Two decades of funky music
Hip-hop and R&B quintet Ruffedge is excited about its first major concert to mark its 20th anniversary this August. Dennis Chua finds out more
ORIGINALLY known as Vibe, Ruffedge has captured the imagination of music lovers for two decades now, and despite lying low for the last few years, the members have remained a close-knit team.
The down-to-earth hip-hop and R&B group, formed in 1997, has been a household name with their infectious singles such as Tiada Lagi Cinta, Tipah Tertipu, Lelaki, Lemas, Goyang and Da Bomb. They have
two studio albums, Defined and Ruffera, released in 2004 and 2005 respectively.
This Aug 2, the members are set to have their first live concert at KL Live in Life Centre in Jalan Sultan Ismail, Kuala Lumpur.
The two-hour concert, which begins at 9pm, will mark their 20th anniversary. It is simply titled The Ruffedge 20th Anniversary Concert 2018.
Original members Farish Ramli (Cat Farish), 44, Zain Hamid, 40, Azan Wahab, 44, Syed Hussein Syed Mustafa (Sein), 35, and Syed Mohammad Syed Abdullah (Mode), 42, will serenade fans with a dozen songs.
A sixth member, Amer Munawar Yusoff, 40, who is working in Oman, is likely to join them on stage.
Multiple award-winners, they were the Most Promising Artistes in Anugerah Industri Muzik (AIM) 2003 and Best Vocal Group in AIM 2006.
Ruffera earned the Popular Group title at the Anugerah Bintang Popular Berita Harian 2005.
In addition, Defined, which sold more than 40,000 units and attained platinum status, was nominated for Best Pop Album at AIM 2005.
Besides singing, Ruffedge’s members have also proven themselves talented actors, especially Cat (who starred in films such as Adnan Sempit and Impak
Maksima), Sein (who starred in Sepi and
Balada Pencinta) and Zain (who starred in Castello and KL Zombi).
All of them acted in director Ahmad Idham Ahmad Nadzri’s road trip comedy Tipah Tertipu in 2006.
As a musician, Cat has made a name for himself leading pop group The Fabulous Cats and mentoring pop trio FO3 in the first season of reality talent show Mentor on TV3.
Coincidentally, Sein’s wife Noor Diyana Muhammad was a member of FO3.
Azan and Amer also formed nasyid group Al-Mawlid which is still going strong.
Below is an interview with Ruffedge during the launch of its reunion concert at Black Box, Publika, Solaris Dutamas, Kuala Lumpur on May 2.
WHAT WERE YOU GUYS DOING BEFORE JOINING RUFFEDGE? DID YOU KNOW YOUR BAND MATES PREVIOUSLY?
Zain: I co-founded the group with Cat and Azan. I was in college then, and had known Cat and Azan a few years already. We were in the hip-hop and R&B underground scene until Mode joined us in 2000.
Cat: I was a barista at one of the Dome Cafes in KL. Zain, Azan, Mode and I knew each other since the early 1990s. Our mutual love for hip-hop made me want to be part of the group.
Mode: I was an architecture student who had my own band and I just wanted to earn extra income. During one audition for a show, Zain, Azan and Cat asked me to join them as they were impressed by my performance. Naturally, I accepted. I’m still puzzled by what they saw in me that night as my microphone was, for the most part of it, muted.
Sein: I joined in 2005. I was with hiphop group MOB with actor Shaheizy Sam and Shear Khan. I already knew Zain, Azan, Cat and Mode at that time. My love for singing made me join them straight away.
Azan: I was in Innuendo for a short while, and that’s where I learnt vocal harmonising. Cat and Zain have been my close friends for years, so we decided to have our own group. The three of us got together because of our love of good music.
HAS IT ALWAYS BEEN YOUR DREAM TO BECOME AN ENTERTAINER? WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE GENRE OF MUSIC AND WHY?
Zain: Not really. I just love singing. I’m into R&B, soul, jazz and rock. I have been listening to these genres since I was 6. They soothe my soul.
Cat: Yes. Hip-hop is my thing.
Mode: It was never a dream of mine. I just loved singing and wanted to make some extra money while studying. I love R&B and ballads because I’m a sentimental guy.
Sein: I’ve never thought of becoming an entertainer. When I was a small boy, I sang in school competitions. My favourite genre is R&B. I also love soul and funk.
Azan: Yes, music is very much a part of me. I’ve always loved R&B and soul, because it’s great seeing vocalists singing in harmony.
HOW DID RUFFEDGE GET ITS NAME? TELL US ABOUT YOUR FUNNIEST, MOST UNPLEASANT AS WELL HAPPIEST EXPERIENCES AS A BAND MEMBER THUS FAR.
Zain: Our name? It’s from the way we sing and harmonise. It is not that smooth but pleasant to the ears. Every time Cat cracks a joke, that’s a funny moment. Every time fans cheer for us after a show, it’s a happy one. Unpleasant? None that I know of.
Cat: Funny — when one of us belched and pretended nothing happened. It was a decade ago. Unpleasant — when we took a long hiatus in 2007. Happy — whenever we are together and chat for hours.
Mode: By combining the names of two groups: R&B group Jagged Edge and hip-
We complement each other musically and are best friends.
Zain Hamid
hop outfit Ruff Ryders. We’ve always aspired to be a R&B group with a hip-hop flavour.
The funniest incident has to be the one in a helicopter while we were on our way to a show at Bukit Merah Laketown Resort in Bagan Serai, Perak 10 years ago. What happened should be left to your imagination!
The most unpleasant was breaking the news that I was quitting in 2005 due to family and work commitments.
The happiest would be when Tipah Tertipu made it into the Anugerah Juara Lagu finals, the only musical award show I followed religiously since I was a child.
Sein: There are just too many moments to select from. All that has happened along our journey as a group are valuable experiences for me, and they have made me a wiser and more mature person. I love them all, good and bad.
Azan: My brother Pot Amir of Innuendo suggested we name ourselves after a common trait. I said we were “ruff” (“rough”), while Cat observed that we loved to cover songs by Jagged Edge, so we became Ruffedge.
WHO ARE YOUR BIGGEST MUSICAL INFLUENCES? WHICH MALAYSIAN MUSICIANS INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A RECORDING ARTISTE?
Zain: Stevie Wonder, Jodeci, Eric Benet, and Earth, Wind and Fire. Back home, Innuendo. They are like our big brothers.
Cat: P Diddy and Datuk M Nasir.
Mode: My early musical influences ranged from R&B outfits like After 7 and Boyz II Men to high tenor solo acts like Tevin Campbell and Mariah Carey. Later on Jodeci, 7 Mile, Mint Condition, Jagged Edge, Reel Tight, Profyle and Ideal were constantly on my play list. My biggest Malaysian musical influences have to be Jay Jay, Freedom, Alleycats and Innuendo.
Sein: Too many to mention. Stevie Wonder, Dru Hill, 112, Boys 2 Men. In Malaysia, definitely Innuendo.
Azan: Most of the household names in R&B are my heroes and back home, Datuk Sheila Majid, Anuar Zain and Innuendo.
WHAT ARE YOUR BAND MATES’ STRONGEST QUALITIES THAT YOU ADMIRE? HOW DO YOU RESOLVE DIFFERENCES?
Zain: All of them love music and are honest and humble. We complement each other musically and are best friends. We discuss everything together.
Cat: Azan is the music resource. Zain is the man with a smooth, sexy tone. He is also the voice of reason and the macho man. Mode is full of surprises. Sein has a husky voice and is the “chick magnet”.
Mode: Azan for his artistic integrity. Zain for his brutal honesty. Cat for his creativity. Sein for his business acumen. Amer for his anecdotes and antics. Differences are always discussed openly rather than suppressed. It’s always good to let out all unpleasant thoughts.
Sein: Azan is knowledgeable, Zain is trustworthy, Cat is hardworking, Mode is punctual and Amer is forgiving. We always resolve problems by putting our egos aside and sticking to our objective of being a successful group.
Azan: Mode is punctual and good at songwriting. Cat dances and raps great, has good fashion sense, is cool, confident, creative and determined. Zain is a loyal friend and great at harmonising vocals. Sein can beatbox, has good business sense and is our hunk. Amer’s vocal range is way up there. Whenever there’s a problem, we talk and do our best to find a solution.
WHEN DID YOU FIRST SING, DANCE OR PLAY MUSIC? ARE YOU GIFTED WITH MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS TOO?
Zain: I started singing at 9. I can play the guitar.
Cat:I sang at weddings before Vibe with a rock band in Ipoh. I was also in a dance group call Two On Track.
Mode: I started playing the organ when I was 7. I began singing in front of a crowd in a bus while I was in a tour group in the US at 8. I remember gleefully performing for the group at the Hollywood Bowl. I play the guitar to compose songs.
Sein: I started singing at 9 years old and playing the guitar at 10.
WHAT IS YOUR ULTIMATE DREAM IN SHOWBIZ AND WHERE WOULD BE YOUR DREAM CONCERT VENUE? WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE RUFFEDGE SONG TO DATE?
Zain: We are thankful for all our achievements. More to come, most probably around Asia and eventually the whole world. Start slowly but surely. There’s a lot to choose from but my personal favourite is Lelaki from Ruffera.
Cat: A Ruffedge world tour. New York City is a must. A track in Avengers movies (just joking!) or any Hollywood movie, too. Tipah Tertipu is my favourite song. Mode: My ultimate dream is to be offered a recording deal with a major recording company in the US because once you penetrate the US market, you penetrate the world. I believe we have what it takes. My favourite Ruffedge songs are Kerna and Kerinduan. I’d love to sing anywhere in the US especially New York City. Sein: My ultimate dream is to give back and benefit the supporters as much as we can, be it in our music, knowledge, words or smiles. I would like to tour Asian countries. Most people want to break into the US market. I don’t feel the same. Too much nonsense going on over there. Wouldn’t want to be part of it. My favourite songs to date are Kerna, Matinya Sebahagian Jiwa and Lelaki.
WHAT DO YOU THINK IS RUFFEDGE’S BIGGEST TRIUMPH AS A GROUP? NAME THE FIVE MOST IMPORTANT FACTORS THAT BROUGHT YOU GUYS SUCCESS.
Zain: It feels so good to be back as a team. It is our greatest triumph. The five factors? Practice makes perfect; be composed; do it for the love; always be thankful; and stay humble.
Cat: Celebrating 20 years together, and performing at Anugerah MeleTOP Era. The five factors are to pray, listen, think, talk, and finally, to sing our hearts out.
Mode: The biggest triumph would be our return to the music industry after more than two years. The five ingredients are having the same goals in all aspects of music and life, trust, understanding current trends in the industry, maintaining our own artistic freedom, and having different members with different strengths and characters that complement one another.
Sein: The biggest triumph is giving friendship and brotherhood priority throughout the years. The recipe for our success — keeping friendship intact, sticking to objectives and adapting when things don’t go our way, training as much as we can, putting our egos aside, putting in lots of effort and trusting God’s plan.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR UPCOMING PROJECTS IN MUSIC AND ACTING.
Zain: My next project is during Ramadan, most likely a film.
Cat: A Ruffedge musical. Sein and I will direct, Azan will write the script while Zain and Mode will be the producers.
Mode: A new album by year’s end. Sein: To hold a few concerts throughout the country and neighbouring countries. My acting is on hold. Not that I think I’m good, I’m just fussy. Directing is a love that I will continue to pursue. It’s time for Ruffedge now, so I’ll put that on hold. It will come back, God willing. dchua@nst.com.my