I love to sing.
Though I started off playing percussions for X-zora. Tablas and congos.
Then I went to play guitar.
After that, I played keyboard for the Strangers.
Then, I switched to playing bass and singing back-up with NV.
The thing is, all these 3 bands are essentially the same band, but with just a few tweaks in the line-up.
Haha~
I’m still with NV, as a bassist, back-up vox, music arranger, soundman, sound & recording engineer and songwriter.
But I move all around with project bands here and there, singing my heart out. Rock, pop, 50’s to 90’s, evergreens and such.
I think the term that fits me is “Wedding Singer” cos I play at a whole lot of weddings, malay and non-malay ones.
Most of the time, I sing with minus-1 tracks, but I prefer performing with backliners because it is different, and all the nuances of playing live is what makes live music such a superb experience.
Around 5 years ago, I attended a 5 month vocal grooming and coaching course. Damn bloody expensive it was, but I guess it was worth my money. I couldn’t sing well before, but now…
The different techniques and styles of various genres were taught. Classical, pop, R&B, soul, etc. There was emphasis in Clarity, Diction, Enunciation, Control, Vibrato, Pitching, Breathing, Timing and Balance.
Sadly, Rock wasn’t in the syllabus.
Rock is the one genre that I had to learn by myself.
The grinding, wide-throat voice of Ian Gillian, the high, hollow voice of David Coverdale, the strong, controlled voice of Ronnie James Dio, the tweedy tone of Ozzy Osbourne, the low, rich, throaty baritone of Rob Thomas, the relaxed but still tight pitch of Anthony Keidis and many others.
So many different techniques and styles all in one genre.
What a challenge it is if one is able to sing in all the different styles.
I wish to accomplish that.
Hey, you can call me ambitious, but isn’t a man supposed to be ambitious?
So, to all those about to rock, I salute you.
Meanwhile, sing me a song, you’re a singer…
Filed under: Ramblings | Tags: anugerah band, communication, Connecting, Kings, Semi-finals
Tonight.
Is the semi-finals for “Anugerah Band”.
Yes, the last 6 bands, weeded out from around 200 bands, to perform, on live TV, tonight.
Putra, X-Tech, Trabo (go Aidil! ), Rancour, Fatskunks (go Bogeh! ) and Cucu Datok Merah (go Boy, Anis, Eddy and Fyno! Go, go, go! Alompak agogo! )
No prizes for guessing who I’m rooting for, though. I’ll vote for them tonight! Cheers from Raja Kumbang!
I’m a bit disappointed that Knightwings didn’t pull through. Sorry, A’an, but you guys totally ruled when you were on stage.
During a gig last April, just after my project band’s slot on the stage (I was on vox. My friend AJ was on bass, AOD from Nakalistik on drums and Jas formerly from Nalo on guitar) , I had the opportunity to watch Trabo in action. At that time, I think that their vocalist couldn’t make it, so they had A’an from Knightwings stand in for them. They’re really good, and A’an’s vocals were smashingly superb. Of course, the star of the night was Jatt Ali and Awie.
I am quite a bit piqued at the purpose of Anugerah Band, though. Plus, their official website sucks sour shananas! No updates, and it’s like, semi-dead? And the Malay Daily, BH doesn’t even have news about it. I have to refer to pujanggamalam.com for reviews, how about that?
Anugerah band. Do they want pretty looking guys who can’t play for nuts, or do they ignore the looks department and go for musical ability?
Is it a search for musical talent or a search for a marketable product?
I think that basically, it’s a search for the next big thing. Well, in the malay music industry anyway.
Which, need I remind you, isn’t that big.
Do you know how many malay musicians actually survive on just making or playing music?
I don’t, but barring Rosli Mansoor, Jatt Ali and just a few others, I know that there’s not many.
Most have day jobs. Some can’t even find jobs. Others, can’t even hold a job.
Believe me, I’m living it.
To a lot of us musicians, music is either a sideline, or a very expensive, passion-fuelled, hobby.
But still, it doesn’t mean we’re giving up on it.
There’s always the hope that we could make it big. Maybe be as big as Search, Sweet Charity or Peter Pan or Sheila on 7.
There’s always hope.
Even after 20 or 30 years of playing, the hope is still alive.
That one last chance to show what you’ve got, connecting to the audience on a basic, primal level, stirring their emotions – love, anger, sadness, pain – communicating with words that don’t mean anything much and various simultaneous tones – phased, distorted, driven and boosted – and beats that evoke an inner rhythm not in the ears only, but in the heart and soul.
For an audience, the feeling is akin to being reigned over, ruled upon by a non-corporeal entity made of emotions, triggered by multitudes and layers of sound.
For me as a performer, it is the rush, not of enthralling or wowing the crowd, that excites and fills me, but it is the sense of reigning over them, arousing their senses and making them feel what I feel. Non-linear communication. Connection. In a sense, when a band is onstage and getting wild responses from the crowd, doing their best and feeling “in it”, they’re actually more like KINGS.
Kings of the arena, with the venue as their kingdom, the stage as their throne and the crowd as their subjects.
Rule badly and you and your subjects are bound to suffer.
But, if one reigns with a need to connect, on the most basic levels, to that of one’s fellow man, then all will come out of it much happier, and more connected.
That is why, I aspire to be a king.
Not of any particular kingdom. Or of any particular throne or subjects.
It doesn’t matter where, as long as I am on stage, with people awaiting and expecting a song or two, I will do my utmost best, and with dire sincerity and honesty, to connect and rule.
Witness my reign.
Raja Kumbang.
Filed under: Ramblings | Tags: anugerah band, Api, Cow's Revenge, Music, Projek Rentak, Songwriting
I spilled some milk on my beautiful leather jacket. Now it’s stained. Permanently.
I can’t seem to get it off, no matter how much I try to wash it off.
Cow’s revenge, I suppose.
Did anyone catch the results show of Anugerah Band?
The bands who made it through the semi-final rounds are Cucu Datok Merah, Fatskunks, Rancour and Trabo.
The Wildcard round entrees are X-Tech, Knightwings, Virus Cinta and Putra.
The rest of the bands, are history.
Even Helven. I guess you just have to pick either Heaven or Hell. Can’t have both now, can’t we?
I wonder why Virus Cinta is in the picture again? I thought they were out a couple of episodes ago?
I hope to see CDM in the final round, but I’m rooting for Knightwings too. What are friends for, right A’an?
I entered the Projek Rentak competition, a songwriting contest by COMPASS, Ria FM and Warna FM.
The song I submitted is called “Api Pilihan” (The Chosen Fire ) written by yours truly.
I’m not banking much on it, I just want to entertain people.
So, to be entertained, click the link below.
Cheers!
