“For the song intro, it’s just guitar and voice, so I thought we keep this foot thumping sound I put in there, like as if the guitarist was keeping time with his feet, like The Beatles’ Blackbird. It will keep the music driving along in this quiet part. What do you think?”
That question was posed to me by none other than Edry Abdul Halim, he of KRU fame and one of the country’s most successful music producer, arranger and songwriter.
We were listening to Edry’s newest production, a song called Nyawaku recorded by Azmil, winner of Mentor Legend. This will be Azmil’s first single, so we were at the home studio of Greg Henderson, legendary recording engineer, to hear what has been done so far.
Henderson was at the helm, in front of a multitude of computer screens, expertly orchestrating the final touches to the song. I felt blessed to be there, among these giants of music. I felt blessed Edry thought enough of me to ask my opinion. I felt even more blessed because I understood every nuance of his question.
PASSION
As directed, I listened intently to the song intro and smiled at the light foot-thump that kept the rhythm going in the quiet opening few bars. It was so light it was barely audible. In fact, it was more felt than heard. But its presence did the trick and kept the music interesting in an otherwise quiet intro.
To the layman, it would seem that we were wasting precious time worrying about something that could hardly even be heard. But these little touches are what would turn something good to something great. A foot-thump here, a little miniscule edit on the voice there, oh should we tweak the little millisecond of the drum hi-hat sound there and all the numerous little touches that may seem too tiny to worry about — all add to ensure a final work of art that is rich and satisfying.
Worrying about these little details come from artistes who have that special ingredient called passion.
Passion makes us sweat the small stuff, even some barely audible foot thump, that will enable us to elevate a creative work from being just a passing fancy to something that will stand the test of time.
And I’m glad to know passion is alive and well in the Malaysian music scene.
ORIGINALITY
I hear it in many music acts, especially ones branded as outliers and different.
I hear it in acts like The Venopian Solutide, a band fronted by a weird girl singing at the top of her voice while playing some xylophone-type instrument. The music is at once inventive, original, brave and yes, filled with utmost passion.
I hear it in Razlan Shah’s song Flowers. Not only is the singing filled within imitable passion, the musical arrangement is world-class, befitting a song that is fresh and different.
I hear it especially in the local jazz scene. If there is any doubt, just watch the incredible piano solo from Tay Cher Siang of WVC Trio on their take of Norah Jones’ Don’t Know Why, and you’d be amazed how you missed out on such passionate and amazing talent right here in our homeland.
I could go on and on but the point is we need to give recognition, respect and support to these artistes and all other local artistes who dare to step out there with a different and original voice, one that is filled with passion.
We need to give a listen to those who are brave and passionate enough to not be afraid of doing something that break away from the tried and tested formulas, as this would undoubtedly lead to the next big thing, which will then drive the next trend in the music industry.
Yes, passion would be the thing that would heighten the quality in our music, ensuring it a bright future. And boy, am I glad to see Malaysian music filled with it.
My thoughts snapped back to the task at hand and of the question about foot-thumping in this new song by Azmil. “It’s good.” Edry smiled. I smiled back. He didn’t know I wasn’t just saying “It’s good” for his song. I was also saying it about our future.
Ahmad Izham Omar runs some TV stations, a production house dabbling in movies and TV shows, and gets panicky trying to figure out his next tweet. Email him at nstent@nst.com.my