In one sentence, what feeling or story does “DOVE” capture?

VITZ (Guitarist / now also Vocalist): Jyun-ai—純愛 (pure love). It delivers something private and anxious that only happens within pure love.

What single sound-design or arrangement choice gives this track its own color?

VITZ: We shaped dynamic drum patterns, a guitar rhythm, and a bedroom-pop-vibe vocal to present the dove’s perspective. Compared to our earlier songs, this one is livelier and lovelier—but we still kept our signatures: an ethereal atmosphere and a full-band instrumental feel.
PP L: It’s also the first time VITZ takes lead vocal on an I Mean Us release. When we heard the demo, her voice fit the dove’s perspective perfectly. The storytelling-style lyrics make it feel fresh and engaging for us, too.

“Dove” can hint at peace, flight, or longing. Which nuance speaks loudest in the lyrics, and why?

VITZ: We chose the dove for the way it moves—tiny steps, head bobbing as it walks. You meet them by chance in the city; the moment you get too close, they lift off and keep distance. It’s like love—unpredictable, fleeting, near and far at once.

Ear-candy moment—timestamp one standout sound and how you made it.

VITZ: Around 2:41 there’s a high-pitched tone that might sound like strings, but it’s an ambient guitar tuned up. It bridges sections and creates a slow-motion pause—as if the bird and the girl are locked in a gaze.

TAIWAN SCENE

How would you describe today’s Taiwanese indie scene to someone abroad who only knows Mandopop or K-pop?

OHAN (Vocal/Guitar): Togetherness and Diversity & Inclusion. We’re from a small island the world didn’t always notice, but our independent music is now heard globally. The bands that first put Taiwan on the map still lift others up. From Sunset Rollercoaster’s nostalgic romance to Elephant Gym’s math-rock, Fire EX.’s punk, and our own dreampop—the scene mirrors Taiwan itself: open, inclusive, full of contrasts.

What change would you most like to see in Taiwan’s music ecosystem over the next five years—and how can bands like yours help?

PP L: I hope for a wider, more diverse live audience—not just more people, but all ages and backgrounds. When more listeners pay for shows and really listen, the ecosystem gets healthier and creativity follows. Our part is to keep making work that feels true to us while engaging with other musicians and audiences—small efforts that help the scene keep evolving and opening up.

I Mean Us are leaning into a simple, stubborn creed: let more people hear the music. With “DOVE,” they add a new texture—VITZ’s first lead, a fluttering guitar “string,” a city dove’s cautious dance—without losing the clouded glow that made them recognizable in the first place. If Taiwan’s indie movement is defined by togetherness and inclusion, I Mean Us are its soft-spoken evangelists, inviting more ears into the haze. Keep an eye out for “DOVE.