My 479 consists of:
Lead Guitar-Aimran (4 Sc3)
Bassist-Razlan (4 Sc3)
Drummer-Yaw Ga Weng (4 Commerce)
Keyboardist-Eka (4 Sc3)
Vocals-Izadeana[eD] (4 Commerce)

Have you heard of My 479 before? Well, unless you were at the 2005 Talent Time where they bagged third place (It was their first talent time performance), chances are you probably won't.  Consists of 4 guys and a girl, this band has been making quite a name for themselves in a short period of time.  (They were formed a week before the 2005 Commencements audition, which they got through).  My 479's pop punk style of music and their enthusiastic performances are a breath of fresh air from the bands that most Cempakans are used to. 

The interview was set after school at the hall where the whole band had assembled for one of their jamming sessions and this interview of course.  When I reached the hall where the primary school kids were having a badminton practice, I found the band congregating behind the paintings.  When they saw me, eD jumped up and down and went, "YES! Our interview!!" I told you they were an enthusiastic bunch.

I started off the interview by asking them how the band was formed.  There was a short pause where the band looked at each other as though unsure who should answer.  Then, both Razlan and Aimran answered at the same time. "One of us liked this girl for like a really long time."

Razlan: Yeah. Well, one of us liked this girl for a really, really long time.  479 days to be exact.  And on the 479th day, he was rejected.  But we're not going to tell you who the girl is or which one of us it happened too.
Eka: Yea.  So he was depressed and Aimran decided to form a band to kind of cheer him up.
Aimran: So I taught Razlan how to play the bass. Ga Weng already knows how to play the drums.  So then we chose Eka to play the keyboard for us.  So we just had to find a singer.
eD: And they realized I could sing when I sang at Azman's party.
Razlan: No. I realized you [eD] could sing since you were standard 6.  Anyways, we also found out that Aimran could sing too! We found that out in the toilet!
Ga Weng: Yeah. He hit all the right notes.

YJC: When was the first time you all performed as a group?
Razlan: 2005 Commencements!
Eka: Well, sort of.
Aimran: We auditioned for the 2005 Commencements but we did not make it. Ga Weng: They felt our performance [Swing Swing, All American Rejects] could have been better.
Aimran: Yeah. So I guess it will have to be the Dollar for Downs's performance at Bangsar Village.
eD: No! I wasn't there, remember? The first real performance we all performed as a group was at the Aid The Quake function at Times Square.

YJC: What was the biggest compliment your band has ever received?
Razlan: When a friend of ours put a line of our song, "Sick" as her msn nickname.  It showed that people actually listen to our songs.

YJC: What was the harshest comment your band has ever gotten then?
[Whole band laughs]
Razlan: Quote: "Your band is a carbon copy of Blink 182.  But much worse."

YJC: Who said that?
eD: Throne Away.  They are a local band.
Aimran: What was funny is after that, they listened to our song again and they said they actually liked it. [Laughs]

YJC: Name me a few bands that you guys find inspiring.
Aimran: Blink 182, of course.
Razlan: Motion CD soundtracks and Hegoyra.
eD: Throne Away, Fall out Boy.
Razlan: Jyn Jyn [Whole band laughs].

YJC: Who are your inspirations?
Razlan: I can't tell you.
Aimran: Yeah, me too.
eD: Megat! [laughs]
Razlan: For Ga Weng, it's Kamen.

YJC: How often do you guys rehearse?
Razlan: About a week before a performance.
Aimran: But Razlan and I get together quite frequently and compose.
Eka: But we talk about our band's future all the time.
Razlan: All the time.

YJC: What is you personal favourite track from the songs you have composed?
[Group discussion]
My 479: Violenttime Days.

YJC: What are your hopes for the future?
Ed: More fans! More publicity!
Razlan: Get a label.
Ga Weng: Entry to Music Canteen.
Aimran: More performances.
Eka: Perform at the Sure Heboh carnival!

YJC: Anything else you guys want to add?
Razlan: Yeah. Check out our band at www.purevolume.com/my479.  And we've also recorded this sort of a demo CD with our track, "Sick" in it.  Anybody who wants a copy, please give me a call.

As I was walking out of the hall after the interview, Aimran starts playing the drums.  I looked over my shoulder to see that the primary students who were playing badminton had stopped playing and were peeking through trying to get a glimpse of these talented musicians doing what they do best.

For those who wants a copy of My479's demo cd, please contact Razlan at 0162021882.
www.purevolume.com/my479