IT begins with a crescendo of electro synth beats followed by a soft dreamlike rhythm. Accompanying the track is Bihzhu’s soulful crooning of only two words: “Fly away...” and in the background, the chirping of birds pierces the silence of the forest. The songs of nature blend perfectly with the jazzy tunes that last for a minute and 25 seconds.
This soulful jazz number, titled Fly Away — The First Tail, is the first of five tracks in the album, Orange Tales, produced by experienced music producer, Dave Andrews, together with Penang-born nightingale Bihzhu and multi-talented Susan Lankester.
This however, is no ordinary album that can be found on the shelves of a music store. The tracks are only available digitally through a dedicated website: www.thecatwith5tales.org and monies raised from the sale of the album will go entirely to funding MYCAT, a non-profit organisation that helps protect our nation’s endangered tiger population.
This is only the first instalment in a series of five mini projects under The Cat With Five Tales production. If you’re interested, you can have a listen to five sample tracks on the website before purchase.
LOVE FOR THE BIG CAT
Seated across from me at a cafe in Subang Jaya, Selangor, is Dave, who enthusiastically begins: “I believe music is the least offensive way to bring a conservation message across to the audience.”
His eyes earnest, he adds: “There’s always something enigmatic about music. It doesn’t die as easily as other mediums. It’s also a constant in everyone’s life, making it one of the most powerful mediums of persuasion.”
In addition, music, he believes, is flexible and open to interpretation. There’s no set image in music until you put words to it. And even then, it’s still up to the listener’s imagination. “And that makes music perfect as a reminder to people of the dangers faced by our iconic Malayan tigers,” says Dave.
The affable music producer began his journey in music at a very young age. “I got into music because I loved it. It was a hobby and I never really saw it as a career option,” he confides, adding with a chuckle: “That makes my foray into the industry somewhat of an accident!”
It was a chance encounter with a producer at his favourite local pub that brought him onto this journey. And ever since then, he has gone on to produce numerous notable scores such as the theme song in Lat’s Kampung Boy and for various commercials featured in local media networks.
Through the years, he confides that the stresses that came with some of the jobs that he undertook began to affect his passion for music. “I discovered that making a career out of something I truly loved was beginning to take a toll on me,” confides Dave, softly.
So he decided to take a short break from the industry. But not long after, he felt that it was time to get back on the music train again. However, this time around, instead of just making albums for the sole purpose of personal selfish gains, Dave wanted his productions to be beneficial for communities or organisations that were close to his heart.
“I’ve always liked tigers ever since I was a child. I believe it started when I was 8, during a visit to India,” he recalls. A chance and rather dangerous encounter with a Bengal tiger across the river while he was brushing his teeth left a lasting imprint on him.
“I can’t remember much of what happened after, but I’m sure the tiger must have just eaten. If not, there’d be no album today!” he says, chuckling. Looking thoughtful, he adds: “But the image must have gotten stuck in my subconscious because I began drawing tigers in my scrapbooks which my mother still keeps.”
SONG OF THE BEAST
Despite the years of experience in the music industry, Dave admits that writing and producing folky pieces are actually something that’s relatively new to him. “I’ve always wanted to try it and saw this as a good challenge,” he shares, adding that it was important for him to get the right people to collaborate with.
“I’ve worked with Bihzhu before and I told myself, if I ever got the chance to work with her again, I would want her to be the focus of the recording,” reveals Dave.
Hence, the entire album has been created and tailored to Bihzhu’s sultry vocals. The singer also lends her writing talent to the fourth track on the album. Called Tainted Temple, it’s a song about betrayal.
“Each song on the album are like short tales — a mix of original and borrowed tales from The Brothers Grimm and William Blake. What binds them is that they’re all odes to both man and tiger,” explains Dave.
The entire project took him nearly two years to complete. “Everyone who works on these projects is doing it for free. I know of many people who want to help save Mother Earth but they don’t know how. So, this is one platform,” says Dave.
PLIGHT OF THE TIGER
It’s estimated that only 3,000 tigers are left roaming the planet, a drastic decline from 100,000 just a century ago. Furthermore, out of a total of nine subspecies worldwide, three of them have gone extinct in the last 70 years, namely the Balinese, Caspian and Javan tigers.
As for the Malayan tiger, an icon of our country, it’s only found within the Malay peninsula. It’s now listed as “critically endangered” with a decrease from an estimated 3,000 in the 1950s to only about 300 at present. Threats against these large cats are mounting every day. Globally, the tiger has lost 93 per cent of its habitat due to logging and it’s also heavily targeted by poachers.
“Some have asked why bother with saving the tigers because the tigers will be gone one day,” says Dave, adding: “This may be true, but I believe that if we do nothing, the tigers may be gone faster. And if we can prolong the lifeline of this animal, you never know what will happen, especially with the advent of more sophisticated technology or new inventions down the road.”
His four other productions in this series of five “tales” will be quite similar to the current Orange Tales. However, this album will be the most closely related to the tiger.
“The lyrics describe the tiger, but not really either. It’s all very open to interpretation,” says Dave.
A unique feature of this project is the fact that you can pay what you want for it. “I didn’t want to set an amount because I realise that when you don’t force an amount on people, people tend to be more willing to give!” shares Dave. In addition, he also subscribes to the idea of “better to get one ringgit than nothing”.
A soft tap on my shoulder suddenly startles me. My photographer for the day has just arrived. After a round of quick introductions, we exchange the customary photography instructions and she begins preparing her equipment for the photoshoot.
Before being whisked off to the shrubberies nearby for a few shots, Dave says: “With music being so universal, it makes it easier for everyone, no matter who you are, to be able to appreciate the message and at the same time contribute to saving our country’s most magnificent animal.”
His brows furrow when he concludes earnestly: “If we can save the tiger, we can also save many other animals. Because, when more land can be preserved, more animals can have a home.”