English band named after Guns N' Roses classic...

Saw this...found it amusing:

Estranged no more - Hard rock band enjoying new lease on life with Itu Kamu
by Chew Wan Ying
The local English music scene is, without a doubt, abundant with promising talents.

As for its up-andcoming acts, it?s only a matter of time before they get the recognition and credit they deserve.

Five-piece band Estranged is one such act.

The little-known band (familiar, perhaps, only to local independent /fringe music buffs), has been getting increasingly wide Press coverage and exposure, thanks to their winning the Best Rock Song and Best Video awards at the HITZ.

FM Motorola Malaysian English Top 10 Awards 2006.

Most importantly, this new-found attention from the mainstream media can be attributed to the success of its latest single, Itu Kamu.

The group was founded in 2001 by college mates Richael L Gimbang and Solihuddin Hormat who named their band after a Guns N? Roses classic.

The duo was later joined by drummer Azwin Andy Malik, guitarist Nor HanafiNoor Hadi and bassist Chow Ken Chung.

After honing their skills in the underground scene, they released their debut album In Hating Memory in 2005.

The album generated a modest response among music listeners who nevertheless acknowledged the talent and potential of the new band.

?We had received phone calls and e-mails from people asking where they could get a copy of In Hating Memory,? said the 23-year-old drummer Andy.

A stream of similar requests from their newfound fan base led the band to produce a repackaged version of the album, complete with new sleeve design and the new song, Itu Kamu.

?The look and layout are totally different from the original album,? Andy explained.

?The cover design is, no doubt, more professionallooking.

Contentwise, it?s still the same songs, with an extra single.

Commenting on their decision to record and release a Malay song, the band said they wanted to explore new territories.

?We decided to try something new.

To us, the Malay segment is a brand new market,? Andy said.

?So far, from the response, we learn that people like Itu Kamu.

So we?ll continue to learn how to write Malay songs.?

With this first Malay attempt receiving rave reviews, Estranged promises to churn out more Malay compositions in future albums.

However, this does not mean they will ever stray from their English roots and launch an all-Malay album.

?We will maintain Estranged?s identity in every album.

After all, we started off as an English band and we will stay as one,? explained Solihuddin, adding that they had previously rejected an offer by a local label requiring them to come out with a full Malay album.

?We might include a number of Malay tracks in future albums.

We might have a mix of both languages, with Malay songs comprising 30 percent of the album.?

As for their style of music, die-hard fans can continue to expect hard rock from Estranged.

?Hard rock will always be our main focus.

As you know, there are so many genres in rock and we hope that we can properly explore them.?

As for their immediate future, the band revealed that they?re working on their second album, having penned close to eight to 10 songs, though have not commenced the recording and are still finetuning the compositions.

What?s in store for fans? Hard-rocking, explosive sounds, coupled with a handful of chill songs, the promised.

Fans can expect the sophomore late this year or early next year, with the quintet promising fans greater stuff than what showcased in In Hating Memory.

?Throughout these past two years, we have gained so much experience in everything, be it musically or in terms of performing styles.

Therefore, we will offer listeners something greater than In Hating Memory.

We can assure you that every single track in our next album will be great,? said Solihuddin.

And Richael?s participation in Akademi Fantasia 4 had helped the band in opening up new opportunities.

The experience, according to the frontman, was invaluable.

?It helped me to establish a connection with people who have been in the industry longer than we have, people who may be able to support us and give us musical advice.?

Most importantly, the quintet finally gets the recognition they deserve, with more and more people from different parts of the nation now familiar with their music.

On the state of the local music scene, Estranged, who grew up listening to Nirvana and Metallica, thinks that the industry is filled with great talents offering unique sounds.

They named a few favourites: Butterfingers and of course, Pop Shuvit, whose member Rudy, is Andy?s elder brother.

The band is even mulling the possibility of collaborating with Pop Shuvit on a future project.

The local English music scene is, without a doubt, abundant with promising talents.

As for its up-andcoming acts, it?s only a matter of time before they get the recognition and credit they deserve.

Five-piece band Estranged is one such act.

The little-known band (familiar, perhaps, only to local independent /fringe music buffs), has been getting increasingly wide Press coverage and exposure, thanks to their winning the Best Rock Song and Best Video awards at the HITZ.

FM Motorola Malaysian English Top 10 Awards 2006.

Most importantly, this new-found attention from the mainstream media can be attributed to the success of its latest single, Itu Kamu.

The group was founded in 2001 by college mates Richael L Gimbang and Solihuddin Hormat who named their band after a Guns N? Roses classic.

The duo was later joined by drummer Azwin Andy Malik, guitarist Nor HanafiNoor Hadi and bassist Chow Ken Chung.

After honing their skills in the underground scene, they released their debut album In Hating Memory in 2005.

The album generated a modest response among music listeners who nevertheless acknowledged the talent and potential of the new band.

?We had received phone calls and e-mails from people asking where they could get a copy of In Hating Memory,? said the 23-year-old drummer Andy.

A stream of similar requests from their newfound fan base led the band to produce a repackaged version of the album, complete with new sleeve design and the new song, Itu Kamu.

?The look and layout are totally different from the original album,? Andy explained.

?The cover design is, no doubt, more professionallooking.

Contentwise, it?s still the same songs, with an extra single.

Commenting on their decision to record and release a Malay song, the band said they wanted to explore new territories.

?We decided to try something new.

To us, the Malay segment is a brand new market,? Andy said.

?So far, from the response, we learn that people like Itu Kamu.

So we?ll continue to learn how to write Malay songs.?

With this first Malay attempt receiving rave reviews, Estranged promises to churn out more Malay compositions in future albums.

However, this does not mean they will ever stray from their English roots and launch an all-Malay album.

?We will maintain Estranged?s identity in every album.

After all, we started off as an English band and we will stay as one,? explained Solihuddin, adding that they had previously rejected an offer by a local label requiring them to come out with a full Malay album.

?We might include a number of Malay tracks in future albums.

We might have a mix of both languages, with Malay songs comprising 30 percent of the album.?

As for their style of music, die-hard fans can continue to expect hard rock from Estranged.

?Hard rock will always be our main focus.

As you know, there are so many genres in rock and we hope that we can properly explore them.?

As for their immediate future, the band revealed that they?re working on their second album, having penned close to eight to 10 songs, though have not commenced the recording and are still finetuning the compositions.

What?s in store for fans? Hard-rocking, explosive sounds, coupled with a handful of chill songs, the promised.

Fans can expect the sophomore late this year or early next year, with the quintet promising fans greater stuff than what showcased in In Hating Memory.

?Throughout these past two years, we have gained so much experience in everything, be it musically or in terms of performing styles.

Therefore, we will offer listeners something greater than In Hating Memory.

We can assure you that every single track in our next album will be great,? said Solihuddin.

And Richael?s participation in Akademi Fantasia 4 had helped the band in opening up new opportunities.

The experience, according to the frontman, was invaluable.

?It helped me to establish a connection with people who have been in the industry longer than we have, people who may be able to support us and give us musical advice.?

Most importantly, the quintet finally gets the recognition they deserve, with more and more people from different parts of the nation now familiar with their music.

On the state of the local music scene, Estranged, who grew up listening to Nirvana and Metallica, thinks that the industry is filled with great talents offering unique sounds.

They named a few favourites: Butterfingers and of course, Pop Shuvit, whose member Rudy, is Andy?s elder brother.

The band is even mulling the possibility of collaborating with Pop Shuvit on a future project.

http://www.mmail.com.my/Current_News/mm/Weekend/WeekBuzz/20070310090052/Article/index_html