Listen to the Obedient Wives Club

SINGAPORE – Formed in 2011, the Obedient Wives Club – vocalist Lee Yinqi, guitarist Keith Tan, guitarist Cherie Ko, bassist Sulaiman Supian and drummer Lennat Mak – is an indie rock band that was “conceived on the rooftop of a tapas bar”. The band has done remarkably well considering the five members didn’t even quite know each other then. They’ve released two EPs, including 2012’s Murder Kill Baby, and come this weekend, the band will be performing their first overseas show at Urbanscapes, Malaysia’s longest running all-day creative arts festival.

Uh huh, forming a band gains you new friends and travel opportunitites as Lee pointed out. “Being involved with OWC has really opened my horizons and widened my social circle. Now I sound like an SDU ad!” quipped Lee, referring to the former Social Development Unit (it’s now called the Social Development Network, if anybody’s asking). “But seriously, it also amazes me how this ragtag group of five has managed to bond together.”

Q: You’ve passed the two-year mark. How does it feel now that you’ve come so far? How have you evolved as a band?

Keith: Jaded! Nah, it doesn’t feel that long. Maybe because we’re constantly writing and playing without much breaks in between. I think the writing of songs has evolved. It used to be me writing the basic chords and structure, Yinqi writing the melody, I’ll write the lyrics, and in between, the rest come up with their parts. The more recent stuff had us huddling together deconstructing the song and coming up with various parts.

Lennat: To be honest, none of us were friends to begin with when we started the band. The only common factor between everyone is that we are all friends of Keith’s. During these two years, I would say we have all grown closer as bandmates and as friends, being in the same band, playing music that we like. I still love the first batch of songs we released, find delight in playing all our songs in every gig, and I get excited whenever we have a new song down. Musically, our chemistry is electrifying. Most importantly, I really enjoy all of us hanging out together as a band. I’m actually really proud of the camaraderie that we have established these past two years.

Sulaiman: It still overwhelms me how much response and reviews our band gets. What started out as just having fun playing at small gigs has grown to something much bigger than what we had hoped for. We would like to thank everyone who was with us and has helped us along the way. As a band, we’re starting to let loose on stage with our banter and we’ve grown as musicians and as good friends over the span of 2 years.

Cherie: I’m kind of like the random stranger that joined the band, I didn’t have any association whatsoever with these four people. But I must say that after almost two years of being in a band with these guys, I feel like we have really bonded, and it shows in the chemistry we have on stage! I never thought joining OWC would become something so permanent, but right now I can’t imagine having it any other way! I love being a part of OWC!

Q: Can you give us an update on what you have been busy with and if you have any plans for the upcoming year?

Keith: : We will be completing unfinished songs once we’re done with Urbanscapes and then head into the studio. The next release should be out first quarter of 2014.

Lennat: Seriously, I can’t wait to work on the new release and start recording. Third’s a charm or so they say!

Sulaiman: Work occupies us most of the time but playing music gives us an avenue to release/show our creative side. Like what Keith and Lennat have said, we’re pretty excited to start recording on the third EP but on the other hand a bit worried about keeping things sounding fresh.

Yinqi: Gigs and more gigs! Recording is what’s next for us and it’s definitely one of my fave parts, knowing that we’re going to leave our sound on as “legacy” for future generations, for many of our imaginary children, or friends’ children to discover.

QUESTION: This is going to be your first overseas show. Why have you waited this long?

Keith: Everyone is busy with work. We had to turn down an opening slot in Hong Kong for a band that just played at Camp Symmetry because of work commitments. I also don’t see the point of touring if it’s not a proper show or festival. No use traveling all the way to another country to play to five people.

Yinqi: Hey, no work, no money; no dough no luxury of feeding our hobby.

Sulaiman: To sort out the logistics and overseas leave between the five of us has been a challenge. Urbanscapes happening over the weekend really helps.

QUESTION: What are your day jobs? Any plans to make music full-time? Aren’t money and a decent living overrated anyway?

Lennat: Oh, totes! I’m on this quest to de-clutter and minimise my possessions to 100 things just to cut away all the materialistic wants and needs of modern life. But you know, the banks still call to check how I’m doing so a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do. To quote Gossip’s awesome song Get A Job: “I’d love to stay and party but I gotta go to work.” I don’t know about anyone else, but a lot of my favorite bands still hold day jobs while touring and stuff and most interviews I’ve read have never once ask them about their day jobs. But in Singapore, one gets this question all the time. Why? Though, our day jobs are pretty interesting. Two of us work in media, one of us works in fashion, one works in engineering and one owns a F&B startup business. We cover a lot of ground as a band.

Yinqi: Lennat’s summarised our jobs, and we all know media/fashion/startups aren’t on the list of top-earning professions. Engineering though... hahaha. But I think all of us are doing okay in our jobs, and so far we have been getting enough balance between jobs and music.

Sulaiman: Wishful thinking maybe - if only playing our own music in Singapore could bring food to the table, perhaps. The natural highs you get while performing when you’ve made a connection with the crowd is priceless and makes us do what we do.

Cherie: I would love to make music full-time. But I feel like if I did, I would have a lot of spare time on my hands and I’ll end up just not being productive at all. Having a day job keeps the passion going. It makes me appreciate my hobbies so much more. I think I need that balance and contrast in life.

Q: Who are you most excited about meeting or listening to at Urbanscapes?

Keith: Ourselves! Love yourself before loving anyone else.

Lennat: The organisers and crew of Urbanscapes. Everyone has been really lovely and professional. Can’t wait to put faces to the names!

Yinqi: I second Lennat’s answer. We know for a fact that organising something of such a scale is ridiculously difficult. The logistics would be insane, yet the Urbanscapes team has taken all our requests like a champ and got everything organised for us. Also I’m looking forward to check out this Malaysian artist Red Hongyi whom I follow on Instagram. She makes insane large scale art pieces out of everyday materials.

Sulaiman: Everyone! Love meeting new people and making new friends who share a common bond for music.

Cherie: Umm, Tegan and Sara?! They are so self-deprecatingly funny. I feel like I almost know them from watching the countless YouTube videos of their onstage banter.

Q: What sacrifices have you made for your love for music? How often do you get together to practise?

Keith: I don’t think I’ve made any significant sacrifices. I’m a practical person. Whatever pays the bills get priority. We jam once a week in our secret space underground.

Lennat: Me too. I don’t think I’ve made sacrifices to do what I inherently love doing, cos I won’t want to be doing anything else other than music and skating.

Sulaiman: I guess that would be time for me, but then again we only jam once a week.

Yinqi: Having to cut back on things bad for my throat, like curry and fried chicken. True story.

Cherie: I don’t think I’ve made any sacrifice, because any sacrifice made for my love isn’t sacrifice at all! We jam weekly at the sous-sol studios.

Q: What songs do you guys sing in the shower?

Lennat: I don’t really sing out loud. The tune just plays in my head. I might be showering, but there’s a banging concert going on in my head!

Sulaiman: Don’t sing in the shower! Shampoo and soap gets in your mouth.

Yinqi: I think I’ve heard enough of my own voice. Haha. But my brother, who’s also a vocalist in another local band, sings to himself. ALL. THE. TIME.

Cherie: I sing in the shower every time, cannot resist the great natural bathroom reverb! Lately I’ve been belting out You’re Not The One by Sky Ferreira. I think her songs are pretty apt for shower singing, since her album cover is of her in the shower as well.

Q: What is the craziest thing you’ve done together as a band?

Lennat: Letting each other into our lives.

Sulaiman: Eating kueh and pretending it is Lennat’s drumming moon gels.

Yinqi: Saying yes to Urbanscapes. It will be two full days of each other, in the same hotel. I’m not sure we can handle that!

Cherie: I wish I had an awesome story for this. Let’s make some crazy memories together, guys!

Q: What is the strangest thing a fan has ever said or done to you?

Lennat: I wouldn’t say it’s a fan but during our early days, I was queuing to go to the loo after our first show with Cherie and this girl came up to me, asked if I was from the band. I had my hand outstretched thinking she’s going to say she loves our music or something like that but she was all like, “Gosh, you guys are so depressing!”

Cherie: I don’t think I’ve ever had any weird fan encounters - just the occasional weird creepy uncle? Haha!

Q: What is the most awkward thing you’ve said or done on stage?

Lennat: So far, so good. That probably means I am playing it too safe. I’ll see what I can do about that.

Sulaiman: We never take ourselves too seriously and most probably would laugh it off and forget about it.

Yinqi: I made a joke about us being the centre layer in an awesome music sandwich during a triple bill gig in 2012. My intention was just to say that we were being flanked by two other heavyweight bands but someone said it sounded like I was implying that OWC was the filling, the best part of the sandwich. Total foot in mouth moment!

Cherie: Just last week I attempted to create feedback on stage, for the first time. I totally didn’t know what I was doing. So it looked like I was kind of just awkwardly crouching over the amp.

Q: Who’s your favorite Singaporean band/act?

Lennat: TypeWriter. Best bunch of bros ever!

Sulaiman: Stoned Revivals. Esam Saleh writes amazing songs.

Q: If Justin Bieber or Miley Cyrus asks you to write him or her a song – what would this song be called?

Keith: Can’t write a pop song to save my life. But if the Biebs ask, we know Cherie will die from excitement, if Miley asks, Lennat will be so excited she’ll vaporise.

Lennat: The sheer mention of Miley’s name makes me so excited! Miley BB, I love you!

Sulaiman: Justin and Miley should do a duet called “Haters Gonna Hate!”

Cherie: Can I just ask Justin to write me a song instead?

Q: What is one artiste or band you’d die to write songs for?

Lennat: Why can’t they write their own songs?

Q: What are the cheesiest songs you have in your iPod?

Lennat: That I don’t have any discriminating rubbish music in my possessions ‘cos one must always make sure you don’t leave any traces that might compromise your music cred. (And yes, I’m a big fan of Ke$ha and Miley!)

Yinqi: Not much anymore in my iPod - which is music that I carry around with me. But back home in my iTunes playlist... hohoho. It is a magical ‘90s world where my beloved boybands reside in their little corner of my computer.

Cherie: I have a Hokkien song called Ji Pa Ban in my ipod. I’m not exactly sure how it ended up in there.

Q: Please describe each band member using Lord Of The Rings/Harry Potter characters

Lennat: It’s complicated. Any resemblance to literary persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Yinqi: I’ve not seen any of the LOTR or Harry Potter movies. But I volunteer as tribute.

Cherie: Keith is Draco Malfoy because he always has something snarky to say. Lennat - Professor Snape beause Snape has so much love to give, secretly! Yinqi – Hermione because she’s from VJC and very smart; Sulaiman – Hagrid because he’s like a big brother to us, without the beard and huge waist size. Me - I think I’m a Neville Longbottom, but I wish I were Luna Lovegood because I’m a space cadet and always have a big question mark written all over my face.

What: Urbanscapes

When: Nov 23 and 24, 2pm onwards

Where: Malaysian Agro Exposition Park Serdang, 43400 Serdang, Selangor

TicketSulaiman: RM247 /SGD$98 for the weekend pass. Available online at www.ticketpro.com.my/jnp/festivals/1121690-urbanscapes-2013.html