Backyard Pub News Page

>> NEWS

FASY TO LAUNCH ALBUM AT BACKYARD
July 14, 2005

PRESS RELEASE by Backyardpub.com

Maldivian guitar virtuoso Fasy will be launching his new album at the Backyard Pub & Grill, Sri Hartamas on Friday, July 22nd.

Entitled "Fasy: A Compilation", the album comprises 13 tracks showcasing Fasy's guitaring talent, stretching back to compositions from the early 90s. It will also feature, for the first time, Fasy's vocal ability and his new band Playin December.

The compilation includes eight songs from Fasy's earlier album Cruising, completely re-mastered by M. Faisal Ghazali at Pro DG Projects, as well as five bonus tracks.

"We are very proud to host the launching of Fasy's new album," said Jerry Chong, Backyard Pub & Grill owner. "Fasy is a true discovery and an incredible talent and deserves more exposure. He and Viji were a mainstay at the Backyard every Thursday and many of our patrons said they were blown away by his fluid fretwork," he said.

Fasy will perform songs from album along with his band Playin December after the press conference at 8pm, July 22nd, 2005.

PROFILE
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 Café, 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. Ain’t 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 Fasy’s 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: Fasy profile | Photos

Cheers,
Jerry Chong,
Backyard Pub owner

ABOUT BACKYARD PUB & GRILL
Backyard Pub & Grill is your friendly, unpretentious, neighbourhood pub for live music and live sports events located at No.28, Jalan Sri Hartamas 8, Taman Sri Hartamas, Kuala Lumpur.

We have live music every night from Wednesdays to Saturdays, two English pool tables, a big screen and four TVs for live English Premier League matches. Our kitchen serves up great Western and local dishes and we also cater to special functions.

View the latest goings-on through our website at backyardpub.com or call us at 03-6201-0318.

ARCHIVE

NOVEMBER 2005

OCTOBER 2005