Stories in songs

By Subhadra Devan | sdevan@nstp.com.my

Tiktok, the second album by Abstrak Hingga Ke Bulan is enjoying round- the-clock radio play, writes Subhadra Devan

ALTERNATIVE rock-ska indie band, Abstrak Hingga Ke Bulan, is back with a second album, Tiktok, after a four-year break.

With a bit of ska, some pop, and some rock grooves, the album is radio-friendly with the first single, TikTok, currently enjoying airplay on Hot.fm.

The band, with a moniker meaning “abstract to the moon”, was founded in 2006 by lead guitarist Jen Ed (Addry Helmy), who was once with the band D-va.

Kuala Lumpur-born Jen says Abstrak Hingga Ke Bulan (AHKB) released its alternative rock debut album in 2008 and took part in a battle-of-the-band contest called Sutasi, which landed it in the Top 5 lineup.

The debut album Abstrak Hingga Ke Bulan spawned three hit singles — Menanti, Awan Dan Bintang and Cinta Ini Milik Kita — which saw lots of local air play.

Its current lead vocalist is Johor Baru-born Deeba (Adibah Mohd Baharuddin), the only woman in the band. The 27-year-old is a part-time marketing student who was once with recording studio, R Talents.

“I left the industry to concentrate on my studies, but the pull of singing is just too strong. So now I’m doing both,” says the hip-looking vocalist.

“Lucky for us,” adds Jen, the oldest in the band at 37. He owns his own recording studio and the second album is produced under its own label, Produksi Runut Bunyi. “It’s D.I.Y all the way,” he quips.

The other musicians, all below the age of 30, are drummer Ikmal (Muhammad Ikmal Abdul Laatiff), keyboardist-guitarist Fendy (Mohd Effendy Tajudin) and bassist Aretoms (Mohd Ikram Zainuddin).

AHKB, says Jen, is finding a new voice by leaning more towards pop than alternative rock. “It’s a more accessible sound. But what’s also important is that there are stories in the songs,” he explains, adding that the title track, TikTok, is about waiting for Mr Right, and is rightly sung by Deeba.

The album offers six other Malay songs and five English tracks, including When I’m With You. All were written by Jen except the last which is by Deeba.

AHKB has been featured this year at various gigs including International Women’s Day event at DoPPel Kafe in March.

“The honesty and sincerity of our band is heard in our songs,” says Jen, who picked up the guitar when aged 14.

For Deeba, the band is special because “the music is different from other local bands.”

Listen to AHKB’s radio-friendly songs on www.myspace.com/abstrakhinggakebulan or check out Hot.fm.

Abstrak Hingga Ke Bulan is back with an album after a four-year break

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Stories in songs

Tiktok, the second album by Abstrak Hingga Ke Bulan is enjoying round- the-clock radio play, writes Subhadra Devan

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