Stonebay shot to fame after winning third place in RedAMP 2010, writes Dennis Chua
LOCAL quartet Stonebay released a single, Hati Terantai, recently — now playing on local radio — in the run up to the debut album.
The group shot to fame as one of the top five in the first AirAsia Red Tix RedAMP band challenge in 2010. Discovered by producer Roslan Aziz, the competition’s chief judge, Stonebay was among 2,500 bands from 10 Southeast Asian countries participating in the two-month contest, part of AirAsia’s efforts to find new talents in the regional music scene.
Stonebay joined Golden Dragon (Indonesia), Pancake 80 (the Philippines) and Sixty-Nine (Thailand) in the finals, which eventually won by Golden Dragon. It earned a place in the finals with its poetic composition, Si Murai Penipu.
“We were actually a wildcard to the finals. Abang Lan (Roslan) and fellow judges decided to have one more band in the finals and picked us for our impressive performance and originality,” says Stonebay founder member and leader Awangku Huzriuden Mahmuddin or Ojie.
THE START
Ojie, from Kota Kinabalu, says he formed Stonebay with school pals in 1997 in his hometown.
“Back then I was studying in Sabah College. We came up with a name that combined one of my favourite rock stars, Stone Gossard of Pearl Jam, and one of my hometown’s most attractive tourist destinations, Likas Bay,” he says.
Since its inception, Stonebay has performed in many independent music concerts around the country and on the morning talk show Selamat Pagi Malaysia.
“By the time we reached RedAMP, we had already participated in some 100 gigs, including the Jakcloth Indie Festival 2009 in Jakarta, Indonesia,” says Ojie.
Nevertheless, it went into the mainstream market after RedAMP, when it was signed under Tune Studios. It comprised lead vocalist and guitarist Ojie, guitarist Ashroff Shariff, bassist Shahroni Hasbi and drummer Afiq Hakim Osman but saw some changes in late 2010.
Ashroff left to become part of award-winning singer, composer and lyricist Aizat Amdan’s outfit Go Gerila!
“He’s doing great there and we still keep in contact and wish him all the best,” says Ojie.
He was replaced by Abu Musa Asyari aka Adi, Afiq’s cousin.
Jakarta-born Shahroni studied information technology in Lim Kok Wing University, Cyberjaya, and joined the band in 2005.
“Ojie and I instantly bonded because we love rock music, especially Pearl Jam and The Beatles. We’re also big fans of Hujan as well as Aizat Amdan and Go Gerila,” says Shahroni.
Afiq from Kuching joined in 2007. “Our first EP was titled Sangsi and it was launched in 2007 with two songs, Sangsi and Name,” Afiq says, adding, “each of us gives input into every composition, though Ojie is our spokesman or frontman.”
Adi says: “Si Murai Penipu was our second EP in 2009. It’s our ‘lucky star’ of sorts as it took us to the finals of RedAMP.”
DEDICATED TO JEREMY
The group, says Ojie, dedicates its coming debut album to “a gem of a man” who guided them all the way — Jeremy Little, head of Tune Studios, who died recently.
“We were terribly shocked and saddened to hear of his untimely passing in Mecca. He’s done so much for aspiring pop and rock musicians and will be sadly missed,” says Ojie.
Shahroni says Little not only played a big part in getting Stonebay under the Tune Studios label, but also gave never-ending support to all aspiring musicians.
“Malaysia lost a great visionary in music, with a heart of gold and we’ll never forget him for his exceptional talent, passion, wisdom and compassion,” he adds.
The album, he admits, will have a Beatles-like sound with a fair balance of English and Bahasa Malaysia songs.
Its first single, Hati Terantai, which is receiving good airplay on all major radio stations, has a “sound that sums up the others”. The story behind this song is a yearning for freedom, coupled with a determination to confront all of life’s challenges like a warrior.
“Nevertheless, each song has its own strength and it reflects our determination to take our music to the next level,” says Shahroni.
Roslan, whom the group describes as a “firm but fun” teacher, is the album’s producer. The band members are proud to be associated with the label.
“Tune rocks. It’s the voice of aspiring young Malaysian artistes as we,” says Ojie.
Stonebay has collaborated with Noh Salleh of Hujan and ex-OAG lead singer Radhi Razalli in the EP Kita Bersama in 2011. “There were three songs in it namely Kita Bersama, Jiwa Ole-Ole and Kami Anak Malaysia,” says Shahroni.
Kami Anak Malaysia was a collaboration with Shila Amzah, a “phenomenal singer” when the members highly respect.
“Besides Jakcloth, we’ve also been in Rock The World 2007 and 2012. Our next destination is to earn nominations at prestigious music awards such as Anugerah Juara Lagu, Anugerah Industri Muzik and Anugerah Planet Muzik,” says Ojie.
“It’s lots of hard work but I believe we will be there,” adds Shahroni.
Tune Studios’ head of music Saiful Ridzuan says Stonebay is very passionate about creating its own sound. He says the group’s album is likely to be launched at year’s end.
