 Fasy, whose real name is Ahmed Faseeh, hails from a musical family in the Maldives. He remembers that his father, also a well-known musician on the islands, first gave him a "beautiful, white steel-stringed acoustic guitar" when he was just 12-years-old.
He has played the guitar ever since, picking up tips and hints from various musicians and experimenting on various chord progressions and styles. He counts Ritchie Blackmore and Joe Satriani among his greatest inspirations.
"I never went for any formal training in music but let the music itself teach me and show me the way. It has always been, and still is, a fulfilling learning process," he said.
Ironically, Fasy first came to his adopted country Malaysia in late 1996, not to pursue music, but a degree in information technology. (He graduated from the Asia Pacific Institute of Information Technology or APIIT in 2000.)
Just a week after his arrival in Kuala Lumpur, he met fellow musician Viji at the Concept Pub in Medan Damansara, formerly known as Centerpoint, and so began his musical journey in Malaysia.
The place became a regular jamming spot for Fasy. In 1997 he was introduced to Tony Warren, the Tom Jones of Malaysia, and performed several shows with him as his guitar player.
In late-1997 he bumped into veteran showman Bala, and also regularly jammed with him wherever he performed. Fasy's fortuitous meeting was to pave the way for Bala to perform for four years in the Maldives.
To date Fasy has performed with many famous Malaysian musicians including Paul Ponnudorai, Amir Yussof, Rafique Rashid and Purple Haze. He has also played at numerous pubs and clubs including the Backyard Pub, Titus Blues Avenue, Donnington's, Man's Cafι, Colours and Xtacy.
After he graduated from APIIT, Fasy formed a production studio with partners Rekha Raveenderan and Raveenderan named DigitalTones. Their debut album "Sangkeertanam - Songs to Divinity" was a hit Indian devotional album and sold over 50,000 copies in Malaysia.
They followed this up with the first Malaysian Tamil hip hop album by Boomerangx entitled "Nil Gavvanee" (Stop, watch). Boomerangx comprised three young rappers Coco Nantha, Dejavu Haree and Behug Mathan. DigitalTones also played a part in producing an album for the popular local rapper Sasi the Don.
One of the five bonus tracks on "Fasy: The Compilation" is called "Rising" which was composed and first performed by Fasy in the early 90s in Maldives with his former band The Final Revelation The band comprised Simon on bass, Azza on drums, later replaced by Ahmed, and Fasy on guitar and vocals.
The band re-introduced rock, hard rock and heavy metal to the Maldivian music scene and performed at numerous concerts and musicfests in Maldives and Sri Lanka. The Final Revelation was an inspiration for various young, new bands and its final performance in 1994 in the Maldives was recorded live on a tape.
One song from that recording, "Regenerations", has been re-mastered and included in this album.
The new version of "Rising" on the album has been re-recorded with Fasy's new three-piece band Playin December, with bandmates Rifu, on guitar and vocals, and Ayya on bass.
A second extended version of Rising is also included featuring Coco Nantha's rapping.
The two other new tracks "Steer Me Home" and "Ain't Enough" will show a different side to Fasy's music and also feature his vocals.
On his adopted home, Fasy said Malaysia is "the most perfect place in the world."
"Malaysia has got a fine balance of everything," he said. "Great people, food and music. The most beautiful thing for me is the people. It makes me really happy to see the different races living in harmony. And there is great variety of affordable food available, any time, day or night," he said.
On the Malaysian music scene Fasy commented: "I see a lot of young talent coming out
and making a positive effort into creating original music and experimenting in different styles. There isn't a big market for English music by Malaysian artistes yet but it's growing and growing fast, and this is encouraging."
ALBUM INFORMATION
Album: Fasy - A Compilation
Artist: Fasy
Label: Athene Softec Sdn. Bhd.
Track Listing:
1. Your Betrayal
2. Cruising
3. Rising
4. Right!!
5. Lonesome Again
6. But It's True
7. Starrs
8. Steer Me Home
9. Aint Enough
10. Regeneration (Live)
11. Journey
12. A Peace Of Me
13. Rising feat. Coco Nantha
Credits: All songs written, performed and produced by Fasy except:
Rising Performed by Playin December (Rifu Bass Guitar, Thoo Drums, Tamar Saxophone). Lyrics by Bode (Mohd Faisal)
Rising was first performed with Fasys previous band, The Final Revelation. (Simon Bass Guitar, Azza Drums, Ahmed Drums)
Steer Me Home Lyrics by Ali Hussain Didi
Regeneration Performed live by The Final Revelation at Track 94, Male, Maldives (Simon Bass Guitar, Ahmed Drums)
Mixing: Fasy at DigitalTones and Pro DG Projects
Mastering: M. Faisal Ghazali at Pro DG Projects
Design and Photography: Sanjay
Contact Person: Ahmed Faseeh
Contact Details:
No: 18-1, Jalan PJU 8/5E Perdana Business Centre
Bandar Damansara Perdana 47820 Petaling Jaya, Selangor DE
Telephone: 012-2376720
LINKS: News | Photos
(updated July 22, 2005)
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