Rockers Riot !n Magenta love their cycle of musical experimentation

There is an interesting story behind how Riot !n Magenta got together to make its first appearance at Baybeats 2011. And it begins with the initiative of former Esplanade programmer Esther Chloe Lee.

“I was finishing school at Lasalle and met Esther when The Esplanade hosted our graduating recitals in May 2011,” recalled vocalist Eugenia Yip. “So when she mentioned she wanted to introduce me to Ken to work on a project for Baybeats, I thought, why not?”

Keyboardist Ken Hayashida (formerly of electronic pop duo Karl Maka) didn’t think they’d form a band at first. “In all honesty, I thought this would be a one-off project and was not expecting much from this. But Eugenia tore this notion down when we first started rehearsals. From the first moment I heard that voice, I felt like I had seen Magenta for the first time.”

But anyone who has caught the duo in action during their early days would realise that Yip was more than just a voice — much more. Considering how awkward some amateur musicians usually can be on stage, Yip was a rarity — a mesmerising performer. However, it wasn’t a cakewalk for her, but a learning experience.

“It was weird, but a cool kind of weird,” Yip explained. “I remember appreciating the importance of space. It made me more aware of how everything — the music, the melody, certain vocal riffs, words, sounds — has its time and place. It was more of a life lesson for me, really.”

Appreciating the constraints of this particular stage configuration, the band began to expand its line up. “Why stop at two?” quipped Hayashida. “We needed an ‘unlawful assembly’ to create a ‘riot’ so we went for five.”

Enter Khairyl Hashim (of The Great Spy Experiment), Sulaiman Supian (of Obedient Wives Club) and Ritz Ang (of The Summer State). Ang elaborated on what the new recruits brought to the equation. “I think each of us brought in a different sound and touch that contributed to the overall direction of Riot !n Magenta, (turning it into) what it is today. As each of us come from different musical playing backgrounds, it’s like a huge melting pot of sounds.”

This is evident from Voices, the quintet’s sophomore effort. This four-track EP demonstrates a vibrant sophistication drawn from the disparate sources of cold synths, warm guitars and Yip’s soulful vocals. However, as far as recording was concerned, Riot !n Magenta remained very much an electronic concern on paper. “I would usually send a few rough ideas over to Eugenia via email, and if that inspires her, we will expand on it further,” Hayashida shared. “Sometimes it just happens naturally, but more often than not, it’s a constant cycle of experimentation.”

There’s little doubt that Riot !n Magenta have proven their worth with a larger audience too. Some were surprised by what the band had to offer when it opened for CHVRCHES in 2014.

“Never did I think that we would be able to play to an amazing crowd such as that,” Sulaiman gushed. “We had to think about song arrangements and did some pretty spontaneous things such as asking Ritz to take off his T-shirt!”

This week, Riot !n Magenta will be among three outfits who will be playing at the opening night of So Happy: 50 years Of Singapore Rock, an exhibition showcasing the history of local rock in the Lion City. “Riot is the most exciting band I’ve heard in the past few months,” said Little Ong, curator for the exhibition. “Once I heard them ... they had to be in.”(The other two bands are indie veterans The Oddfellows and popular retro-pop unit, The Pinholes.) And what can fans expect for this show — more tees being taken off? There’s only one way to find out.

Riot !n Magenta’s music can be purchased online at https://itunes.apple.com/sg/artist/riot-!n-magenta/id780579084. So Happy: 50 Years Of Singapore Rock starts tomorrow at the Substation and runs until April 17. For more details, visit http://www.sohappy.sg.