In the first quarter of the year 2002, the Ministry of Youth and Culture of Malaysia sent representatives to Kyrgyzstan as Ambassadors for the World Music festival held there. The event saw the participation of 40 countries, including Sweden, Africa, Palestine, Germany, Russia, Uzbekistan and the United States of America.
From the Malaysian contingent, two young musicians became acquainted through a common love for music from the Rock genre - a bond that holds strong to this very day.
The guitarist Rithan was selected after a series of shortlists, particularly for his contribution to the local music scene. Ainol was an obvious choice. 16 years old at the time, he had already carved a reputation for himself as a sterling drummer and percussionist.
Seeing as how the Festival was a showcase of World Music, Rithan and Ainol performed traditional Malaysian masterpieces such as the 'Ulik Mayang', 'Joget Pahang' and 'Jong Jong Inai' together with the troupe. Rithan also conducted talks and workshops covering the theory, harmony and rhythm approaches to Malaysian music from a historical perspective.
During the month-long Festival, Rithan and Ainol discovered that they shared similar influences in their individual style, as well as an insatiable love for precision-based Rock music.
Cue three weeks after the World Music Festival. Back in the sunny shores of Malaysia, Ainol contacted Rithan in the hopes that the talented guitarist would be willing to form a band together to take part in 'Asian Beat', a prestigious battle-of-the-bands competition that spanned the region. Rithan first declined, seeing as how he had only just begun pursuing his degree in Music. A hundred telephone calls later, Rithan finally gave in to Ainol's determination and thus, the earliest incarnation of Deja Voodoo Spells was born.
|
