the Peppermints ft. JB

Formed in 1998, the Peppermints draw from punk, alternative rock, and dream pop, crafting a sound defined by lush, powerful guitars and poetic, emotionally charged songwriting. Emerging from campus music scenes, the band went on to perform at major Taiwanese festivals such as Spring Scream and Formoz Festival, while also collaborating with artists across disciplines to create theatrical and cross-media performances—constantly reshaping their artistic identity.

After releasing the psychologically intense album Banished in 2009, the Peppermints entered a long hiatus, placing their story on pause.

Sixteen years later, in 2025, the Peppermints returned with a brand-new album, ¬ NOTtoBE, collaborating once again with producer YLWT and berry j, and inviting electronic artist JB to contribute keyboards, synthesizers, and dance-driven rhythms. The result is a sound that marks a clear departure from their earlier work, opening a new chapter in the band’s evolution.

The title ¬ NOTtoBE references Shakespeare’s iconic line from Hamlet, “To be or not to be,” with the logical negation symbol “¬” added as a prefix—signifying a rejection of rigid binaries and an exploration of a more expansive self, suspended between contradiction and freedom.

At Megaport Festival 2026, the Peppermints will appear in a special new formation, led by vocalist and guitarist LIN CHIEN, joined by electronic artist JB. Together, they will present newly reworked versions of five tracks from ¬ NOTtoBE, alongside reimagined selections from the band’s earlier catalog.

This minimalist yet finely tuned duo performance marks a moment of reflection and forward motion for a band with a 28-year history. Moving from deconstruction to reconstruction, the Peppermints revisit their long-standing exploration of madness and freedom, pushing their sound—and spirit—into a new era with renewed intensity.