Speed songwriting for a good cause
LOCAL rock band Kyoto Protocol’s Fuad Alhabshi will be joining 11 other singersongwriter acts to create original tunes on the fly for a good cause.
Titled And The Curtain Rises, the sat- ellite event is part of this year’s Yayasan Sime Darby Arts Festival (YSDAF), which features the theme of You, Me + The Arts.
A dozen singer-songwriters will be paired up to write 12 brand new songs in 12 hours on issues affecting the society that they feel and care about in this singer-songwriter camp.
Fuad, the rock quintet’s lead singer and guitarist, says he feels strongly about racism.
“I see a lackadaisical approach all too often, and it is a needless barrier between people. If perhaps this exercise would yield a song that could instil a sense of weight or urgency to this issue, I would consider it a great success,” he says.
Fuad adds that it’s a great challenge. He says: “I’m notoriously slow at writing songs as my bandmates can attest to, so speed songwriting is going to be a real test for me and an exciting prospect. But apart from that I’m really looking forward to being paired up and getting to know everyone better.”
He will join an eclectic mix of talents, including Aina Abdul, Brendan de Cruz, Beverly Matujal, Dickson Chai, Endee Ahmad, Isaac Ho, Melissa Toh, Nick Davis, Otam, Priscillia Xavier and duo Shir Ling & Jacq Teng.
The show’s producers Ian Chow and Coebar Abel liken the concept to speed dating.
“Unlike speed dating though, the singer-songwriters have no choice but to make it work whether sparks fly or not because they have to premiere these new numbers to an actual audience when the 12 hours are up. And if that is not nervewracking enough, it will be recorded live and made into a CD,” says Chow.
Abel adds: “The purpose of the singersongwriter camp is to promote original content, encourage collaborations and showcase diverse talented local singersongwriters.”
And The Curtain Rises is part of a
string of satellite events leading up to the two-day YSDAF in August. Others satellite events include an outreach drama programme, a battle of bands and an art installation.
Chow and Abel hope that the audience will go home with empathy on the plight of the different communities and societal challenges faced in the country after watching the show.
The recording will be given away to the early birds at the festival finale in August.