Monday October 10, 2005
Liang’s soul effort
By JASON CHEAH
Independent label Oops Asia! has a new release out sometime late this week, featuring the latest artiste to join the stable, Liang.
The eight-track mini-album 8oz of Soul goes all the way from retro gospel to urban R&B, with influences ranging from such classic soul and funk icons as Stevie Wonder, Earth, Wind & Fire and James Ingram to modern urban R&B artistes such as Usher, Destiny’s Child and Alicia Keys.
Liang’s passion for music began in HELP Institute (KL) where he joined six-man a cappella group Legato (who features on the track N'umsingin' It) and performed regularly at college events. The group even had the privilege to work with critically acclaimed drummer Lewis Pragasam, performing with him at the Kiara Jazz Festival.
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The mini album 8oz of Soul is packed with collaborations surrounding the songwriting and lyrical content of Liang.
Jazz artiste David Gary writes two of the tracks (intro and outro). Celebrated arranger and music writer Mac Chew takes on one track, while other arrangers appearing on the album include Audi Mok, and Nick Lee.
There's also a collaboration with by local club star Jungle Jerry, who handles production and arrangements on the Liang-penned track Howzat and Shareena appears on the introduction of the album.
Liang’s first single Silver Lining was featured on Through The Rain, Oops! Asia’s EP release in aid of raising funds for the reconstruction of communities ravaged by last December's tsunami disaster. That EP has raised more than RM40,000 so far.
Silver Linings has received airplay on local English content radio stations since February this year and was on the XFresh FM charts for many weeks.
His second single, Show Me Whatcha Got made its radio debut in August. 8oz of Soul will be available at leading record stores from this week onwards.
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