Masterpiece (band)
Masterpiece is an Iban rock band, which formed in 2003 as Masterjam in Sibu, Sarawak best known for its hit singles, "Sinu", "Kumang Seari" & "Ngarap Ka Nuan Nikal Pulai".
The band's mainstream success continued with Ngarap Ka Nuan Nikal Pulai (2016), which was critically praised, becoming their most nominated release to date.
In December 2016, the lead single from the album, "Ngarap Ka Nuan Nikal Pulai" became the first Iban song to reach one million views on YouTube.
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.
[6] 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.
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.
[7] The band released its breakthrough album Merindang Ke Bintang in CD & DVD format, the following year through Panggau Buluh Pengerindu Records in Sarawak.
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.
[1] 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.
[18] 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,[19] and headlining the TM Net Festival in Sarawak, starting with Miri, Kuching and ending with Sibu In October 2011.
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".
[26] 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.
[29][30][31] 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.
[34] The album consists of ten songs including closing track "Badu" which was re-mastered to a more accessible radio-friendly sound, with accompanying music videos directed by Cosmas Moses Alexander.
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".
[49][40] 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 23 April 2014.
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 17 July 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.
[58] That same year, while working on the album, Masterpiece participated in a benefit concert at the Christian Ecumenical Centre, Kuching, in aid of ailing Search drummer Yazid Ahmad.
The album's cover featured Watt Marcus standing back side holding his bass guitar looking at the bride in a wedding dress at a mirror.
[61] 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 Lyssa Jean contributing her vocals in a duet song titled "Siku Dalam Seribu".
"[67] 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 19 October 2016 through YouTube via their independent label, Masterjam Studio.
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.
[68] On 8 December 2016, 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.
[71] On 7 October, the band appeared at the Rocktoberfest Borneo for the first time at Park City beachfront in Miri, Sarawak, performing to an audience of more than 10,000.
[75] 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.
[6] With the release of Rock & Roll , the band displayed power ballad and early heavy metal influences, incorporating more rhythm and harmony in song structures.
Their early album Merindang Ke Bintang appealed to Sarawak rock music fans and influenced the likes of Creed, Nickelback and Bon Jovi.
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 received nine awards from the Dayak Music Awards—Winning the Album of the Year two times for Merindang Ke Bintang in 2010 and Ngarap Ka Nuan Nikal Pulai in 2016.
