AFTER scoring films, composer and arranger Onn San hits the studio to work on an orchestral album.
Dedicating the 60-minute record to “film buffs and classical music fans”, it features 15 fresh compositions.
Epomania 2: Time and Space (Epo2) is the sequel to his 2013 debut album Epomania.
“The music is anthemic, akin to movie soundtracks. While none of the 15 tracks are movie themes, they have such a feel, and the works of musicians as John Williams, Yanni and Kitaro will come to mind,” said Sanm, who has a decade’s experience.
The recipient of last year’s 28th Malaysian Film Festival’s Best Original Music for his scoring in Ola Bola has roped in seven artistes to collaborate with him.
They are guitarist Az Samad, theatre performers and singers Ida Mariana Azmi, Stephanie Van Driesen and Safia Hanifah, singer-songwriter Nick Davis, violin virtuoso Rohnie Tan and oud instrumentalist Syech Razie.
“Apart from Stephanie, my guest artistes are all first-time collaborators. I’ve known most of them for years now, and they’re dedicated perfectionists,” said San, adding that the album also features an 18-piece string ensemble.
Epo2 was written for orchestras and choirs, and infused with contemporary electronic sounds.
“It’s an album that combines the powerful sounds of classical and contemporary music, and has a futuristic feel to it. If it’s well-received by listeners, I hope to have some of the songs used for movie themes,” he told the New Straits Times.
The award winner, whose real name is San Weng Onn, studied music at New York University in the United States.
Having composed music for web advertisements locally and abroad, his first major project here was The Secret Life Of Nora, produced by and starring Puan Sri Tiara Jacquelina, leading him to be nominated for best composer in the Boh Cameronian Arts Awards 2011.
In the US, he helmed the orchestra for Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical Joseph And The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat starring American Idol’s Melinda Doolittle in 2009.
Published by MVQ Music, Epo2 will be released next month. It is available for download on online music platforms such as iTunes, Spotify and Bandcamp. For information, visit www.onnsan.com.