Electrico

Last updated

Electrico
OriginSingapore
1996–1997 (Electric Company)
2003–present (Electric Co.)
Genres Indie rock
New Wave
Post-Punk Revival
Years active1996–present
Labels Universal Music (2003–2008)
Warner Music (Present)
MembersDavid Tan
Desmond Goh
William Lim Jr.
Past membersKeith Colaco (1996–1997)
Daniel Sassoon (2003–2008)
Amanda Ling (2004–2009)
Website

Electrico is a pop rock and indie Singaporean band originally formed as Electric Company in Singapore in 1996. This band is still active with the present line-up which includes David Tan, Desmond Goh, William Lim Jr.

Contents

History

1996–1997: Formation

Electric Company was formed when David Tan, Keith Colaco, Desmond Goh and William Lim Jr. got together to entertain for a fun fair at their neighbourhood church. The band initially practised in an abandoned steel cargo container. After three years of heavy gigging in the underground Singapore indie scene and developing a quasi cult status, the lack of support for local music and other problems forced Colaco to leave. The band continued briefly as a three piece but disbanded a year later.[ citation needed ]

2003–2005: Reformation and rename

In 2003, lead guitarist Daniel Sassoon of Singaporean indie band Livonia joined the band. [1] Soon after, the band's name was shortened from Electric Company to Electric Co., and finally to Electrico. Keyboardist Amanda Ling, was talent-scouted by the band members and joined the band in 2003 also. [1]

In August 2004, Electrico released its debut album So Much More Inside. [2] and their debut single 'I Want You' which shot to No.1 on Singapore radio station Perfect Ten 98.7FM's official Top20 weekly countdown chart in October 2004, [3] as well as radio station Power98. Subsequent singles 'Runaway' and 'Good Time' were also considered big hits with fans and scored respectable positions on the charts as well.

To date, So Much More Inside has sold over 3000 copies at retail outlets and gigs. [ citation needed ]

On 26 September 2005, the band was nominated in the Favorite Singapore Artist category at the Quantum Mechanics, which was repositioned as a global benefit for the tsunami victims in December 2004. As a result, they made history by being the first Singapore band to be nominated at the regional music TV channel's awards.

Electrico played alongside one of the Philippines' biggest rock bands, Rivermaya, at the latter's first showcase in Singapore that took place at Bar None, Marriott Hotel in October 25, 2005. The band stated that they're collaborating with Rivermaya on a song in their upcoming album. [4]

On December 3, 2004, the band performs at Orchard Jam along with fellow Singapore rock bands "Ronin" [5]

The band also performed live shows in the Southeast Asia region, including the Baybeats music festival in Singapore and the Pattaya International Music Festival in Thailand. The band opened for The Bravery when the New York-based band came to perform live in Singapore.

2006–2007: Rise through the Ranks

After several months of promotions – with the band giving sneak previews of a few tracks from Hip City at a few of their gigs – the band was back in the studio to begin work on Hip City around August 2005. Initially scheduled for a late December 2005 release, it was later pushed back to 22 June 2006, due to several delays.

'Love In New Wave', the first single of Hip City, subsequently went on to become Electrico's second song earned a No.1 spot on the Singaporean radio station 987FM's official Top10 chart show on 22 September 2006. The session in which Love In New Wave topped the chart happened to have lead guitarist Daniel Sassoon as its guest co-host for the day. The single also later went on to top the charts in the Philippines. The music video for 'Love In New Wave' was shot mostly inside Ministry Of Sound, Club Happy and at Haji Lane. It was directed by Carl Siahaan. Siahaan's sister, model/actress Desiree Siahaan made a guest appearance in the video.

Frontman David Tan revealed that all the songs in Hip City describe and reflect the current Singaporean music scene.

In November 2006, Electrico released their second single, a ballad called 'Hello'.

Love in New Wave charted No.32 in 987FM's Top100 Countdown of 2006. Electrico also won the Local Act of the Year (2006) accolade in 987FM's Top100 Special Category Nomination.

Love in New Wave also snagged the No.16 position in Power98's Top30 of 2006.

It was reported in Singapore's tabloid newspaper, TODAY, on 21 November 2006, that a special remix of Love in New Wave was done by Singaporean DJs Aldrin Quek and Akien, and that it became the latest dance anthem championed by British DJ Pete Tong on his high-profile Essential Mix series on BBC Radio 1 in England. [ citation needed ]

TODAY ranked Hip City seventh in their Top10 list of memorable albums that you should rock out to on stereos overall for 2006 . Describing the album as 'Simple yet melodic, Electrico's Hip City gave naysayers – who claim "Singaporean rock" is an oxymoron – a rocking slap in face' & rated Love in New Wave as a key track. [ citation needed ]

In February 2007, 987FM announced that Electrico's third single was to be 'We're Not Made in the USA'. During an interview with 987FM's Muttons in the Morning on 16 February 2007, Electrico announced that as soon as they returned from their USA trip, they would embark on an indefinite break to concentrate on writing new material for their upcoming still as-yet untitled third album.

'Hello' debuts at No. 17 in the 987FM Top 20 weekly chart, the highest debut for the week ending on 23 February 2007. It reached its peak position of No.8 in the week ending on 16 March 2007 on the same chart. Eventually, it drops to No.19 in the week ending on 13 April 2007, and finally bows out from the 987FM Top 20 in the week ending on 20 April 2007.

On 26 February 2007, Singapore broadsheet The Straits Times reported that Electrico's break from the limelight was scheduled to be from six months to a year, and that they would return sometime in late March 2008. Lead guitarist Sassoon was quoted saying, " The break will give us time to recuperate, evaluate the band and write new material."

On 21 May 2007, Electrico won their 2nd Top Local English Pop Song award at the 12th COMPASS awards ceremony for 'Good Time'. [6]

2008–2009: We Satellites, breakup, National Day parade theme song

The band had uploaded a new song titled 'Everybody's Here' on their official MySpace site.

On 10 March 2008, Electrico posted a message on their MySpace blog which revealed details of free exclusive download of Everybody's Here from 17 March onwards .

Lead singer David Tan said that the song was written for youths or anybody who feels lost, desolated, low in self-esteem, in despair, and all the negative things people face. Everybody's Here has been released on 987FM for the week 17 March 2008 .

On 13 May 2008, The Straits Times reported a press release by Electrico that lead guitarist, Sassoon had left the band on 7 April earlier in the year. [6] The band said, "With his demanding and gruelling career in the legal sector, Sassoon had long wanted to take a break from the band to focus his energy on his legal profession.". [6] Electrico decided against a replacement guitarist. [6] Sassoon in an interview later and revealed he left the band due to different visions and formed a new band, In Each Hand A Cutlass. [1] [7]

On 27 May 2008, The Straits Times announced that Electrico won 2 awards at the 13th annual COMPASS awards ceremony .

They were awarded their 3rd Top Local English Pop Song for Runaway and frontman David Tan was awarded the COMPASS Young Composer of the Year.

Electrico has been nominated for 2 categories in the 3rd instalment of Power98 Singapore Music Awards. They were nominated in the Best Singapore Band and Best Local Song for Everybody's Here.

Electrico's 3rd album, titled We Satellites, was released in Singapore on 8 July 2008 . This album was less successful compared to their previous material. The lead single to be released from the brand new album is titled Save Our Souls .

On 10 June 2008, The New Paper announced that frontman David Tan has been awarded the Martell VSOP's Rising Personalities Award.

On 8 June 2009, The Straits Times reported that keyboardist Amanda Ling left the band in May, and that she had engaged a lawyer to review the band's accounts. [8]

Electrico wrote the theme song What Do You See? for the Singapore National Day Parade, 2009, held on 9 August 2009 at The Float @ Marina Bay to commemorate Singapore's 44th year of independence, and performed the song at the event. The lyrics were cited by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in his 2018 National Day Message. [9]

The band performed at the One Movement For Music Perth (OMFMP) in October 2009. The band's trip to OMFMP was made possible with the sponsorship by GAC Events Asia, a company specialising in entertainment logistics. [10]

After a two-year hiatus, Electrico returned to play the Baybeats festival at Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay in June 2013. It was also reported that the band was working on new music. [11] The band also played at Music Matters Live.

In 2014, the band shared demo recordings of their new songs online. The songs, including "Eyes Wide Open", featured a more electronic vibe. [12] Electrico's set at the Good Vibes Festival in Sepang, Malaysia in August was cancelled after severe weather, and the band organised a "pay-what-you-want" fundraising gig at The Substation in October instead. [13] Reviewing the gig positively in TODAY , Kevin Mathews wrote that "the crowd was well into the performance — their enthusiasm certainly inspiring the band to give their best, despite some evidence of rustiness". [14]

Peaks, awards, accomplishments and accolades

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

Discography

Singles

YearTitleSingapore 987FM
Top Position		Singapore Power 98
Top Position		Album
2004I Want You1—So Much More Inside
2005Runaway7—
Good Time17—
2006Love in New Wave1—Hip City
2007Hello8—
All The World (Feat. Rivermaya)——
We're Not Made in the USA——
2008Everybody's Here——(Single)
Save Our Souls——We Satellites
Hail to the Friends——
2009Faces——
Californication——(On National Day 2009 Track List)

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Huey Lewis and the News</span> American pop rock band

Huey Lewis and the News are an American pop rock band based in San Francisco, California. They had a run of hit singles during the 1980s and early 1990s, eventually achieving 19 top ten singles across the Billboard Hot 100, Adult Contemporary, and Mainstream Rock charts. Their sound draws upon earlier pop, rhythm & blues and doo-wop artists, and their own material has been labeled as blue-eyed soul, new wave, power pop, and roots rock.

Singapore has a diverse music culture that ranges from rock and pop to folk and classical. Its various communities have their own distinct musical traditions: the Chinese form the largest ethnic group in Singapore, with Malays, Indians as well as a smaller number of other peoples of different ethnicities including Eurasians. The different people with their traditional forms of music, the various modern musical styles, and the fusion of different forms account for the musical diversity in the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taufik Batisah</span> Musical artist

Muhammad Taufik bin Batisah is a Singaporean singer-songwriter best known for winning the first season of the reality TV series Singapore Idol.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeremy Monteiro</span> Singaporean jazz musician

Jeremy Ian Monteiro is a Singaporean jazz pianist, singer, composer, and music educator. In Singapore he was mentioned by the local press as Singapore's "King of Swing". Monteiro was awarded the Cultural Medallion by the National Arts Council, Singaporein 2002.

Kelvin Tan Wei Lian is a Singaporean former Mandopop singer who earned a living as a busker before he won the first edition of Project SuperStar in 2005. He has released three albums, All I Want Is... (2006), i-Weilian (2007) and Moving Notes...Kelvin Tan (2009). He also had a solo concert at the Singapore Expo, lead a choir at the opening ceremony at the 2008 Summer Paralympics and singing Singapore's 2009 National Day Parade's theme song.

Public radio broadcasting began in Singapore in April 1925, after the Amateur Wireless Society of Malaya obtained a temporary license to broadcast. Radio Singapura was established as the first local mass market radio service in 1959. Subsequently, on 15 February 1963, before the withdrawal of the British Armed Forces, and after the merger with Malaya, Singapore's first television service began as Televisyen Singapura under its owner, Radio Television Singapore (RTS).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">987FM</span> Mediacorp-owned English radio station in Singapore

987 is Singapore's first 24-hour English music radio station of Mediacorp Radio in Singapore. It is a 24-hour radio station that plays English language hit songs from Singapore, Australia, United Kingdom, United States, and around the world. 987FM is the sole contemporary hit radio on the FM frequency band in Singapore. 987 was officially launched as Perfect Ten 98.7FM on New Year's Day 1989 at midnight SST as 24-hour music radio station in English. Its studio is current at Mediacorp Campus, Mediapolis. The radio station was slogan: Singapore's Number 1 Hit Music Station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roy Li</span> Singaporean singer

Roy Li Fey Huei, more commonly or affectionally known as Li Fei Hui, is a singer from Singapore. He was dubbed as one of Singapore's brightest exports in Taiwan's music industry, back in the early 1990s. For the past two decades, besides penning his own songs and producing his own albums, the musician has also been actively involved in writing and producing hit songs for many popular artistes of the region, such as Andy Lau, Jeff Chang, Jacky Cheung, Kelly Poon, Tanya Chua, A-do, etc. Currently, he is pre-occupied with the training of aspiring artistes and musical talents in his newly established music school – Imagine Music. He is also specially hand-picked by MediaCorp to participate as one of the judges in the judging panel of Singapore's biggest reality Chinese singing competitions – Project Superstar & Campus SuperStar. In 2015, he acted and sung 《等你等到我心痛》 for Channel 8 drama 118.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jonathan Leong</span> Musical artist

Jon Leong, 梁偉鑛, is a Singaporean performing artist, singer-songwriter, music producer and actor. His first steps into the world of entertainment started when he played in bands at pubs and clubs before achieving public prominence after finishing as the runner-up during the second season of Singapore Idol, a franchise of the popular Pop Idol series. He is currently playing the principal role of "The Boy" in the Cirque Du Soleil-esque circus musical, Voyage De La Vie. Leong has also recorded a full-length studio album, which was released on 22 September 2011.

A Vacant Affair is a 5-piece Singaporean post-hardcore band that was formed in 2004. The band is one of the first few groups to bring heavier music to the mainstream audience and reach the local charts in Singapore.

Kevin Mathews is a Singaporean singer-songwriter and film music composer.

"Everyone" is the official theme song of the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics held in Singapore from 14 to 26 August 2010. The song was sung by five artistes, namely Sean Kingston, Tabitha Nauser, Jody Williams, Stevie Appleton and Jessica Mauboy, each representing one of the five continents of the world. It was written and produced by Singaporean producer and composer Ken Lim.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Serene Koong</span> Musical artist

Serene Koong is a Singaporean singer, songwriter and producer. She is a three time Global Chinese Golden Chart Award, three time Singapore Hit Awards， Singapore Star Awards winner， and Asian Academy Creative Awards National Winner.

Sheikh Haikel Sheikh Salim Bajrai is a Singaporean rapper, actor and radio personality. He won the talent competition Asia Bagus in 1991. As a multi media personality with numerous stints in radio, television, film, and stage, he has produced three studio albums and numerous single track albums to date. He now runs a music school in Kuala Lumpur where they teach varied genres of music including, Hip Hop, Classical and Rock.

<i>Sylvia Ratonel</i> (album) 2010 studio album by Sylvia Ratonel

Sylvia Ratonel is the eponymous debut studio album by Singaporean singer Sylvia Ratonel. It was released in Singapore on 27 October 2010. The musical direction of the album departed from the usual ballad and acoustic genres Sylvia specialized in during Singapore Idol. Singapore Idol winner Sezairi Sezali and local rapper ShiGGa Shay appear on the album as featured artists.

Malaysian popular music, sometimes called shortly Malaysian pop or abbreviated as M-pop, refers to popular music forms in Malaysia. Although popular music in various languages such as Mandopop are popular and have been produced in Malaysia, Malaysian pop refers to music recorded primarily in the Malay language in Malaysia.

"What Do You See?" is a song by Singaporean band Electrico. It was commissioned as the official theme song for the 2009 National Day Parade. The song is one of the few National Day Parade theme songs that does not mention the word "Singapore" in its lyrics. Its lyrics were cited by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in his 2018 National Day Message.

Sezairi Sezali, more commonly known just as Sezairi, is a Malay Singaporean musician and singer-songwriter. Sezairi rose to prominence after winning the third season of Singapore Idol in 2009.

Yee Ming Innes Bridges is a British-Singaporean singer-songwriter, actress and model.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tat Tong</span> American songwriter

Tat Tong; born Tong Hong Tat; is a Singaporean record producer and songwriter who is based in Los Angeles. His discography has gone 80× platinum, with over 20 #1 hits out of over 60 Top 20 hits worldwide, and he is a member of production-writing duo The Swaggernautz with American Idol Season 10 alumnus Jovany Javier. He is presently signed to Universal Music Publishing.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Twang, Lisa (25 March 2015). "Sonic pirates". The New Paper. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
  2. ↑ "Electrico To Launch Album At Rouge". mtvasia.com. PC. Archived from the original on 2 September 2006. Retrieved 2 September 2006.
  3. ↑ "Electrico Tops Radio Station Top 20 Chart". mtvasia.com. PC. Archived from the original on 2 September 2006. Retrieved 2 September 2006.
  4. ↑ "Electrico Plays Host To Rivermaya At Bar None". mtvasia.com. Gabriel Leong. Archived from the original on 4 September 2006. Retrieved 4 September 2006.
  5. ↑ "Electrico And Ronin At Orchard Jam". mtvasia.com. Danial Hakim. Archived from the original on 3 September 2006. Retrieved 3 September 2006.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Thomas, Sujin (13 May 2008). "Electrico's down to four". The Straits Times . p. 10.
  7. ↑ "'Creative freedom beats commercial fame'". sg.news.yahoo.com. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
  8. ↑ Thomas, Sujin (8 June 2009). "Electrico member quits 2 months before National Day Parade". The Straits Times. Page 21. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  9. ↑ "National Day Message 2018". Prime Minister's Office . 8 August 2018.
  10. ↑ "Electrico To Play One Movement For Music Perth". Archived from the original on 16 September 2009. Retrieved 16 September 2009.
  11. ↑ "Electrico recharged after two-year hiatus". The Straits Times. 28 April 2013. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  12. ↑ "What's next for Electrico". TODAY. 19 August 2014. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  13. ↑ Toh, Christopher (11 September 2014). "Electrico powers up for Substation gig". Mediacorp. TODAY. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  14. ↑ Mathews, Kevin (21 October 2014). "Electrico: Love At The Sub 4/5". MediaCorp. TODAY. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.