Catalogue V Interview with Spin or Bin Music

Singaporean band, Catalogue V, is no stranger to the music scene. Formed in 2009, the band has described themselves as ‘advocates of Skitzo mainstream originals’. Comprising of Razil Razil Razil (Vocals), Alfredo Lucius (Guitars), Mal Mikhal (Bass), Hans Ibrahim (Guitars), Rave Zulo (Keyboards) and Matt Raham (Percussions), the band has recently made headlines by being the Grand Prix Award Winners of Yamaha Asian Beat 2011 Finals, and they will go on to represent Singapore in the Asia Grand Finals in Seoul, Korea in November 2011.

We sat down with the boys for a chat, and talked about almost everything music related – from their experiences at the Yamaha Asian Beat 2011 to their dream performance… and to the need to grow a moustache?

How was the experience like at Yamaha Asian Beat 2011?

Razil: It was… it was very surreal. Because we joined of course, just to have fun. In that competition, we had no expectations or whatsoever. I know it sounds cliched but we entered to gain experience and how best we can learn from other bands and stuff like that. So we came in without any expectations and we were lucky enough to get into the finals, and we were luckier still to win the Singapore league. It was, and it is still very surreal. I think only ¼ have fully absorbed it.

Matt: No I haven’t.

Mal: Nope.

Matt: I think at that point of time when we were to be at the airport, we’ll probably be going, “Eh sial lah we going to Korea.”

Razil: You see we are honest like that. If we feel like saying “Sial lah”, we will say “Sial lah”. Haha anyway, on top of all that, we also received individual awards. Winning itself is already a bonus, so I don’t know what to call the individual awards. Of course we have Rave, the best keyboardist award. So yeah.

Mal: And not forgetting, best vocalist right here for 2 years (gestures towards Razil)

Matt: Twice ah, twice. 2009 and 2011.

Razil: You did not hear that from me!

How have you guys matured over the past couple of years?

Matt: In terms of music, there is a kind of growth to it. We try to include elements of music that people are listening to nowadays and try to adapt to the current music scene. At the same time, we will try to infuse a bit of old school stuff in it. So its kind of like Mustafa, where you go to get almost anything there, but we are not Mustafa!

How has your strategies in getting your music out change with the rise of social media nowadays?

Alfredo: Well if you take social media into context, it was probably way harder 20 years ago. I guess anyone with a simple laptop and a recorder can simply put stuff onto the stores and all. It makes things a lot easier to reach out to an audience. But at the end of the day, it boils down to who is your target audience and how you connect with them. Basically, you get the idea of how they behave and from there you can derive on how you can connect with them.

Razil: Basically its easier to mirror with your audience because from these social networks, you get to find out what they want, and they get to find out what you want to do. So its a very good time for us and we couldn’t ask for a better time than now.

What is the one thing about the Singapore music scene you wish you can change, and why?

Razil: The keyword here is ‘if’, so if I am in the position in which I can change one thing about the Singapore music industry, I would eradicate that fine line between ‘hope’ and ‘belief’. There are so many hopefuls – we put so much hope in so many people, so many bands and so many artistes, but there is this fine line between hope and belief, which we rarely cross. We need to eradicate that hairline crack because you can always laugh at hope, but you can never undermine belief.

Given the chance to perform any where in the world and at any event, where would it be and why?

Mal: For me I would love to perform at Big Day Out because that is where all the big bands play – at a huge festival, so playing there would be kinda cool.

Matt: It doesn’t have to be a big show right? What is that name of that studio again? Abbey Road. Yeah Abbey Road would be nice.

Rave: For me personally I don’t really care so much about the venue I’m playing, as long as there are people watching me play, that is good enough.

Razil: But if you get to choose one place, one festival, what would you choose?

Rave: Okay ah, I’d probably choose Woodstock.

Razil: So much for not caring.

Alfredo: Actually Abbey Road, is quite dear to my heart. I mean some of the famous bands have played there before.

Razil: But if you get to choose something different?

Alfredo: Whaaat? K Glastonbury.

Hans: Tokyo Dome in Japan, to tell other Asian countries that Singapore has hope in music.

Razil: Anywhere in the world right? Don’t judge me, but I would love to play for Baybeats.

What is that one song from another musician that you wish you had written?

Matt: Ooh nice. Sunday Morning by Maroon 5! Sunday Morning is the sh*t yo. Maybe I’ll buy the song.

Mal: I Predict A Riot by Kaiser Chief because its catchy, its fun, it pumps you out, but that is just me.

Matt: Rave? Isabella also can.

Rave: Probably Rome by Phoenix.

Hans: Under The Surface by Marit Larsen

Alfredo: I hate to say this in front of you all, but Moves Like Jagger by Maroon 5.

Mal: You like Christina Aguilera right?

Alfredo: Nah I like the song… and Christina Aguilera.

Razil: Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen.

Matt: Niice.

Advice for upcoming musicians who are trying to make it into the Singapore music scene?

Razil: Let us choose not to use the word ‘advice’, but to spur on. Okay cheerleading mode: On. (with this all the boys take on the Aja Aja Fighting pose and start clapping and whooping). Someday you will be old.

Matt: Huh?

Razil: Someday you will be old, man. Right, so don’t be afraid of being you. Don’t being afraid of being rejected. Don’t be afraid of old timers coming up to you and pretending that they know better. Don’t be afraid of people coming to you and say that you can’t do something just because they can’t do it themselves. Its basically human nature, so start living and stop being afraid.

Matt: Basically, don’t stop believing ah. Don’t stop believing in yourself.

Mal: Have heart in what you do.

Alfredo: If you believe in yourself, nobody can touch you. Nobody.

For more information on Catalogue V and to keep yourselves updated on their activity, do visit the band’s page here.