TRANSLATION | Eugenia Yang

他可以是率性不羈的搖滾樂手、貴氣迷人的霸道總裁、溫文儒雅的編劇作家、親切和藹的鄰家男孩，伴隨不同音樂切換，眾多角色的殘影似乎依稀可見，輕哼幾句的游刃有餘，恰展現了鳳小岳如今心安若素的人生階段。「期望隨著年紀增長，可以往生命更深的地方走下去， 再找方式分享給大家，這是我現在想做的事。」彷彿是一面光明鏡，亦是社會縮影，從雙生之境探索未知，幽邃雙眸裡藏著道不盡的千言萬語。

/戲劇翫味

近年擁有多重身份的鳳小岳，從父親、演員、音樂人至台北邁斯納表演工作室共同創辦人，愈活愈精彩的人生始於從不侷限自我的思想格局，總是盡力把握每次眼前的機會，笑說反而是環境為他下了註解，才意識到鳳小岳原是這般模樣，「我覺得人還是要想辦法在追求自我的同時，必須要跟社會大眾連結，要找到一個可以跟社會大眾溝通的語言，其實這也是戲劇最根本的概念。」談起戲劇二字，瞬間熱血沸騰了起來，尤其訓練嚴謹的邁斯納技巧為他帶來了極大改變，透過無止盡的探索、持續犯錯，直到站上舞台演出前一刻的茫然，心無懸念的當下，便是身為演員的最佳狀態。「其實全世界的人都應該來上邁斯納技巧，特別是第一年的訓練，它是成人反璞歸真的一個過程，是一個快速的管道，讓你在一個想像的情境下，放下所有的社會包袱， 真正地與自我共處。」

進一步點出如今台灣社會的整體現象：男人忘記了如何悲傷、女人忘記了如何生氣，藉由戲劇方能重新認識外在形體與內在聲音，亦如練功般需要流年積累，將想像力化成肌肉組織，以生存慾望驅使被動式肌肉運作，毫無拘束地盡情探索，為鳳小岳期望所能提供台灣戲劇界的健康空間。

而音樂創作同樣也是鳳小岳之於社會不滿與疑惑的抒發，坦承過往曾以逃避心態面對寫歌詞，現在的他選擇用多重觀點看待人事物，「如果可以用唱的，把它唱出來唱清楚，我相信能夠給予人跟人之間的連結。」更悄悄透露半年內將會發行新專輯，以莒光號進化為高鐵逗趣形容進展速度，自己也不禁笑了。

/正向信念

邇來備受熱烈好評的《成功之路：How to Be a Rock Star》，為鳳小岳與伍佰共同演出的搖滾歌劇，其中鳳小岳飾演夢想成為宇宙唯一 Rock Star 的大 A，莫名巧遇光魔王伍佰，進而展開一段尋找自我的瘋狂公路旅程。「其實老師這個劇本是要寫給全世界看的，全世界的人都看得懂， 所以全世界的人應該都有一個大 A 在心裡 。」笑說大 A 源自於台語老大，看似老梗十足的趣味，實則潛藏了深遠意象，期望透過這齣搖滾歌劇能為大眾捎來正能量，縱使面臨種種不順遂，仍要勇敢努力地應對人生。提及開演前後，心境是否有不同感受，他笑答伍佰老師很會勾人心，「前陣子殺青一部電影，殺青酒去 KTV，每三四首歌就會有一首伍佰的歌，老師的力量真的非常強， 一路以來的堅持，到現在又可以用這麼輕鬆的方式慶祝三十周年，雖然遇上疫情延後演出，也讓這部戲有了不同意義。」

談起多元宇宙的架構，如今有不少科學家深究得獎，對此鳳小岳認為人們正處於一個相當有意思的年代，由於肉體沒辦法到達另一個平行宇宙，於他而言便是一個天人合一的過程，「比如七十二變、長生不老，我覺得是非常東方的文化意象，這些概念所代表的到底是什麼，我覺得其實都跟平行宇宙有直接的關聯。」 更讓他聯想起七千年前的印度濕婆神，由三頭六臂組成的萬能天神人掌管山寨間的種族歧視，透過濕婆神所整理的古巴音（Do Re Mi Fa So）進而讓人們跟宇宙連結，每每提起，鳳小岳皆難掩興奮神情，「如果真的要去實踐，用肉體跟精神去突破這件事情，我認為還是要走上修行之路。」

/氛圍穿搭

褪下華服後，私底下的鳳小岳經常會選擇襯衫、牛仔褲、皮鞋作為日常搭配，他說近期情有獨鍾的單品是領帶，「因為我有一些在歐洲生活的經驗，有時候打領帶不是那麼正式，也可以很輕鬆地打一個領帶， 就會營造一個氛圍感。」 跳脫正襟危坐的刻板印象，當休閒裝扮遇上形形色色的領帶，巧妙碰撞出相異穿搭風格，是他目前感到十分有趣的嘗試。

對於首飾的挑選原則，鳳小岳表示會依不同場合配戴金銀單品，獨具工藝的手錶也讓他相當著迷，不僅具有傳承意義，更是世代歷史的良好載體。放眼當代時尚圈， Pharrell Williams、Jared Leto、David Bowie、Grace Jones 以及早期便開始運用數位藝術的虛擬樂團 Gorillaz 為鳳小岳心中較經典的人物指標，「最近很流行原子小金剛靴，開始很多人在穿，整個概念是把想像力投射到虛擬世界，為什麼這個二次元的物品不能再拿回現實世界？是 Gorillaz 影響了我，這是一個很有意思的潮流現象。 」亦如鳳小岳所言時尚象徵著速文化，是種提供大眾尋得認同感的座標形式，透過不斷的自我定義，全然接受形體優劣，再以衣著簡單延伸自我存在，「穿衣服是一個最快速、最直接的方式，不穿也是。」

「這一兩年找到了自己的聲音，是我以前沒有的，如今重新找回來了，希望接下來的歲月可以多唱歌給大家聽， 是我目前最想要做的事。」

/蛻變關鍵

若時常關注鳳小岳的社群，不難發現他經常分享母親傳來的「節氣叮嚀」，豐富精實的窩心資訊讓人不禁莞爾，悄悄透露自己最喜歡台灣的十一月與二至四月，秋天尾聲與初春時節，讓他笑稱是台灣的地中海氣候，近日打開窗戶，則彷彿有種來到加州的錯覺。

而日常離不開音樂的他，無私推薦了三首人生必聽歌曲，「有一部電影叫做《海海人生》，由 David Bowie 主唱的《Starman》，那張專輯很有意思，整張都唱葡萄牙文，剛好電影是 2004 年，也是我開始認識 David Bowie 的年紀，是個非常逗趣的電影，讓我印象非常深刻；第二首想要驕傲地推薦落日飛車的《My Jinji》，我覺得這首歌真的很棒，以及草東沒有派對的《山海》，真的寫得非常好。」台灣在地樂團的崛起也讓鳳小岳感到相當期待與興奮，冀望眾人成為自我的同時，能往生命軌跡更深處走去，透過多方交流與分享，凝聚社會共鳴，便足以讓演藝人員獲得更多自信。

然而現下佛系思想盛行，矛盾的是，該如何維持對生命的熱情？鳳小岳給予了一個極具正向的實質回答，「我以前也會擔心這件事情，後來發現沒有，因為那些事情是外界來阻礙你，你擁有比較強的心態去面對挑戰，佛系並不會影響熱忱，也要常常提醒自己：當你一開始抱怨就輸了。」坦承過往經常會拿對於世界的不滿，作為不去改變的理由，從自己做起看似俗套，卻是唯一能真正蛻變的關鍵。之於往後人生的角色，他緩緩道出好好唱歌四字，「這一兩年找到了自己的聲音，是我以前沒有的，如今重新找回來了，希望接下來的歲月可以多唱歌給大家聽， 是我目前最想要做的事。」

He can be a rebellious rock musician, a charming but dominant CEO, a gentle and sophisticated screenwriter or a friendly boy living next door. As the music changes between tracks, the shadows of different roles appear by the glimpse. Humming softly along, Rhydian Vaughan seems to be very much at ease. “As I get older, I hope to delve deeper into life and find ways to share it with everyone. That’s what I want to do now.” Like a bright mirror and a reflection of society, he explores the unknown in the realm of duality, while his eyes shine with words and wisdom that cannot be expressed. 

Savoring Theatrical Arts 

Father, actor, musician, co-founder of Meisner Studio—Vaughan has been taking on multiple roles recently, as his life grows more and more exciting by the year. Never limiting his mindset, he is always trying to seize the opportunity that comes his way. Laughing, he says it was the environment that actually gave him certain labels. “I think when we are trying to achieve our best selves, we also have to make a connection with society. Find a language that allows you to communicate with the community, that is the fundamental concept of theater.” The moment we start to talk about drama, Vaughan immediately gets enthusiastic, especially since the rigorous training at Meisner Studio has brought about significant changes for him. After endless exploration and continuous mistakes, the moment when he stands on stage with a clearheaded mind before the performance starts is precisely the best state as an actor. “Honestly, everyone should learn the Meisner techniques, especially the first year of training. It is a process for adults to return to simplicity, a fast way that allows you to imagine a situation and learn to let go of your social burdens so you can truly coexist with your authentic self.” Vaughan further points out the current phenomenon he sees in Taiwanese society: men have forgotten how to be sad, while women have forgotten how to be angry. Through drama and theater, we can rediscover our external form and internal voice. Just like any training, we can turn our imagination into muscle tissues and let our survival instinct motivate our passive muscle action. That way, we can then explore without restraint, which is something he aspires to bring to the Taiwanese drama industry. In the same way, making music is Vaughan’s way of relieving his dissatisfaction and doubts about society. He admits that, in the past, he used to write lyrics with an escape mentality, but now he chooses to look at the world through multiple perspectives. “If it can be sung, then sing it clearly. I believe it will be able to provide a connection between people.” Quietly revealing that his album will be released in the next six months, he can’t help but laugh at his own fast progress, which felt like switching from taking a slow train to taking the high-speed rail.  

Positive Mindset 

Recently, the critically acclaimed “How to Be a Rock Star,” a rock musical co-starring Vaughan and Wu Bai, has been receiving rave reviews. In the play, Vaughan plays the role of Big A, who dreams of becoming the only rock star in the universe and accidentally meets the Light Overlord, played by Wu Bai. Together, they embark on a crazy journey of self-exploration. “Actually, this script was written for the whole world to see because it is universally relatable. There should be a Big A living in everyone’s heart.” The name Big A originates from the Taiwanese slang meaning the head of the gangsters, which may seem like a cliché joke, and yet, the meaning it entails is rather meaningful. Vaughan aspires that through this rock musical, positive energy can be delivered to the public and send the message: we should take on life with courage even in the face of difficulties. When asked if he felt any different after his performances, he smiles and replies Wu Bai is very good at captivating people’s hearts. “I had just finished shooting a movie a while ago and we all went out to the KTV. Every three or four songs, there would be a song by Wu Bai. His energy is unmatchable and everlasting. Even till now, he is able to celebrate his thirtieth anniversary in such a relaxed way. Though the performance was postponed due to the pandemic, it gave this play a different meaning.” Speaking of the framework of the multiverse, nowadays, many scientists are currently doing research in this field and receiving acclaim for it. For this, Vaughan believes we are now living in a very interesting era. Since it is impossible for the physical body to reach another parallel universe, he sees it as a process of integrating the universe and the man. “Let’s take shapeshifters and immortality as examples. I think these are both very Eastern culture concepts and what these concepts represent are actually directly related parallel universes.” This also reminds him of the Hindu god, Shiva, from 7,000 years ago, who presided over racial discrimination among Indian tribes with his three heads and six arms. Through the ancient Indian musical scale (Do Ra Me Fa So) composed by Shiva, people were able to connect with the universe, something that still makes Vaughan very excited when mentioned. “If we really want to make it happen, we have to use our body and spirit to achieve a breakthrough and follow the path of spiritual practice.” 

Dressing Accordingly 

Besides formal attire, in private, Vaughan usually chooses shirts, jeans and leather shoes as his daily wear. Recently, his favorite accessory is the tie. “With my experience living in Europe, I realized that wearing a tie doesn’t always have to be formal and wearing it can create a certain atmosphere.” Breaking the uptight stereotype, when casual wear meets the variation of ties, it cleverly collides with the different styles of dressing. As for jewelry, he usually goes for gold and silver accessories, depending on the occasion. He is also fascinated by exquisite watches, which not only carries meanings of inheritance, but is also a positive medium of generational history. Setting his vision on the fashion industry, Vaughan finds Pharrell Williams, Jared Leto, David Bowie, Grace Jones and Gorillaz, a virtual band that started using digital art early on, to be classic icons in his mind. “The MSCHF Big Red Boots have become popular lately and many people are wearing them. Its whole concept is to project imagination into the virtual reality, so why can’t we bring two-dimensional items back to the real world? Gorillaz has influenced me and I think this is a very interesting trend.” Like Vaughan says, fashion symbolizes fast culture, a form of coordinates providing people with a sense of identity. Only through continuous self-identification can we fully accept the advantages and disadvantages of the body, followed by further extending our existence through our choice of clothing. “Dressing is the fastest and most direct way, so is undressing.” 

The Key to Change 

If you pay attention to Vaughan’s social media, you will see that he often shares his mother’s “seasonal reminders,” messages filled with heartwarming but concise information that bring a smile to people’s face upon reading. Of all the seasons, his favorite time in Taiwan is from November to April, which is the end of autumn to the beginning of spring, a time he jokingly calls the Mediterranean climate of Taiwan. Lately, whenever he opens the windows to feel the weather, it almost feels like he is back in California. As someone who can’t live without music, Vaughan generously shares with us three songs that everyone must listen to. “First, is David Bowie’s ‘Starman.’ It is a very interesting album, the entire album is in Portuguese. There is a movie called The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, which was released in 2004, the same year I started to grow familiar with David Bowie’s music. It is also a very fun movie that left an impression on me. The second song, which I recommend with pride, is Sunset Rollercoaster ‘my jinji.’ It is such a great song. And lastly, No Party for Cao Dong’s ‘Wayfarer,’ is a beautifully written song.” Excited about the rise of local, individual Taiwanese bands, Vaughan hopes that while everyone is finding their true selves, they are also delving deep into their life and the potential it creates. Through various exchanges and constant sharing, a social resonance can be achieved, which is more than enough to help performers gain more confidence. However, with the prevailing zen thinking gaining popularity nowadays, it seems contradicting to think about ways to maintain our passion for life. “I used to worry about this, but later on, I realize these are all external obstacles. Once you have a strong mentality to face challenges, zen thinking would not affect your enthusiasm. We should also remind ourselves often—when you start complaining, you lose.” Looking at his past, he admits that he used to use his dissatisfaction with the world as an excuse not to change. Perhaps starting from being your true self may sound cliché, but it is the key to true transformation. As for the role he wants to take on in the future, Vaughan’s goal is to focus on singing. “I have found my voice in the past year or two, which I didn’t before. Now that I have found what I had lost, I hope to sing more and make more songs for everyone. That is the thing I want to do the most at the moment.”