Masterpiece (band)

Masterpiece is an Iban rock band from Sibu, Sarawak, Malaysia best known for its hit single, Sinu.^[1] The band comprises vocalist Depha Masterpiece, lead guitarist Willy Edwin, guitarist Kennedy Edwin, bassist Watt Marcus, drummer Harold Vincent, keyboardist Valentine Jimmy and Roslee Qadir.

Formed in 2003 as Masterjam by Willy Edwin and his brother Kennedy Edwin, the band was renamed Masterpiece in 2005^[2] after Depha was hired as the band's new vocalist. The band has released four studio albums and three Gawai album compilations.^[3] Their first album, Merindang Ke Bintang has won numerous awards including the best produced debut album of 2009-2010 during the Dayak Music Awards 2010,^[4] in Sarawak. Its full-length follow-ups, the second albums Rock & Roll (2013), were also widely successful; which respectively debuted at No1 on the Local Radio Station for months.

Masterpiece has been recognized by several Sarawak Music Awards ceremonies; the band has received twelve awards from several nominations.^[5] Notable awards they have won include the Most Popular Group, voted by fans via SMS in 2010 Dayak Music Awards and best rock artiste in Dayak Music Awards on 2014.^[6][4] For their contribution and support to Sarawak music industry, they were invited to be the opening act for the Malaysian legendary rock band, Search (band) during their 30th anniversary Fenomena concert in Stadium Negeri, Kuching, Sarawak in December 2011.^[7][8]

Biography

Formation

Masterpiece was officially founded in Sibu, Sarawak by Willy Edwin and his brother Kennedy in 2003.^[2] Since they were missing a bass player, Watt Marcus joined them as a sessional live member who soon becomes their permanent bassist. The three original members remained together along with Roni until 2005, when he left the band. They soon invited friend and schoolmate Harold Vincent to play drums.

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.

Merindang Ke Bintang (2003–2009)

Though limited in resources, the band began recording and producing songs within Willy's makeshift bedroom studio in 2007, resulting in a six-track demo, entitled Merindang Ke Bintang. After recording demo, the newly formed band started playing small bars in their hometown of Sibu. Locally popular songs such as Sinu and Bulat Ati Ku soon brought them to the top of the hit charts in Sibu city. In the same year, the band entered the studio for the first time, recording its first CD titled Merindang Ke Bintang. In 2008 the band released a self-titled extended play, which they circulated across internet chat-rooms and forums with the help of close friends.

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 with unsigned deal with the company in 2008. The band released its breakthrough album Merindang Ke Bintang in CD, VCD & DVD format, the following year.

Merindang Ke Bintang earned the band multiple awards. The band won Most Popular Group awards, Best Video awards for Bulat Ati Ku, Best New Artiste, Best Album Cover and the Album of the Year awards during AMD 2010.^[4] Masterpiece also received another significant award during AJARR 2011, Sinu winning the 2010 Song of the Year awards.^[1]

Rock & Roll (2010–2013)

Following the success of Merindang Ke Bintang, Masterpiece returned to the recording studios in 2010 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 on 2010. Roslee Qadir was eventually chosen and joined the band in time to take part in the tour that followed the release of Kumang Seari.The song was released on 9 August 2013, as the lead single of their second studio album.

Driven by the release of the single Kumang Seari, the band released its second album, Rock & Roll, to more positive reviews in 2013, embarking on a tour in support.^[9][10][11] The album features several guest musicians from Sarawak, such as Jerry Kamit on Sapeh instrument and Romy Majestica outro guitar solo on Nyaga Negeri. Masterpiece’s Rock & Roll second studio album continued to top year-end charts and the band was recognised as the Rock Artist of the Year in 2014 by eventually won two awards, one being for Best Performance in ACSJ 2014 and the other for Best Rock Artiste in AMD 2014.^[12][13]

Ngap Sayot (2013–2014)

	Masterpiece - Ngap Sayot Masterpiece's style in this period adopting a more progressive guitar riff and a distinct sound of the strings
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Prior to the release of the band's third album, Masterpiece released a single Ngap Sayot on 4 January 2014 on YouTube, which was released as a benefit single on iTunes and other Internet outlets, the following year.^[14][15] 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,^[16] 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.^[17][18]

For a brief time in 2014, the band was headed to the studio to record their third full-length single album Ngap Sayot, which fashioned in two different languages and multiple version tracks including chant and guitar instrumental version.^[19][20] The recording took place over the following few weeks and later releases were handled by DO Records Entertainment.^[21]

Ngarap Ka Nuan Nikal Pulai (2015–present)

On November 2014, the band completed shooting the video for their first single from the fourth album, Ngarap Ka Nuan Nikal Pulai^[22] meaning "I hope you will come back" and although not released until December 2014. The video was directed by Brodie William, director of Do Records Entertainment.^[23] Ngarap Ka Nuan Nikal Pulai eventually released on 2 January 2015 and aired within the same week in Sarawak. An extensive tour followed, which included features touring keyboardist Valentine Jimmy who also had appeared to a lesser extent on Rock & Roll and Ngap Sayot. 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 fourth album.

Masterpiece started recording their fourth studio album before the end of 2014. Despite initially stating the album would debut sometime in 2015 shortly after the single's release, the album was delayed until 2016.^[24] It was originally thought to be self-titled but on 6 February 2016, the band revealed the album cover via the band's official sources.^[25] 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 21 February 2016, it was announced that the new album will be released around March 2016 and saw them reunite with Panggau Buluh Pengerindu Records.^[24][25]

Masterpiece in 2015

In an interview with The Borneo Post on 21 March 2016, the band had announced that the Ngarap Ka Nuan Nikal Pulai album was made available for pre online order from 10 March 2016 and officially released throughout Sarawak and Johor music outlets on 12 March 2016.^[26] The album also features a guest artiste 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 on September this year.^[26]

On September 2, 2016, the lead single from the fourth album, Ngarapka Nuan Nikal Pulai won the award for "Best Song" at the ACSJ 2016 Sarawak Music Awards.^[27] At the AMD 2016 Sarawak Music Awards, 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.^[28] 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).^[29][30][31]

Music

Musical style

	Masterpiece - Aku Benci "Aku Benci" from Rock & Roll album demonstrating more rhythm and harmony in song structures.
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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.^[32]

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.^[2]

Songwriting and lyrics

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,^[2] with the only exceptions being Ngap Sayot from the third album, which is in Sarawak Malay version.

Band members

Timeline

Discography

Studio albums

• Merindang Ke Bintang (2009)
• Rock & Roll (2013)
• Ngap Sayot (2014)
• Ngarap Ka Nuan Nikal Pulai (2016)

Compilations & single

• Mansau Leka Padi (2011)^[3]
• Berami Ba Ati Nuan (2014)
• Nadai Ati Berami (2015)
• Kaban (2016)

Awards and nominations

Masterpiece awards and nominations

Masterpiece in 2014
Awards and nominations Award Wins Nominations Anugerah Musik Dayak (AMD) Awards 9 14 Anugerah Juara Rentak Ruai (AJARR) Awards 1 1 Voice Independent Music Awards 0 2 Anugerah Carta Sapa Juara (ACSJ) Awards 2 3
Totals
Awards won	12
Nominations	20

Anugerah Musik Dayak (AMD) Awards

The Anugerah Musik Dayak (AMD) Awards is the music awards ceremony presented by Dayak Artistes and Musicians Association (DAMA) since 2008 and continuously presented on every two consecutive years. Masterpiece has received nine awards from fourteen nominations. ^{[4][12][28][29]}

Anugerah Juara Rentak Ruai (AJARR) Awards

The Anugerah Juara Rentak Ruai (AJARR) Awards is an annual awards ceremony held by Cats FM radio station since 2003 until 2012. The winners are selected by a by a group of professional jury. Masterpiece has won one award. ^[33][34]

Voice Independent Music Awards VIMA Malaysia

The Voice Independent Music Awards was Asia's first independent music awards launched in 2008. Masterpiece has received one nomination. ^[35][36]

Voice Independent Music Awards VIMA Asia

Anugerah Carta Sapa Juara (ACSJ) Awards

The Anugerah Carta Sapa Juara (ACSJ) Awards are presented for Dayak musicians and entertainer in Sarawak organized by Sarawak Radio Televisyen Malaysia since 2014. Masterpiece has won two awards. ^[27]

See also

• List of songs recorded by Masterpiece
• Depha Masterpiece
• Sarawak Music Awards

References

External links

Wikiquote has quotations related to: Masterpiece (band)

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Masterpiece (band).

• Masterpiece on Facebook
• Masterpiece on Reverbnation