53A (band)

Last updated
53A
Origin Singapore
Genres Pop, rock, punk rock, alternative rock
Years active2003 (2003)–present
LabelsIndependent
Members
  • Sara Wee
  • Bani Hidir
  • Helman Kamal
  • Lisa Haryono
  • Amir Shazwan
Past members
  • Alvin Khoo
  • Irwan Shah Salleh
  • Ying Chng
  • Serena Chen
  • Nazaruddin Mashruddin
  • Addy Rasidi

53A is a Singaporean pop/rock band formed by lead vocalist/rhythm guitarist Sara Wee and lead guitarist Alvin Khoo in 2003. The band has been regular performers at Singaporean bars such as Timbre @ The Substation, Harry's Bar @ Boat Quay and Hive by Wala Wala.

Contents

History

2003-2010: Formation, Settle the Kettle

In 2003, Alvin Khoo was introduced to Sara Wee through a mutual friend. Wee, who had been trained in classical music, and Khoo, who played the guitar back in secondary school, bonded over the love for music, and started jamming songs together in the attic of a shop along Haji Lane, the unit number of which they got the band name from. The duo went on to perform together in the live music scene for nearly six years until they recruited their friends, Bani Hidir and Irwan Shah, on bass guitar and drums respectively. [1]

They released their debut studio album, Settle the Kettle on 1 September 2010, featuring original compositions written by Wee, Khoo and Bani. The album received positive reviews in TODAY, The Business Times and TIME. [2] They launched an island-wide tour promoting their album from September to November 2010. [3]

2010-present: Lineup changes, "Tomorrow's Here Today"

In December 2010, Chng Hui Ying, better known as Ying Chng, joined the band on keyboards. In May 2011, Serena Chen joined the band as a percussionist. She became a permanent member the band in March 2013. Irwan Shah left the band in May 2013 to focus more on his career as a music examiner, and was replaced by Helman Kamal.

In May 2014, Ying Chng left the band as she was on maternity leave. Her replacement, Nazaruddin Mashruddin, is also the keyboardist for The Good Life Project and neoDominatrix, and has played for THELIONCITYBOY, Sezairi Sezali and Gentle Bones.

In 2016, 53A was chosen to sing the theme song for the National Day Parade 2016, "Tomorrow's Here Today", which was written by Don Richmond. [4] [5] This made them the second Singaporean band to do so, after Electrico.

In October 2016, the band announced that Serena Chen would no longer appear in their live gigs as she would be embarking on her journey with Sela Cajon, but would occasionally appear as a guest musician. On January 1, 2019, they announced that Nazaruddin Mashruddin had left the band after 5 years.

Influences

53A has cited John Mayer, The Beatles, Foo Fighters and The Click Five as their influences.

Members

Current members

Past members

Timeline

53A (band)

Discography

Albums

   l

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Miller Band</span> American rock band

The Steve Miller Band is an American rock band formed in 1966 in San Francisco, California. The band is led by Steve Miller on guitar and lead vocals. The group had a string of mid- to late-1970s hit singles that are staples of classic rock, as well as several earlier psychedelic rock albums. Miller left his first band to move to San Francisco and form the Steve Miller Blues Band. Shortly after Harvey Kornspan negotiated the band's contract with Capitol Records in 1967, the band shortened its name to the Steve Miller Band. In February 1968, the band recorded its debut album, Children of the Future. It went on to produce the albums Sailor, Brave New World, Your Saving Grace, Number 5, Rock Love, Fly Like an Eagle, Book of Dreams, among others. The band's Greatest Hits 1974–78, released in 1978, sold over 13 million copies. In 2016, Steve Miller was inducted as a solo artist in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blackfoot (band)</span> American Southern rock band

Blackfoot is an American Southern rock band from Jacksonville, Florida, formed in 1970. Though they primarily play with a Southern rock style, they are also known as a hard rock act. The band's classic lineup consisted of guitarist and vocalist Rickey Medlocke, guitarist Charlie Hargrett, bassist Greg T. Walker, and drummer Jackson Spires.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Grass Roots</span> American rock band

The Grass Roots are an American rock band that charted frequently between 1965 and 1975. The band was originally the creation of Lou Adler and songwriting duo P. F. Sloan and Steve Barri. In their career, they achieved two gold albums and two gold singles, and charted singles on the Billboard Hot 100 a total of 21 times. Among their charting singles, they achieved Top 10 three times, Top 20 six times and Top 40 14 times. They have sold over 20 million records worldwide.

Flotation Toy Warning is a band from London, UK formed in 2001. Their sound has been described as a cross between space rock and chamber pop, with musical similarities to bands such as Mercury Rev, The Flaming Lips, Grandaddy, Sparklehorse, The Unicorns, and Air. The band is made up of frontman and lead vocalist Paul Carter, guitar and bass guitar players Ben Clay and Nainesh Shah, drummer Steve Swindon, and keyboardist Vicky West.

<i>Wonderama</i> (album) 1991 studio album by Randy Stonehill

Wonderama is an album by Randy Stonehill released in 1991 on Myrrh Records.

Meat Loaf’s Neverland Express is the rotating backing band for the late American singer Meat Loaf. The Neverland Express have continued touring with American singer Caleb Johnson.

<i>Survivor</i> (Eric Burdon album) 1977 studio album by Eric Burdon

Survivor is a solo album by Eric Burdon released in 1977.

Modest Fok was a R&B band that was created in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1980 by Debra Killings, James Killings Jr, and William "Vybe Chyle" Burke. The band was previously known as Princess & Starbreeze was signed to Eastwest Records in the 1990s. Their debut album Love or the Single Life was released in 1992 and scored two minor R&B hits on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart.

<i>Koi Aanay Wala Hai</i> 2008 studio album by Strings

Koi Aanay Wala Hai is the fifth studio album by the Pakistani pop band Strings, released on 16 May 2008.

<i>Sara Smile</i> (album) 2009 studio album by Jimmy Wayne

Sara Smile is the third studio album by American country music singer Jimmy Wayne. It was released on November 23, 2009, by Valory Music Group, an imprint of Big Machine Records. The album's title track is a cover of Hall & Oates' 1976 single, as well as the first single from it. Dann Huff, Mark Bright and Nathan Chapman produced the album.

<i>2010 Summer Tour EP</i> 2010 EP by Paramore, Tegan and Sara, New Found Glory and Kadawatha

2010 Summer Tour is an EP that features the American rock band Paramore, Canadian indie rock band Tegan and Sara, American rock band New Found Glory, and Swedish band Kadawatha. The EP was sold during the 2010 Honda Civic Tour and the remaining dates of Paramore's Brand New Eyes World Tour.

<i>Christ Is Come</i> 2009 studio album by Big Daddy Weave

Christ Is Come is an album from Contemporary Christian/Rock band Big Daddy Weave. The album was released on September 22, 2009 through Fervent Records.

<i>I Love You So</i> 1979 studio album by Natalie Cole

I Love You So is a 1979 album by American singer Natalie Cole. Released on March 19, 1979, by Capitol Records, The album reached peak positions of number 52 on the Billboard 200 and number 11 on the Billboard R&B Albums chart.

Superthriller are an English electronic music band from London formed in 2003. They have released five studio albums, including Superthriller 1, The Blank Album, Superthriller 2, Moods and NEWS.

<i>Southbound</i> (The Doobie Brothers album) 2014 studio album by The Doobie Brothers

Southbound is the fourteenth studio album by American rock band the Doobie Brothers featuring collaborations with various artists in remakes of various hits by the band. It was the group's only album that featured Tony Pia since he joined the band in 2010 before leaving the group in August 2016 since Hossack's retirement due to cancer and his death in 2012. And it was also the band's last studio album to feature keyboardist / vocalist Guy Allison before his departure from the group in October the following year in 2015.

<i>Damn Country Music</i> 2015 studio album by Tim McGraw

Damn Country Music is the fourteenth studio album by American country music artist Tim McGraw. It was released on November 6, 2015 by Big Machine Records. It was produced by McGraw and Byron Gallimore. Its lead single, "Top of the World" was released on August 4, 2015. The title track, "Damn Country Music", was released on October 9, 2015 as part of the album pre-order.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">HubbaBubbas</span> Singaporean band

HubbaBubbas is a Singaporean post-acoustic trio, founded in June 2011, consisting of lead vocalist Stephanie Lim, guitarist/backing vocalist Ryan Chan and beatboxer/backing vocalist Mervyn Ye. They are one known for combining various genres of music, and having performed at various local and international events.

CRX is an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 2013, consisting of Nick Valensi, Ralph Alexander (drums), Brad Oberhofer, Jon Safley and Darian Zahedi. The band released their debut album, New Skin, on October 28, 2016. The album's first single, "Ways to Fake It", was released on September 7, 2016 through Vevo and Spotify. Valensi has described the band's sound as a mix of power pop and heavy metal, and has named The Cars, Cheap Trick and Elvis Costello as influences.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dead & Company Summer Tour 2017</span> 2017 concert tour by Dead & Company

The Dead & Company Summer Tour 2017 was a concert tour by the rock band Dead & Company during May, June, and July 2017. It was the band’s third tour, following their 2016 tour. The Dead & Company Summer Tour 2017 took place between May 27 and July 1, 2017, comprising a total of 20 concerts in 15 different cities.

References

  1. "53A Band". eventfinda. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
  2. "Profile: 53A". WordPress. The A List. 12 January 2010. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
  3. "53A Settle The Kettle Album Tour Closing Gig". Timbre Music. Archived from the original on 2 July 2016. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
  4. Loke, Kok Fai (19 June 2016). "National Day Parade theme song looks to Singapore's future". Channel NewsAsia. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
  5. Raguraman, Anjali (26 June 2016). "Meet 53A, the band behind this year's National Day song". The Sunday Times. Singapore Press Holdings. Retrieved 30 June 2016.