♥ MIKERU ON MUSIC TODAY ♥

You asked. You pleaded. You wondered if any artist that made 'decent' music would ever come to Malaysia. Rejoice for your prayers have been answered. Junk By Demand and Jupiter Projects bring you this one night only concert with post-hardcore quintet Saosin as they play their maiden concert in Malaysia with Love Me Butch in support!

Saosin hail from Newport Beach, California, and have toured with everyone from Underoath to Linkin Park, bringing an infectous blend of emo and post-hardcore that has captured hearts and minds worldwide. Touring now in support of their second studio album, In Search of Solid Ground, Saosin live in Malaysia is guaranteed to be explosive and cathartic.

Junk readers can grab tickets at a special Junk price by buying the January issue of Junk magazine and bringing it to Rock Corner outlets and buy the tickets at ONLY RM87 (that's RM15 off the pre-sale price, and RM33 off the door price!) from 1 January to 6 January! You're not going to get it any better than this, so 'Come Close' and see it's 'Far Better To Learn' from the 'Voices' of Saosin.

DETAILS
Time: 8pm
Date: 1 February 2010
Venue: KL Live @ Life Centre, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Tickets: RM87 (Junk Special - bring January issue of Junk to Rock Corner outlets to buy tickets from 1 Jan - 6 Jan), RM102 (Pre-Sale), RM120 (At The Door)

When Mayday burst out in the Taiwan music scene in 1998, they were the voice of youth. Not just because they were young at the time, but because their songs captured youth in all its energetic, hot-blooded, lyrical, fearless, bittersweet glory. Ten years later, Mayday is still the same good old Mayday. They've found greater commercial success than any other Taiwan band and achieved a superstar status matched by few, but they're still the Mayday that holes up every year to make an album that hits the heart, and then tours like crazy to put on show after show that hits the spot. Last December, Mayday returned to the Zhongshan Stadium for their first concerts there in eight years, playing to an audience of 100,000 in two days.

The concert opened with an impressive flurry of New Year's-worthy fireworks and the energetic karaoke favorite "Love i-n-g". The atmosphere stays electric with two more youth-oriented rock tracks off Mayday's last album Poetry of The Day After: "Bursting Liver", an anthem for all the fun-loving night owls out there, and the freedom-hailing "The Cry of Spring". These catchy fist-pumping jump-along songs of youthful defiance are of course half of what Mayday is best known for, and what makes their concerts such exuberant events.

The other half of Mayday are the rock ballads with heart-piercing lyrics that voice your hopes and fears better than you ever could. My favorite track from Poetry of The Day After, "You Are Not Truly Happy", is the first ballad to appear, and its beautiful melody and emotional lyrics are even more moving live. The most affecting song of the night though would have to be "The Place in My Heart That's Not Broken Down", a quietly intense mid-tempo number composed by Monster and written by Ashin. I was not particularly struck by the song when I listened to Poetry of The Day After, partly because Ashin's vocals muffled the lyrics more than usual in the album recording, but it sounds amazing live. Ashin sings through the ups and downs of the song with great emotional intensity, and his lyrics reflecting on self and music ring out clearly with its strong imagery: "When people become markets / And markets become battlefields / How many dreams are buried in the field?"

There’s many ways to spend Christmas Eve, like last minute shopping, or gorging on cookies. But for this VIMA 2010 fangirl, listening to some Chinese hard rock is enough to bring in the New Year.

Rachel Chan investigates the meaning of ‘Hui Se Di Dai‘ – who is nominated for Best Rock Group for VIMA 2010.

Cole Yew, guitarist of the band, answers our quizzical queries. How about this for Christmas?

What does Hui Se Di Dai mean? Why did you choose this name?

Hui Se Di Dai means ‘grey zone’.

We believe there’s this ‘grey area’ in everyday life, where contradictions occur in many aspects. There are in- betweens, such as cops taking bribes and being involved in illegal business. Is the cop in the ‘white’ area or the ‘black’ area?

Your music is fantastic lah. Why are you still underground? Is it because the market prefers pretty faces with lovey-dovey songs?

Thank you and yeah, the market likes cheesy entertaining stuff. People don’t dig much into the subtle meaning of music but rather for pure entertainment and leisure.

Other than that, I’d say the media is not encouraging, maybe because of the market or political preferences. Plus we’re singing in Chinese language in a country where some people don’t really appreciate or recognise us.

However, I must say in the underground scene, things are little bit different than the mainstream. We’ve got lots of support from everyone, any ethnicity. Music’s multicultural influences still exist in the scene which is totally cool. It’s the real Malaysian culture that’s always here far before any other political concept.

Who inspires your music? I feel a lot of emotion from the songs, even though I don’t understand Chinese.

Our inspirations mainly come from everyday life. It can be an incident that we read from the newspaper, magazines, any story or any thing that touches us. The song ‘Dan Dan De’ is a story of a sexual affair that happened to someone who’re close to us actually. Only true emotions can be made into a good song.

Where are you based? Penang, or do you travel around the country?

Yes we all live and are based in Penang but we will never hesitate to go beyond this island. We’re actually looking for gigs around the country. We are based here because we need day jobs to survive. Totally wouldn’t mind if we can perform all around the country without worrying about money!

Is there a big market for Chinese rock internationally? In Malaysia?

Chinese population here is huge but they have the worst taste in rock music. We do wish we can reach international market but first of all, we need a firm base at here first. At lease some recognition such as VIMA :)

How was your life like before Hui Se Di Dai, or the other bands you have been in? Before music?

Life before Hui Se Di Dai was sort of miserable. Meeting different people, trying to form a band with the right chemistry was as hard as finding your dream girl.

For me, until I’ve found Hui Se Di Dai, I’ve found my purpose.

Life before music? Felt like a zombie without a soul.

If you get the chance, will you go mainstream and tour internationally? Will you commercialise your art?

Definitely will. Touring internationally is like an ultimate dream!

We will try our very best to sell out our art. Selling it is not wrong as long as the creation of the art is pure and true.

Holla Junkies, we've got a treat for you guys. We've got a bunch of tickets to Ne-Yo's first ever concert in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 7 January 2010, and we want to shower our readers with some freebies 'cause tis the season of giving!!

So here's what we're giving away:

5 pairs x RM158 tickets
5 pairs x RM258 tickets

The 10 winners will then compete for 4 exclusive pairs of Meet & Greet passes.

HOW TO ENTER:
1) Follow us on Twitter and look out for our Ne-Yo ticket contest tweet on Monday, 21 Dec 2009. *Hint: it will include the hashtag #NeYoKL*
2) RT the message.
3) 10 winners chosen randomly and the winners list will be updated in this blogpost on 23 Dec 2009.
4) Winners will be contacted and given further instructions on how they can compete to win the 4 PAIRS of Meet & Greet passes.




HOW TO ENTER:

1) Follow us on Twitter and look out for our Ne-Yo ticket contest tweet on Monday, 21 Dec 2009. *Hint: it will include the hashtag #NeYoKL*

2) RT the message.

3) 10 winners chosen randomly and the winners list will be updated in this blogpost on 23 Dec 2009.

4) Winners will be contacted and given further instructions on how they can compete to win the 4 PAIRS of Meet & Greet passes.

The biggest music stories transcend music. And on 25 June 2009, it was all Mike, all the time. The death of Michael Jackson unleashed a kind of global outpouring unseen since Princess Diana’s passing. The scandals and conspiracies never let up either, long after the casket had been lowered. But the albums sold, the film thrilled and 50 years from now, we will never grow tired of telling our loved ones all those magical moments. Because the biggest music stories transcend music.

Hannah is back from Japan and is set to make a difference for underprivileged children this Christmas. Hannah and her team are putting together a Charity Concert and will team up with industry friends such as Harith Iskander, Hans Isaac, Pietro Felix, Daphne Iking, Jojo Struys, Reefa, Sasi The Don, Meet Uncle Hussein, Reymee and Sam of Innuendo, The Fabulous Cats, Caprice, Atilia, and Liang, just to name a few.

The tickets will be sold in exchange for gifts of any value (instead of money) and subsequently shall be distributed to orphanages and underprivileged children for Christmas.

I managed to drop into the press conference last week when I was in Solaris porting from Maxis to Digi (more about that saga later) and saw a lot of familiar faces.

Any kind of talents are welcome such as bands, solo singers, and beat-boxers, to comedians, magicians or even dancers. The entertainer with most votes will be invited to perform for 15 minutes as the concert Opening Act.

It's all happening THIS Sunday, 20th December 2009, at The Gardens Ballroom (above GSC Signature, The Gardens) at 4pm.

In Greek mythology, Cassandra is known as the daughter of King Priam and Queen Hecuba of the legendary city Troy. Cassandra was famous for her beauty and when she refused to be with Apollo, he placed a curse on her so that no one would ever believe her predictions.

In Malaysia, Cassandra is far from being a cursed princess. One of the most respected hardcore metal bands thus far, they were one of the first hardcore bands to play for annual outdoor music festival Rock The World. They have also shared the stage with Comeback Kid, Caliban, Soilwork, Parkway Drive and Misery Signals, among others. Having been together as a band for around seven years, Cassandra have gone through plenty of ups and downs.

The journey began when Kash (vocals), Aza and Poka (guitars), Boy (bass) and Apeq (drums) got together after their own respective bands split up. With each member possessing his own background and personality, the band decided to work towards one vision to succeed in the hardcore community. Cassandra are still working on their long-awaited debut album, which has been a work in progress since December 2007. With influences like Caliban, Misery Signals, August Burns Red and Between the Buried and Me, the album will contain old songs as well as new material.

Planned for a 2010 release, you may wonder why the heck it’s taking them more than two years to finish the album. But it hasn’t been easy, as Apeq explains, “When we started recording, we could not commit ourselves 100% because we still had other commitments like work. We also do not want to rush it, because we want this album to be a satisfying one. If we found a small mistake, we would re-record the whole thing again. We also played a lot of gigs to collect money to pay for the studio and other stuff.”
www.myspace.com/cassandra

让您感觉美好的ntv7，履行一年一度的“超级任务”，今年再次与主要赞助商Sport Toto荣誉呈献，年度城内最炙热、最震撼的倒数盛会——《十分红演唱会 2009》！今年《十分红演唱会 2009》以“红色是我们的动感代号”为主题，我们呼吁观众们身穿红色衣饰，出席当晚的演唱会与我们同欢。举办《十分红演唱会 2009》的目的，主要是为了答谢多年来一直陪伴着ntv7茁壮成长的忠实电视观众们，与此同时，ntv7也希望能不断为观众引进及制作更多优秀的娱乐节目，可以为观众们带来如此水准级的免费演唱会，是ntv7对观众们的承诺及回馈。长达3小时的不间断拉阔演唱，于2009年12月19日，晚上8点30分，在武吉加里尔国家国家体育馆停车场A (室外) ，火“红”引爆！

音乐无分国籍，今次《十分红演唱会 2009》再次请来了中、港、台以及本地中文乐坛的优秀歌手，今年受邀来马献唱的歌手，有包括来自台湾的亚洲天王任贤齐及优质天后许茹芸，还有来自香港的百变天后陈慧琳、新生代歌手方力申及邓颖芝，此外，有近期人气急升来自中国的刘力扬，当然少不了有本地歌手如：林健辉、王明丽、Kay郭小溦、罗忆诗及Suki刘纾妤，12位海内外的重量级歌手阵容，一一为歌迷呈献一首接一首的悦曲好歌！

It’s that time of the year again! The Home of Feel Good is set to hold the most anticipated star-studded year-end party, the Star Live Concert 2009 on Saturday, 19th December 2009, from 8:30 p.m. to 11.30 p.m. at Bukit Jalil Stadium Carpark A. Broadcast live over the channel, this concert is set to bring the roof down with riveting performances by 12 local and international Chinese artistes. Held in appreciation of ntv7’s loyal viewers and to celebrate the year end this concert is free of charge. This year’s colour theme is red and concert goers are encouraged to join the celebration wearing red. Sports Toto remains a strong supporter of the Star Live concert for the third time around. Their help and support as the Main Sponsor will enable ntv7 to make this concert a memorable one for all. The Official Radio Station is 988 FM and the Concert Management is Galaxy.

This third annual year end concert organized by the station will usher in the new year, boasting one of the biggest artiste line-up of the year. Audiences will be thrilled to know that among the stars to perform that night include top Taiwanese artistes Richie Ren and Valen Tsu, Hong Kong stars Kelly Chen, Alex Fong and Vangie Teng, and Chinese artiste Liu Li Yang. On the local front, we have Eric Lim, Suki of One In A Million fame, Yise Loh, Shi Xin Hui, Wang Meng Li and Kay. All twelve artiste`s are slated to provide non-stop powerhouse performances throughout the three hour concert.

Hey peepz! I need your help to vote for Frequency Cannon’s Rise Above Music Video @ VIMA 2010 under the Most Mind-Blowing Music Video Category.

Click here to start voting. Thanks so much for your support.

Kuala Lumpur, November 30 – The VIMA 2010 nominee list was revealed last night after 3 months of hype, and once again, produced a big bag of surprises.

The 2nd annual Malaysian Independent music awards brought together a strange flock of bedroom DJ’s, college acts, indie superstars, genre bending collaborations and even independent acts of different nationalities.

Last year’s big winner, hip-hopper Altimet, and rising R&B act James Baum both bagged 6 nominations each. But even they were outshined by the rockers, Deja Voodoo Spells, who led the field with 9 nominations including their role as part of the indie supergroup, The M.A.D project, featuring Melissa Indot on vocals and Altimet providing the rap bits.

1. Best Pop Category

Best Pop Song
Prema Yin – Eyo-Eyo
Dennis Lau-Diversify
Adi Rani – Sudah.enough
Juju- Remember
Feez Madea-Fly
Enoch cosmic-My Christmas
Neuyabe-Dandelion
Elvira –Simple Love
Amanda Imani-Selamilah cinta
James Baum – Soldier

Best Pop Group
Senoritas
Joanna & Co
Apple Juice
L.one
Magabu & The White Shoes
Mage Era

Best Pop Vocalist
Adi Rani
MK
Elvira
Mia Palencia
Amanda Imani
Rashdan Harith

2.Best Female Vocalist (Over-All)
Lenny Lysandra
Mia Palencia
Prema Yin
Elvira
Amanda Imani
Sam Siren (Karacoma)

3.Best Rock Category

Best Rock Song
Bunkface- Revolusi
Deja Voodoo Spells – The enemy in me
The Poseidon Connection (feat Kraft) – Life is a Demo
M.A.D.Project – Change
Hujan – Sangkar Besi Dihatiku
Inverted Coma – Miracles
Deserters – Easier Said Than Sung
Crush – Blinded
O-Two – Mr.Koma
Karacoma - I.K.T.S



Best Rock Group
Hujan
Bunkface
Hui Se Di Dai
Deja Voodoo Spells
Karacoma
Crush
I Mean The Snakes
Iris Band
One Buck Short
Andalusia

Best Rock Vocalist
Prema Yin
Sam Siren (Karacoma)
Rithan (Deja Voodoo Spells)
Sam (Bunkface)
Cliff Hugh Joseph (Crush)
Kevin (Broken Scar)

3. Best Hip-Hop Category

Best Hip-Hop Song
Altimet & Ning Baizura – Mimpi
Micbandits- Cantik Rupamu
Micwrecka – I need To Speak (DJ Fuzz Remix)
Altimet-Syukur
Young Stunna (feat James baum and Half eyez)- Rain dance
KiD (feat Andy) – Hustle Alone
Soundcircus – Jamalo
Alexander The Phatos- Walk On By
SSK feat sipanitera and Dizzy&The – Chenta
Kraft (feat Mia Palencia)- Diamonds

Best Hip-Hop Solo
Jin Hackman
Micwrecka
Altimet
Schizzow
Kraft
Young stunna

Best Hip-Hop Group
Micbandits
Soundcircus
SSK
A2 Brothazz
Alexander The Phatos
MNC

4. Best Dance Category
Best Dance Song
Sasi the Don (feat Dr.Alban) – Music In me
James Baum feat Too Dope and Mc Rishi – Mess Around
Illmatika – Carz (Nicky C Remix)
Dylan & Puvan ft. Matilda Radge a.k.a. The Mystery Kitten- Jokkaneh Figureh
Jerome Kugan – Tomas (Transient Vortex Remix)
Andrew LD – To The Stars
sasi the don 2 VIMA 2010 NOMINEES

Best Dance Act
Electro.pup
Andrew LD
Nicky C
Transient Vortex
Djaypee
Ze!

Best Dance Dj (Club)
Lapsap
Double D
Nicky C
Headmasta
Joey G
DJ Biggie

5. Best Remix

Transient Vortex – (Jerome Kugan-Tomas Drum n Bass Remix)
DJayPee (Madonna-miles away remix)
Sasi The Don – Music In Me (D’navigator remix)
Micwrecka – I Need to speak (DJ Fuzz remix)
Illmatika –Carz (Nicky C remix)
Transient Vortex – (James Baum -Locked In Love Remix)

6. Best Collaboration
Sasi The Don & Dr. Alban-Music In Me
The Poseidon Connection feat Kraft- Life is a demo
MK, Atilia & Calvin – Ore Malaysia
Melissa Indot, Altimet & Deja Voodoo Spells (M.A.D Project) -Change
James Baum feat Too Dope and Mc Rishi- Mess Around
Dylan & Puvan ft. Matilda Radge a.k.a. The Mystery Kitten- Jokkaneh Figureh

7. Best Instrumental
Akasha – Irish Joget
Akasha – Ants in My Turban
Phoenyx – Alien Love
Deja Voodoo Spells – Road Trip Jam
Dennis Lau – Prelude in F minor
NAO – Movement

8. Most Mindboggling- Genre Bender
Alexander the Phatos – Hey Mama
Dennis Lau – Diversify
Melissa Indot, Altimet & Deja Voodoo Spells (M.A.D Project) -Change
Dylan & Puvan ft. Matilda Radge a.k.a. The Mystery Kitten- Jokkaneh Figureh
Neuyabe- Dandelion
Akasha – Ants in My Turban

9. Best Song To Play At Camp Fire and To Do Away With Monday Morning Blues
Kokkamango-Star
Crush-Senyum Indah
Neuyabe-Autumn ode
Mia Palencia- Call Waiting
Enoch Cosmic – My Christmas
Akasha – Bombay Bossanova

10. Best College Act
Ester Richard
Rosevelt Band
A Ruthless Cleansing
An Honest Mistake
Jonah Sithole
A2 Brothazz

11. Best Guitar “Goreng” Riff
Inverted Coma – Nudist Song
Deja Voodoo Spells –Billie Jean
Screw Peas –Its all about the screwpeas
Crush – Sabo
Karacoma – Paranoia
Hujan-Obsesi

12. Best Producer
Boy Radge & Matilda Radge -Jokkaneh Figureh
MK – Ore Malaysia
Yuri Wong – Diversify
Rithan – Enemy In Me
Greg Henderson – Irish Joget For Sitar Ganjeera and Tenor Ukulele
Zalee – Hustle Alone (KiD feat Andy)

13. Most Mind-Blowing Music Video
Hujan – Mencari Konklusi
Estranged – Aurora
Prema Yin – Eyo Eyo
Micbandits (Brunei) – Cantik Rupamu
O-TWO – Mr Koma
Frequency Cannon – Rise Above

14. Best Chinese Act
Mage Era
Hui Se Di Dai
Reno
Red & Qing
Makuyoubi
PuGongYing

15. Smoothest R&B Act
Luscious
Burn&soul
James Baum
Andi A Merican
NJ
Juju

16. Sunshiny-Smiley-Feelgood Song
Joanna & Co – Aku Pelangi
Jzelynn-Percaya
Melissa Indot – I cant smile without you
Altimet-Syukur
An Honest mistake – This song is so random
Andrew Ld – I want to box my friend

17. Most Electrifying-Exciting-Exhilarating LIVE Act
Caprice
Nao
The Revenge
Benchmarx
Bunkface
D’Hask

18. VIMA 2010 INDIE MUSIC HALL OF FAME
Dato Sri Shazalli Ramly
Jasmine Low
Paul Moss
Too Phat
Junk Magazine
Clair Vanessa Rozells
Issa Rodriguez

NTUC Club and LAMC Productions are pleased to announce that HOOBASTANK will be rocking in the New Year on Dec 31st at PARTY ON! SINGAPORE.

Come join us for the seminal east-bound New Years Eve countdown at Downtown East: Party on Singapore! We are ushering in the New Year in style with a LIVE concert by popular American Rock outfit, HOOBASTANK.
The band has clinched a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Album, and has garnered similar acclaim for Song of the Year and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with the breakthrough title track “The Reason“.
The single was also an international smash hit that rocketed to #1 on the charts for Modern Rock, Adult Top 40 and Top 40 Mainstream and #2 on the Hot 100.

Tickets on sale now at all Tickets.com outlets. Log on to www.tdc.sg or call 6296-2929 for online and phone bookings.
Early bird ticket prices till December 3rd, 2009 are $70 for General Public and $55 for NTUC Members.

For more information, please visit www.lamcproductions.com or www.hoobastank.com.

WISH BAND FOUNDER IS EVAN, ON START HE WAS A CHURCH BAND GUITARIST IN YEAR 1997.
IN 1998 HE FIND HIS SCHOOL MATE TO JOIN HIS OWN BAND, THEN NAME WISH. THEY JAM CHINESE POP SONG’S AND SOME ENGLISH SONG’S. IN THE END OF YEAR 1999, THE WISH FIRST PERFORM AT SCHOOL GRADUATE. AFTER IT WISH DISBAND. T.T

It almost sounds too good to be true, but the fact is Youth Entrepreneur of Malaysia is set to rock the world of many young aspiring entrepreneurs. Yes, the Youth Entrepreneur Malaysia is supporting Voize in its upcoming VIMA 2010, an Independent Music Awards. Founded about a year and a half ago, the Youth Entrepreneur Malaysia (YEM) provides different levels of ground in which it engages youths to start rebranding themselves via enterprising activities. YEM targets youths through their casual, voluntary approach.

In conjunction with VIMA 2010, YEM is set to collaborate with Voize in bridging local musical talents together. The collaboration is seen as a platform for established and not to forget aspiring music talents to market themselves better. It is a unique angle where music and entrepreneurship can fall into the same category. Michael Teoh, the Co-Founder of YEM states that VIMA is a perfect ground for youths to extend their ability and market themselves. One fine example of youth entrepreneurship is through independent music, added Teoh.

Not only that, VIMA is seen as the perfect platform to turn unexplored talents into something big and well-known. Of course, through YEM students especially, will be given the opportunity to express themselves better. It all boils down to a self-discovery mechanism.

Instead of promoting new talents through endless roadshows and airplays, useful platforms like VIMA and YEM are perfect example for youths to be heard. While Malaysia lacks the financial backing to promote new talents, what could be better if we are to use social networking sites such as Facebook and YouTube to promote local talents? Many international indie talents started out by posting videos of themselves singing on the internet.

Hopefully through events like VIMA and YEM, youths, students, and aspiring entrepreneurs and basically just about anyone can feel at ease at expressing themselves and breaking common barriers in which business is strictly for the adults. With efforts and hope anyone can make it. It all depends upon how one markets oneself for the world to see.

The Voice Independent Music Awards (VIMA 2010) kicked off with the first of its category nominees, unveiling the rather audacious award title “Most Electrifying-Exciting-Exhilarating LIVE act”

This time round, the nominees brought together an eclectic flock of bedfellows :
1. Caprice (Effervescent Hip-Hop)
2. NAO (Madcap Instrumentalists)
3. The Revenge (Dirty Heavy Metal with a smirk)
4. Benchmarx (Quirky music smellers)
5. Bunkface (superstar glam)
6. D’HASK (Eat metal Bruneians)

The final nominee list for all 30 categories will be revealed on December 1st, 2009, and voting begins on December 3rd, 2009. The awards ceremony for VIMA 2010 will be held on January 17th 2009.

Start the hysterics: Limp Bizkit have finally announced their first album since 2005's The Unquestionable Truth (Part 1). It's also the first album with the full original lineup (yes, that means Wes Borland too!) since the Bizkit's third album in 2000, Chocolate Starfish And The Hot Dog Flavored Water. Strangely, the new album isn't The Unquestionable Truth (Part 2). Did someone forget how to count? *cough*

Instead, it's to be called Gold Cobra. Perhaps frontman Fred Durst got inspired by the success of Cobra Starship or The Cobrasnake? Or maybe it's a tribute to Cobra Gold. Make your guesses, 'cause it will probably be more ridiculous than it really is! Bizkit fans out there, keep an eye out for the album come January 2010.

"Prana” means “breath” in Sanskrit. And for Prana, the Malaysian indie band, it seems like they’ve been holding theirs for a little while, as if held captive by some grumpy ruler of the underwater world. It’s been a quiet four years since they last released an album (Disc 03, their third effort)–“quiet” being relative to their sizzling early days of 2001, of course, when their debut album Have A Nice Jaywalk received an AIM (Anugerah Industri Muzik) nomination for Best New English Artiste, or in 2003 when their sophomore effort Greenhouse Effect earned a distribution deal with Universal Music.

Yet the quintet appears at ease with the hiatus. “The break helped us to learn the business and different types of music, [while] some of us played with different bands,” says turntablist Jeremy Little. Jeremy and his brother Jeffrey (the band’s drummer) run their own label Laguna Music, and they see the long interval as a chance to refine the band’s reggae rock-meets-rap core sound. “To us, our sound is fresh, but it’s still Prana and sounds like Prana,” they say. “We’ve blended all the stuff we’ve learnt along the way.”






WORDS CHRIS PHOTO LAGUNA MUSIC

www.myspace.com/pranamalaysia