Post by uptowndragon on Nov 2, 2020 16:20:12 GMT 7
Levi's Music Project Finalists Selected (28/10/2020)
LEVI'S MUSIC PROJECT PICKS 4 FINALISTS FROM 200 SUBMISSIONS
Story: Dragon Visual: Levis Malaysia
Malaysia’s chapter of the Levi’s® Music Project which was launched on 12th October 2020, successfully managed to shortlists four aspiring musicians to vie for the chance to win an RM20,000 music video grant, from 200 original music productions that were submitted over a 2 week period between 12th to 25th October 2020.
The selection process was conducted by a panel of judges, which included Levi’s® Malaysia representatives, and the programme’s mentors, Jennifer Thompson, and Tang Eu Jin aka “Old Head Jin”, who spent 48 arduous hours to select four stellar finalists to be part of the music project.
The finalists were chosen based on their authenticity, unique talents, individual merits and credibilities, after a gruelling session. The chosen four are indie band, Alien Lipstick Fire; rock band, Margasatwa; rapper, Dato’ Maw and solo artist, MAYABAYU.
“Choosing only four out of an extensive list of artists at various stages of their journey was extremely challenging but it is not about winners or losers, it is all about recognising and working with the independent music community as a whole. We are so looking forward to assisting and mentoring the chosen artists in their careers any way we can,” says Jennifer Thompson.
Jennifer further shared, “In a competitive, fast-moving, ever-changing creative environment of the music industry, understanding the business side is as important as the talent. Levi’s® Music project is exciting for all of us as it offers our own talent the opportunity and platform to assist their creative journey.”
With 35 years experience in the Malaysian entertainment industry, Jennifer (or fondly known as Kak Jenn within the industry) has worked with artists - both local and international, major or unsigned. She has been actively involved in coordinating and managing numerous live recordings, producing and event managing concerts, national and international launches, awards, international fashion weeks, music festivals and live broadcast shows.
"Narrowing 200 entries down to four was an arduous task made harder by the quality of the submissions; further proving that there is no shortage of talent in Malaysia. The chosen acts will be moving forward because they ticked all the right boxes and are the perfect fit for phase one of the project,” Old Head Jin exclaims.
Jin, who established himself as a promising rap artist in 2009, found his true calling in identifying and promoting local talents. In addition to running Malaysia’s most successful live hip-hop series Raising The Bar, Jin also manages This Way Up Records, an emerging music label responsible for developing and breaking the likes of Airliftz and Lunadira. In September 2019, Jin was recruited by Universal Music Group to lead the marketing division of Def Jam Malaysia, overseeing a roster of hip-hop luminaries including Joe Flizzow, SonaOne and Abubakarxli.
“At a time when more and more artists are achieving commercial success independently, it’s imperative for a musician to be hands-on with every single aspect of his or her craft. Levi’s® Music Project may very well be the platform to equip solo artists and bands alike with the knowledge and tools required to help them cut through the noise and eventually have a sustainable career in music,” adds Jin.
The selection of the participants officially kicks off the first out of the three phases of the entire programme over the course of three years. The first phase will proceed with the four artists recording a brand-new song, funded by Levi's® in November at Big A Studio. The lucky four will also receive the opportunity to headline a virtual showcase hosted on Levi's® global YouTube channel. The first stage will also see one artist stand a chance to win an RM20,000 music video grant. The chosen one will also get to proceed with a once in a lifetime chance to elevate their profile through a collaboration with Levi's® Music Project mentors.
Levi's Music Project, which is an in-depth programme that supports community-based music collaborations and education couldn't have come at a better time. The COVID-19 pandemic has led many established and rising musicians into uncertainty as their freedom to public performances have been restricted.
According to Imran Butt, Levi’s® Malaysia’s Country Manager, "Given that music is a big part of Levi’s® DNA, we are very excited to bring Levi’s® Music Project to our shores when many of our budding artists are struggling right now”.
“Malaysians never cease to amaze me. The quality of music submissions that we went through truly showcases the diverse and amazing talents of our Malaysian musicians,” Imran continued.
Since its inception in 2016, Levi’s® Music Project has been one of the most authentic forms of self-expression and community. Its global success has featured famous artists including Alicia Keys, Justin Timberlake, Vince Staples, and SZA in its campaigns, sharing stories about how music inspires the masses and educating the next generations of young musicians.
The Finalists
Alien Lipstick Fire
Kuala Lumpur-based band Alien Lipstick Fire is a group of musicians that enjoys exploring the depths of the Modern Indie Rock genre. Their creative process involves making great music with melodic hooks and vocals that captivate their listeners.
Instagram: www.instagram.com/alienlipstickfire/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/alienlipstickfire/
Dato' Maw
Dato' Maw started a wave of “Cina” hip-hop music, a genre that utilises Malaysian Chinese slangs. He seamlessly infuses multiple languages and dialects into rap music, redefining the sound and music direction of local Chinese rap.
Instagram: www.instagram.com/dato_maw/
Margasatwa
Margasatwa is a group of five young rockers hailing from five different parts of Malaysia. These talented lads combine rock elements while placing traditional music styles like “keronchong” and “inang” as a focal point in their music productions.
Instagram:
www.instagram.com/margasatwa.bunyi/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/mrgstwa
Mayabayu
This Sabahan solo artist started out with indie folk-country before evolving her style of music to a unique blend of synth-pop combined with East Malaysian tribal elements. She is in the midst of working on her first full-length album slated to be released soon.
Instagram: www.instagram.com/mayabayumusic/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/mayabayumusic
LEVI'S MUSIC PROJECT PICKS 4 FINALISTS FROM 200 SUBMISSIONS
Story: Dragon Visual: Levis Malaysia
Malaysia’s chapter of the Levi’s® Music Project which was launched on 12th October 2020, successfully managed to shortlists four aspiring musicians to vie for the chance to win an RM20,000 music video grant, from 200 original music productions that were submitted over a 2 week period between 12th to 25th October 2020.
The selection process was conducted by a panel of judges, which included Levi’s® Malaysia representatives, and the programme’s mentors, Jennifer Thompson, and Tang Eu Jin aka “Old Head Jin”, who spent 48 arduous hours to select four stellar finalists to be part of the music project.
The finalists were chosen based on their authenticity, unique talents, individual merits and credibilities, after a gruelling session. The chosen four are indie band, Alien Lipstick Fire; rock band, Margasatwa; rapper, Dato’ Maw and solo artist, MAYABAYU.
“Choosing only four out of an extensive list of artists at various stages of their journey was extremely challenging but it is not about winners or losers, it is all about recognising and working with the independent music community as a whole. We are so looking forward to assisting and mentoring the chosen artists in their careers any way we can,” says Jennifer Thompson.
Jennifer further shared, “In a competitive, fast-moving, ever-changing creative environment of the music industry, understanding the business side is as important as the talent. Levi’s® Music project is exciting for all of us as it offers our own talent the opportunity and platform to assist their creative journey.”
With 35 years experience in the Malaysian entertainment industry, Jennifer (or fondly known as Kak Jenn within the industry) has worked with artists - both local and international, major or unsigned. She has been actively involved in coordinating and managing numerous live recordings, producing and event managing concerts, national and international launches, awards, international fashion weeks, music festivals and live broadcast shows.
"Narrowing 200 entries down to four was an arduous task made harder by the quality of the submissions; further proving that there is no shortage of talent in Malaysia. The chosen acts will be moving forward because they ticked all the right boxes and are the perfect fit for phase one of the project,” Old Head Jin exclaims.
Jin, who established himself as a promising rap artist in 2009, found his true calling in identifying and promoting local talents. In addition to running Malaysia’s most successful live hip-hop series Raising The Bar, Jin also manages This Way Up Records, an emerging music label responsible for developing and breaking the likes of Airliftz and Lunadira. In September 2019, Jin was recruited by Universal Music Group to lead the marketing division of Def Jam Malaysia, overseeing a roster of hip-hop luminaries including Joe Flizzow, SonaOne and Abubakarxli.
“At a time when more and more artists are achieving commercial success independently, it’s imperative for a musician to be hands-on with every single aspect of his or her craft. Levi’s® Music Project may very well be the platform to equip solo artists and bands alike with the knowledge and tools required to help them cut through the noise and eventually have a sustainable career in music,” adds Jin.
The selection of the participants officially kicks off the first out of the three phases of the entire programme over the course of three years. The first phase will proceed with the four artists recording a brand-new song, funded by Levi's® in November at Big A Studio. The lucky four will also receive the opportunity to headline a virtual showcase hosted on Levi's® global YouTube channel. The first stage will also see one artist stand a chance to win an RM20,000 music video grant. The chosen one will also get to proceed with a once in a lifetime chance to elevate their profile through a collaboration with Levi's® Music Project mentors.
Levi's Music Project, which is an in-depth programme that supports community-based music collaborations and education couldn't have come at a better time. The COVID-19 pandemic has led many established and rising musicians into uncertainty as their freedom to public performances have been restricted.
According to Imran Butt, Levi’s® Malaysia’s Country Manager, "Given that music is a big part of Levi’s® DNA, we are very excited to bring Levi’s® Music Project to our shores when many of our budding artists are struggling right now”.
“Malaysians never cease to amaze me. The quality of music submissions that we went through truly showcases the diverse and amazing talents of our Malaysian musicians,” Imran continued.
Since its inception in 2016, Levi’s® Music Project has been one of the most authentic forms of self-expression and community. Its global success has featured famous artists including Alicia Keys, Justin Timberlake, Vince Staples, and SZA in its campaigns, sharing stories about how music inspires the masses and educating the next generations of young musicians.
The Finalists
Alien Lipstick Fire
Kuala Lumpur-based band Alien Lipstick Fire is a group of musicians that enjoys exploring the depths of the Modern Indie Rock genre. Their creative process involves making great music with melodic hooks and vocals that captivate their listeners.
Instagram: www.instagram.com/alienlipstickfire/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/alienlipstickfire/
Dato' Maw
Dato' Maw started a wave of “Cina” hip-hop music, a genre that utilises Malaysian Chinese slangs. He seamlessly infuses multiple languages and dialects into rap music, redefining the sound and music direction of local Chinese rap.
Instagram: www.instagram.com/dato_maw/
Margasatwa
Margasatwa is a group of five young rockers hailing from five different parts of Malaysia. These talented lads combine rock elements while placing traditional music styles like “keronchong” and “inang” as a focal point in their music productions.
Instagram:
www.instagram.com/margasatwa.bunyi/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/mrgstwa
Mayabayu
This Sabahan solo artist started out with indie folk-country before evolving her style of music to a unique blend of synth-pop combined with East Malaysian tribal elements. She is in the midst of working on her first full-length album slated to be released soon.
Instagram: www.instagram.com/mayabayumusic/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/mayabayumusic
