Note-worthy Protocol

The band’s name may hark back to a global environmental treaty but the five lads from Kyoto Protocol are hoping to make their mark in more ways than one, writes Zuhaila Sedek

Kyoto Protocol has a distinctive sound and might just be the next big thing in town. Pictured (from left) are Oliveres, Fuad, Shanjeev and Hairi

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EVERY weekday morning, members of rock band Kyoto Protocol put on their working clothes and head for the office. But when night falls, they change into washed-out shirts and shorts and head for a jamming session.
All five members (aged between 24 and 28) — Ahmad Fuad Alhabshi (vocals/guitar), Gael Oliveres (vocals /keyboard), Hairi Haneefa (guitar), Shakeil Bashir (bass/vocals) and Shanjeev Reddy (drums) — have good reason for keeping their day jobs.

“To be honest, the income from a day job frees us from feeling that we have to play what people want to hear and we can be truly creative with our music,” says Ahmad, also fondly known as Fuad.

He is a financial analyst, while Oliveres owns and manages a public relations company. Shakeil is a Masters student in Australia, Hairi is an engineer in the oil and gas industry while Shanjeev is a financial planner.
Having a day job is also important for the band, considering how challenging it is to survive as an English band in this country. In the real world, says Fuad, speaking on behalf of the band, making enough money not only lets them support themselves but also allows them to make their kind of music.

They admit that sometimes, it’s difficult juggling the two. “We’ve all had to make sacrifices for the betterment of the band, or our careers. But we manage,” he adds.

NOT YOUR USUAL MUSIC BAND

Shakeil didn’t make it to the photoshoot but the rest of the guys did. Lively, funny and outgoing, when it comes to music, they are very serious indeed, with a sound that’s definitely different.
“It is our intention to make our mark in the world of music, not necessarily just Malaysia,” says Fuad, of the band formed in 2008. “To leave a music legacy.

“I would say the band has its roots in punk, but, much like our heroes, The Clash, derives fulfilment in exploring the different genres. They had songs like Rock The Casbah, which fused elements of funk, or Should I Stay Or Should I Go, which had a rockabilly sound. Everyone listens to more than one genre of music.”

AN ALBUM AND MORE
Kyoto Protocol’s debut English album, An Album, was released in June last year by Monsoon Records. It has five songs and was produced by Cee, who is well-known for his work in electronic dance music.
The first single, Pussycat, is a big hit online. The sound is not that of your typical Malaysian band and when you listen to their songs, The Foo Fighters come to mind. Fuad has a deep, big voice.

Kyoto Protocol is also big on online music sharing. The band runs an online store at kyotoprotocol.spinshop.com to sell digital downloads of its songs, CDs and other merchandise. Its songs are also available on iTunes.
“The Internet allows dissemination of information instantly. It lets us reach the eyes and ears of a greater audience and is a truly awesome tool,” says Fuad.

Kyoto Protocol had quite a blast last year. In March, it opened for the MGMT concert in Kuala Lumpur and in November, it was nominated for Best New Artist at the 18th Anugerah Industri Muzik.
Although it lost the award to singer Najwa, the band grabbed the attention of the Who’s Who in the industry. It has started to receive more offers to do gigs.

“The AIM nomination was a shock to us, but we were absolutely thrilled to be even considered,” he says. “Things have definitely picked up. Invitations to perform are streaming in but, more interestingly, we’ve started to receive propositions for product endorsements and such.”

The band recently performed at 8TV’s 8th Anniversary and next month, they will probably perform at Hitz FM’s birthday celebration.
“We’re planning to slow down on gigs in the first half of the year to concentrate on making music videos and new material. It’s time we give our fans more to look forward to and, gain new listeners as well,” says Fuad, sounding very determined.
 
WHAT’S IN A NAME?

Despite the name, the band members are not die-hard environmentalists although they feel it is important.In a television interview with Al Jazeera two years ago, Kyoto Protocol was featured doing things that make a difference to the environment — such as carpooling, recycling and using electricity wisely while jamming.

The name Kyoto Protocol was a coincidence, explains Fuad who initially came up with Redux Initiative (a literal description of the music — Redux means the return of something old while Initiative means creating something new).

“A friend responded by saying that the name sounded like Geneva Convention or Kyoto Protocol. Then, we thought Kyoto Protocol might just do it for us,” says Fuad, adding that people will also be reminded of the importance of looking after the environment whenever the band name is mentioned.

Kyoto Protocol is hoping to perform in Indonesia soon. “Apart from that, we’re happy to be making more music, gaining as many fans as possible and, in our small way, contributing to world peace,” says Fuad.