Members of instrumental rock band Mutesite tell Syahirah Mokhtazar about how they found one another.
BANDS are always being asked how they get their names and the story of how they came together.
The forming of local instrumental rock band Mutesite is like a love story and its members say they are glad to have found one another.
The five members are Anthony Lee (frontman), Lee Jolyn (keyboards), Purnama Magasuci (drums), Mohammed Abdul Karim (percussions) and Lor Phaik Sim (bass). Before this, they played for other bands or on their own and were experimenting with their own sounds. But they say it wasn’t exactly a fun ride in the park.
Calling themselves outcast musicians, the bandmates felt as though they didn’t fit in with their previous bands.
“The chemistry wasn’t there. So when we found one another, it felt like home,” says Lee, who was joined by Jolyn and Purnama for this interview. The other two had prior work commitments.
Lee explains they met through Studio Hive, a recording/jamming studio that doubled as a gig space.
“It is also where a lot of bands scout for potential band members. Dirgahayu (another popular local band) started from there too,” he says.
A year on after Mutesite was born, the bandmates grew comfortable with one another. “I like working with my bandmates. The policy in this band is honesty. If you missed a cue, I’m going to tell you so. If I make a mistake, I will own up to it,” says Lee, who works full time as an audio engineer.
“We’re very transparent. There are no filters in this group. Feelings get hurt but it’s for the better. We’ve had bad experiences in previous bands so we don’t want to carry that here,” says Jolyn, who is a full time composer, arranger and a studio manager. Perhaps this coincides with their chosen EP title re:start .
“It’s a new beginning for us. New band, new music. We’re just starting over,” says Lee.
BEHIND THE NAME
Why Mutesite? “Well, first of all we’re an instrumental band so that means no one sings, hence the word mute. Site means giving our listeners the freedom to interpret our music in any way. We want them to listen to it and feel whatever they want to feel.
“Lyrics are very directional. If you write about a breakup, then the whole theme is centred on breakups,” explains Lee on why they have chosen to not add lyrics.
He laughs and quips: “Also, not all of us can sing!”
Purnama, a full-time drummer for the Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL) orchestra, says going with the instrumental rock genre creates a different feel. “There is no format to conform to, so it’s about having greater freedom to express. We are more musicians than singers,” he says.
CINEMATIC MUSIC
Reviewers have described the band’s music as cinematic. The band members, though, say they feel as if they tell stories with their music. They find inspiration through random elements, be it the sound of rain or a train.
“Each of us feel differently about our own music. For me, I feel that the song Afterain pictures a scene where kids come out to play when the rain stops. As the song becomes intense, it means they’re at the peak of happiness while playing. And when the song reaches the end, it signals it’s time to go home,” says Jolyn.
Lee adds: “For me, this song represents the happiness you feel after every hurdle you go through.”
PIRATED IN MEXICO
The EP has five carefully woven tracks titled Pre-tend, E.D.G.E, Picking Paces, Afterain and Trails In Motion. These are the result of teamwork between the five who compose and tak about the narrative structure together.
Lee describes the recording process as similar to film scoring but without the pictures. Their style of music is spiritually elevating, with cinematic sounds of piano rhythm anchoring most of their songs. Safe to say, it’s the kind of music you’d want to experience live and to immerse yourself in.
“We released the EP in January, via online and physical distribution,” says Purnama.
Though a newcomer, their music has garnered local and international attention, so much so that their songs are now distributed in the US, by a record company called Chautauqua Records.
“Apparently our music has been pirated in Mexico. In all honesty, we feel pretty flattered. It’s actually an honour to have our music pirated; we take it as a compliment,” says Jolyn.
GOOD VIBES
Mutesite will be the only instrumental band to perform at the third instalment of the homegrown music and lifestyle festival, Good Vibes.
Upon hearing the good news, the band members say they are still pinching themselves and counting their lucky stars. They’ll play six titles and an extra piece to be be performed with a saxophonist.
They won’t say which song will be performed with the extra band member but add: “We just want to spice things up a little bit and have fun with the crowd.”
Good Vibes Festival 2016
WHEN Today
WHERE The Ranch @ Gohtong Jaya, Genting Highlands, Pahang
ADMISSION RM250
DETAILS at www.goodvibesfestival.com