Gen Y dreams big
LAM LIN SHI
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| The boys of An Honest Mistake |
HAVING performed at various gigs around the country, including the Indie Youth Fest in Kuala Lumpur, An Honest Mistake is ready to roll out its debut single of a rather mouthful title, This Song Is So Random, I Don’t Know Why.
Like many others, the band of six young adults who label themselves as an emo-punk-pop group, have big dreams of conquering the music scene and recording as many albums as possible.
Well, it seems the guys are on the right track. They have uploaded songs and videos of their gigs on YouTube and MySpace to make their presence felt and also recorded a single recently, which they hope will be played on the airwaves soon.
They have even printed their own T-shirts and sold them online and to supporters at RM35 each.
On the single, the band’s honcho and lead vocalis-/acoustic guitarist, Darren Teh, 23, from Kajang, says: “It is a fun and easy song to sing along. It’s about the random things in life and how boys and girls feel when they first meet. The music showcases our blend of acoustic pop punk and violin.”
Yes, there is a violinist in the form of Rohnie Tan, 20, who makes up for the lack of keyboards in the band. It’s interesting to watch Tan “fuse” his stringed instrument on stage with the guitars and drums.
So how did the band got its rather unusual name. “I think we stand out with plenty of headbanging and crazy dance moves.
“An Honest Mistake represents our different personalities, dressing and uniqueness which are brought together by a common factor — the love of music,” explains Teh.
“We want to have fun while playing songs that people can relate to and say, ‘I feel exactly the way he does’.”
An Honest Mistake was set up as a proper band last year, but before that, it had been functioning as a solo act with Teh doing everything from composing to performing. In between his day job as an English teacher, he still finds the time to volunteer at his church’s youth group and play bass for another Klang Valley-based band, Army of Three.
Last year, Teh roped in the rest of An Honest Mistake members — music teacher Tan, student Eve Oh, 19 (vocals), studio manager Kevin Theng, 21 (drums) and event manager Leonard Chua, 23 (electric guitar).
The latest addition this year is college student Joel Dass, 20 (bass guitar). This newbie from Kajang is excited to be part of the band.
“Being in the band helps me to develop my musical skills. I get to express my own style, play for a live audience, meet people and best of all, record a song in a studio,” he enthuses.
They have jamming sessions at least once a week at Theng’s 12 Records studio in SS15 Subang Jaya.
An Honest Mistake is already thinking of recording a second single.
You can catch the band at the Indie Youth Fest at 1Utama shopping centre (on Aug 1), Homegrown Space at Wisma Bentley, Mutiara Damansara (Aug 15) and Youth Jam at Penang Times Square (Aug 30).
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