Masterpiece (band)

Formation and early years (2003–2007)

In 2003, Willy Edwin and his brother Kennedy Edwin formed a band named Masterjam in their hometown of Sibu, Sarawak, with Kennedy on vocals and guitar, Willy on lead guitar and Roni on drums. Since they were missing a bass player, Watt Marcus joined them as a sessional live member who soon becomes their permanent bassist. The band traveled around playing several gigs with this line-up for about a year. In 2005, Kennedy brought a new focus to his guitar playing and the band was set to search for another vocalist.

After spending a considerable time searching for vocalist, Willy and Kennedy recruited Black Monkey vocalist, Depha who was recommended by Marcus; the newborn vocal chemistry between Depha and Kennedy helped revive the band, inciting them to work on new material. With the band having their two vocalists together, they finally settled on the name "Masterpiece". The four original members remained together along with Roni until late 2005, when he left the band. They soon invited friend and schoolmate Harold Vincent to play drums. The band's line-up was completed when Dellender Wilson joined to take up keyboard duties.

Merindang Ke Bintang (2007–2010)

Though limited in resources, the band began recording and producing songs within Willy's makeshift bedroom studio (known as Masterjam Studio) in 2007, resulting in a six-track demo; "Malam-Malam", "Sinu" ( sample ), "Kumang Mimpi", "Bulat Ati Ku", "Misteri" and "Nadai Benci", entitled Merindang Ke Bintang. After recording demos, the band started playing small bars in their hometown of Sibu. For a brief time in 2008, the band entered the studio for the first time, recording its first CD titled Merindang Ke Bintang. Keyboardist Dellender Wilson moved to Kuching sometime before the EP's completion and the band replaced him briefly with Timothy at the end of 2008 prior to the release of Merindang Ke Bintang.

In April 2009, the band released Merindang Ke Bintang in CD format, which they circulated across Sibu city with the help of close friends and hoping to get signed to a record label. After facing numerous rejections from several record labels in Sarawak, Masterpiece turned to Embat Lala for additional help. Embat Lala the owner of Panggau Buluh Pengerindu Records helped the band to reissue the album with unsigned deal with the company before the end of 2009. The songs on Merindang Ke Bintang was re-mastered by Norman Ading at Norman Home Studio, formerly known as Fish Farm Records in Kuching. In an early promotional interview with the The Borneo Post on November 13, 2009, the band said they produced a complete set of music videos for each song on the album (directed by Harry Frederick, Borneo Motion Picture) and to market these on DVD format. The band released its breakthrough album Merindang Ke Bintang in CD & DVD format, the following year through Panggau Buluh Pengerindu Records in Sarawak.

The songs on the album had been circulating across the music industry for a while. Two songs from the released, "Sinu" and "Bulat Ati Ku" has received increasing airplay and brought them to the top of the hit charts in Sarawak. On November 8, 2010, the band made their debut appearance at the Dayak Music Awards, at Borneo Convention Centre, in Kuching. The album, Merindang Ke Bintang earned the band multiple awards—winning the Most Popular Group award, Best Music Video award for "Bulat Ati Ku", Best New Artist, Best Album Cover and the Album of the Year award. During the awards show, the band performed "Sinu" and "Bulat Ati Ku". In an interview after the ceremony with The Borneo Post, Kennedy Edwin said "The most important thing is that the community accepts our music and continues to support the industry. All the nominees are great artists, some experienced and we are grateful to have won the awards".

Major exposure (2011–2012)

The following year, the band continue on the street playing club shows as well as playing at Travillion carpark in Kuching, Sarawak, as part of the Dakar Rally auto show along with Choo Hao Ren, Claudia Geres and Hafiz Suib in March 2011. On April 29, 2011, in news released by The Borneo Post, it was announced that Masterpiece would be part of the album collaboration with Man Kidal and Ramli Sarip, which won some critical praise as the album sales would be donated for the purpose of building a music school in Kuching. However, the plan didn't work and the record deal ended up silent.

Keyboardist Timothy left the group later in the year and was replaced by a temporary touring member, Valentine Jimmy who made his debut performance with the group at the AJARR Music Awards on May 21, 2011 in Kuching, Sarawak. The same night the band performed "Sinu" and winning the 2010 'Song of the Year award'. The following month, Masterpiece released a song titled "Mansau Leka Padi" as part of a compilation for 2011 Gawai festival. It was the first time Masterpiece had issued a collaboration record with another artist from Panggau Buluh Pengerindu Records. The success of Merindang Ke Bintang led to numerous touring for the band, including a slot opening for Aizat Amdan in Kuching, Sarawak, on his Urusan Aizat Amdan-Borneo Tour in July 2011, and headlining the TM Net Festival in Sarawak, starting with Miri, Kuching and ending with Sibu In October 2011.

For a brief time in 2011, Masterpiece returned to the recording studio to work on new material. Later that year, the band recruited keyboardist Roslee Qadir, an old school friend of Willy's and Kennedy's who had played with Willy in a band during their teens and started recording their second studio album. Roslee Qadir was eventually chosen as a permanent keyboardist and joined the band in time to take part in the tour that followed the release of "Badu". The song was released on November 30, 2011 which originally set as the lead single of their second studio album but was included instead in Gawai compilation album.

On December 9, 2011, Masterpiece were invited to perform at Stadium Perpaduan Kuching as part of the Konsert Rock Borneo Terbilang 2011 in direct support for Amy (Search's vocalist), on his solo Kuching show. Supporting performers on the concert included Stevenson, Ricky Andrewson and Winnie Albert. The same night Masterpiece and Amy shared the stage together for the first time. They played several of Search songs including "Isabella", "Pawana" and "Tiada Lagi". Shortly after, Masterpiece was selected to be the opening act for the Malaysian legendary rock band, Search, during their 30th anniversary Fenomena concert in Stadium Negeri Kuching, Sarawak in December 2011. It was the band debut on a high-profile concert, performed in front of 25,000 people . The following year, the band appeared at the Dayak Music Awards at DeTAR Putra theatre in Kuching. "Badu" received the Dayak Music Award nomination for 'Best Music Arrangement'. The award went to Ethnic Transmisison's song "Pulai Pengujung".

Rock & Roll (2013)

Masterpiece continue working on a second album, titled Rock & Roll, in 2013, which included features touring keyboardist Valentine Jimmy who also had appeared to a lesser extent on Merindang Ke Bintang. Despite the recording happening when he were only tour members, it is the first Masterpiece release to Valentine Jimmy, and to have him credited as band member in the second album. While Depha once again wrote all the songs, the rest of the band collaborated on the arrangements.

On August 9, 2013, the band released a new song entitled "Kumang Seari", as the official lead single of their second studio album. To accompany the song's release, a lyric video for "Kumang Seari" was released on Depha's YouTube channel. Following the release of the single "Kumang Seari", Masterpiece released its second album, Rock & Roll, with accompanying music videos directed by Cosmas Moses Alexander. The album was officially released through Panggau Buluh Pengerindu Records on September 22, 2013, in Sarawak.

The album consists of ten songs including closing track "Badu" which was re-mastered to a more accessible radio-friendly sound. The songs on the album was recorded at Masterjam Studio in Sibu, Sarawak, and featured guest musicians such as Jerry Kamit on sapeh instrument and Romy Majestica outro guitar solo on "Nyaga Negeri". Like the band's debut, it was engineered, mixed, and mastered by Norman Ading at Norman Home Studio in Kuching, Sarawak. The album also saw the band write some of their most challenging lyrics to date, the ninth track on the album, "9 Bulan", meaning "9 Months" was written about child abandonment. While "Nyaga Negeri" was written as a tribute to the troops. Rock & Roll was also the first album to feature the band's logo on its cover, which was designed by Cosmas Moses Alexander.

In December 2013, the lead single "Kumang Seari" was nominated for 'Best Rock Song' at the 2013 VIMA Music Awards. The song also won an ACSJ Music Award for Best Stage Performance, and it brought them a new level of success. Masterpiece’s Rock & Roll second studio album continued to top year-end charts and the band was recognized as the Rock Artist of the Year by Dayak Artists & Musicians Association (DAMA). Masterpiece awarded for 'Best Rock Artist' by the association at the Dayak Music Awards ceremony.

Ngap Sayot (2014)

Prior to the release of the band's third album, Masterpiece released a single "Ngap Sayot" ( sample ) on January 4, 2014 through YouTube, which was released as a benefit single on iTunes and other Internet outlets, the following year. The song is known for its underlying riff, which plays throughout most of the song and largely eschews the hard rock influences found in Masterpiece's earlier work. Originally intended as an exclusive track for the forthcoming Malaysian League season and structured matches of the Sarawak FA team, it became a hit with Masterpiece fans who asked for it to be written in Sarawak Malay to emphasise the heritage nationalism in their music. Ngap Sayot is a colloquial Sarawakian phrase in football arena meaning "defeatable" which introduced by Sarawak FA new coach in 1988. The single was commercially used by the Sarawak FA largest supporters club, GB13 ultra, as background music for the promotional footage of their video. The cross-promotion video was released on March 5, 2014 via GB13 official YouTube channel.

For a brief time in 2014, the band was headed to the studio to record their third full-length single album Ngap Sayot, which written in two different languages and multiple version tracks including chant and guitar instrumental version. While working on Ngap Sayot, Masterpiece released another song, titled "Berami Ba Ati Nuan" as part of the 2014 Gawai festival compilation through Panggau Buluh Pengerindu Records, on April 23, 2014. Shortly after the release of "Berami Ba Ati Nuan", the band continues recording material for Ngap Sayot. The recording took place over the following few weeks at Masterjam Studio. The album was mixed and mastered at the iMusik Studio in Sibu, by Iskandar Bujang and later releases were handled by DO Records Entertainment on July 17, 2014.

The band spent the following month on tour, including their first appearance at the Borneo Cultural Festival in Sibu, Sarawak, on August 24, 2014. Masterpiece performed "Ngap Sayot" and other songs from previous records at the Town Square main stage. This performance was attended by 1,000 people and also featured Metadomus from Indonesia, Space Band Company from Taiwan and many local stars during the concert.

Ngarap Ka Nuan Nikal Pulai (2014–2016)

Masterpiece started recording their fourth studio album before the end of 2014. The band complete shooting the video for their first single from the fourth album, "Ngarap Ka Nuan Nikal Pulai" meaning "I hope you will come back" in November 2014 and although not released on the following month. The music video (directed by Brodie William) was filmed at Tumbina Park in Bintulu. The song "Ngarap Ka Nuan Nikal Pulai" eventually released on January 2, 2015 and aired within the same week in Sarawak. This was followed by the release of "Nadai Ati Berami" which was written and recorded for their yet-to-be released album but it was included instead in 2015 Gawai festival compilation album on May 2, 2015.

Despite initially stating the new album would debut sometime in 2015 shortly after the single's release, the album was delayed until 2016. It was originally thought to be self-titled but on February 6, 2016, the band revealed the album artwork via the band's official sources. Their fourth album consists of ten tracks and titled Ngarap Ka Nuan Nikal Pulai reflecting the lead single from the album. The album was recorded, mixed, and mastered between November 2014 and August 2015 at Masterjam Studio and iMusik Studio in Sibu, Sarawak, the same studio as the band's previous album, Ngap Sayot. On February 21, 2016, it was announced that the new album will be released around March 2016 and saw them reunite with Panggau Buluh Pengerindu Records.

In an interview with The Borneo Post on March 21, 2016, the band had announced that the Ngarap Ka Nuan Nikal Pulai album was made available for pre online order from March 10, 2016 and officially released throughout Sarawak and Johor music outlets on March 21, 2016. The album also features a guest artist and musician from Sarawak, such as Nai from Dinamik band on flute for "Anak" intro and the Akademi Fantasia 2015 finalist, Alyssa Joanne or known as Lisa contributing her vocals in a duet song titled "Siku Dalam Seribu". The band also revealed that they will be hitting the studio again to work on new materials and planning to release new single in September 2016.

On September 2, 2016, the lead single from the fourth album, "Ngarap Ka Nuan Nikal Pulai" won the award for "Best Song" at the 2016 ACSJ Music Awards. The following month, the band appeared at the 2016 Dayak Music Awards in Kuching. The fourth album, Ngarap Ka Nuan Nikal Pulai receiving the Album of the Year award, while one song from the release "Berani Mati", was nominated for "Best Rock Song" but lost the award to "Paded" by Mezzavoce. Masterpiece also performed "Ngap Sayot" at the award ceremony on October 29. The same night the band won another two awards for "Best Vocalist" (Depha Masterpiece) and "Best Performance" ("Ngap Sayot"). The band as a whole said, "We are very proud that our work has been recognized and well received by our supporters. Thank you so much to the Dayak Artists and Musicians Association (DAMA) for granting us these awards that will further motivate us to do our best in the Dayak music scene."

Kaban and fifth studio album (2016–present)

Following announcements from the group that they will be working on new material in early 2016, the band released a music video for the upcoming album's first single, titled "Kaban" meaning "Friend" on October 19, 2016 through YouTube via their independent label, Masterjam Studio. The song was released as a digital download single on the same day. The single was written by Depha, while the music video, directed by Kennedy Edwin, combines parts of the band's candid footage while on tour around Sarawak and in the studio between July and September 2016.

In another interview with The Borneo Post on December 8, the band announced that they had begun working on their fifth studio album since October 2016, consisting of nine tracks including "Kaban" and planned to be released in 2017. However, despite the band’s fifth album title has been confirmed and finalized, Masterpiece stated that they will reveal it at a later date.

Musical style

Masterpiece's music is a mixture of hard rock, power ballad and heavy metal elements, with its multi-layered, harmonic vocals and its melodic guitar riffs. However, even though they were often considered one of the most influential hard rock Iban band in Sarawak, the band were associated with the growing power ballad scene, mainly due to their mainstream interest and glossy production. Masterpiece was perceived to shift from their trademark In addition to pressuring the band to adopt a more mainstream sound.

With the release of Rock & Roll , the band displayed power ballad and early heavy metal influences, incorporating more rhythm and harmony in song structures. Ngap Sayot marked another large change in the band's sound adopting a more progressive guitar riff and a distinct sound of the strings from the album. The band used drop D tuning. Their early album Merindang Ke Bintang appealed to Sarawak rock music fans and influenced the likes of Creed, Nickelback and Bon Jovi.

All of Masterpiece's lyrics were written by Depha, while all seven members—as a band—were credited with writing the music. The lyrics on the first two Masterpiece albums mainly touch on hope and overcoming grief, sadness, pain and regret. Although the lyrics of Masterpiece generally are serious with an unusual amount of personal meanings, they have also produced several less serious songs, including "Bulat Ati Ku", "Terebai", "Déjà vu", "Nyawa Aja Tanya", "Nyaga Negeri" and "Ngap Sayot". The band has only written songs in Iban, with the only exceptions being "Ngap Sayot" from the third album, which is in Sarawak Malay version.

Discography

Studio albums