HE is best known as one half of funny duo Comedy Court, alongside Indi Nadarajah, but Allan Perera is also a gifted musician. And, he has a special surprise for fans this Deepavali.
Perera is releasing his first international music album, Get The Picture, which has been sitting
on his “kitchen shelf” for 17 years.
He spent RM150,000 to
compose and produce the dream
album, but failed to get it
published, as every record company he approached cited that there was “no market for the music”.
The album made by Perera’s band, CreAsian, features seven originals written by Perera, two by Australian guitarist Jamie Wilson and an ethnic fusion cover of Mack Rice’s Mustang Sally. It marries pop, rock, R&B, funk and Latin, with traditional Asian styles.
It features Perera as the main vocalist and he is backed by traditional percussionist Kirubakaran Narayanasamy of Aseana Percussion Unit and Temple Of Fine Arts tabla maestro Prakash Kandasamy on traditional rhythmic vocals.
Get The Picture was recorded from November 1999 to March 2000 at Synchrosound Recording Studios in Petaling Jaya, a RM50 million, 2,322 sq m, state-of-the-art studio complex, which Perera chose to facilitate recording with more than 20 modern and ethnic instruments.
The other musicians featured on the album were award-winning sitarist Samuel J. Dass, mridangam player Ram Gopal Sivadas, American percussionist Steve Thornton, drummer Luke Mason, saxophonist Greg Lyons, trumpeter Coni Soliano, bassist David “Ah Wah” Yee, music lecturer Zin Ngah,and film composer and bassist Pacai.
Perera, a professional musician since 1976, has performed with Faith Symphony, AsiaBeat, Falcons, Forever Band, Pieces, and Made in Malaysia.
He was a sought-after vocalist and composer for television and radio advertisements, which led him to become a TV and record producer in partnership with Articulate Entertainment.
He decided to publish the album online, with the help of his company, Giggle Malaysia Sdn Bhd, that also promoted Comedy Court’s shows, Rally On, last March and last year’s Malaysia’s Got Scandal. Both shows were staged at PJ Live Arts in Jaya One, Petaling Jaya.
Perera plans to produce a CreAsian concert next year, and part of the sales of the album will be channelled to charitable organisations.
Those interested in listening to the album can visit www.giggle.asia