Warehouse Sessions #8

...and the Warehouse Sessions is back but this time as a curated evening of independent wholesome indie goodness happening twice* a month on Saturdays! Come with an open mind, and you will surely have a blast ;) 

***IMRAN HALIMI***

IMRAN HALIMI is a singer-songwriter/working-musician from Ampang, Malaysia. Having graduated with a Diploma in Music Performance from UiTM Shah Alam, Imran has been actively seeking opportunities for his bands Pilots Acoustic (buskers est. ’15) and Ojkustik (jazz band est. ’17) and for himself as a solo singer-guitarist. Heavily influenced by local legends P Ramlee, M Nasir, Noh Salleh, Sheila Majid and international superstar John Mayer, expect his unique cover renditions to be both uplifting and sombre when paired with his SoCal-like attitude and cheeky grin! He is currently working on his EP entitled “Musicoventure”, compiled from original music he has written over the years. He plans to release this real soon!

Follow him: https://www.instagram.com/imranhlm/

***LEJI***

LEJI is a singer-songwriter, poet, grunge-rocker and multi-instrumentalist who was born in the sleepy seaside town of Kuantan, located on the east-coast of Peninsular Malaysia. 

He has been active in the local music scene since ’96, with his first project being the grunge band OLD PARASITE, which actively gigged the underground scene till mid 2004 before going on a hiatus. After which, he started focusing on writing songs meant to be played solo, but ended up joining a Starsailor-wannabe band in 2005 named MONSUN. This second project ended up joining and winning quite a few battle of the bands events around the country, but the band eventually parted ways to focus on “marital stuff”. 

Never admitting defeat, he then started up a band called GELOMBANG! This third project was heavily influenced by his love for Black Sabbath, and the band exploded when their tunes “Waktu Muda” and “Manusia” got pretty heavy rotation on the local radio station HOTFM. But alas, even this band eventually parted ways, due to personal reasons. So, due to the fact that most of the bands he played with eventually broke up, he opted to start a folky duet outfit writing songs together with his now ex-wife called FOLKSWAGON. This fourth project of his lasted until his wife and him peacefully got a divorce, and it was back to the drawing board for him. Bruised but not beaten, he never gave up! 

The year is now 2015, and instead of starting up another outfit, he decides to go solo, and calls this alter ego LEJI. Rebooting his mindset from 2004, he again starts focusing on writing songs meant to be played solo, this time however drawing inspiration from the classics he has always loved like Frank Sinatra, P. Ramlee and Rokiah Wanda. Dubbing himself a “sad poet”, he tries to emulate the classic 50s sound and lyrical style as much as he can, and is now minimally setup in a hotel room to record, and hopefully release, songs from the deepest crevices of his heart, a heart which has poured itself into the local music scene since ’96, and is currently supporting himself busking on the streets of KL. 

LEJI is a sad poet, but he believes we should all be happy, and we all deserve chances, and he hopes to see you on the teary dance floors. Bring tissues.

Follow him: https://www.instagram.com/matsujilejiyamamoto/

***KIM LIM***

Kim Lim is a singer-songwriter and acoustic fingerstyle guitarist based in KL. Played in bands like DANI as a guitarist, performing around town. Now, she’s a social entrepreneur assisting the marginalised and has put her passion towards community work into her music.

Follow her: https://www.instagram.com/kimmlimm/

***LAYLA SANIA***

Layla Sania is a 16 year old KL native. A young girl with an old soul she dreams to make it big singing jazz, soul and folk. She has been familiar with stage since she was a small girl but has been over the past 6 months more actively singing at various venues in KL, Penang and Sarawak. Amy Winehouse plays a big role in her music. Her single will be released this year. Stay tuned!

Follow her: https://www.instagram.com/laylasania/

For more information, email us@openmicmalaysia.org :D

#OpenMicMY #RilsBangsar #JoinTheRevolution

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Open Mic Malaysia is the brainchild of Shaneil Devaser, frontman of The Endleaves. Established in 2012 and currently operating in Sabah, the Klang Valley and Penang, Open Mic Malaysia aims to create sustainable avenues for bedroom musicians, singer-songwriters and professional musicians to share their music and experiences with each other and the public, over evenings of wholesome indie goodness. In partnership with Ian Tai of The Propositions, Jaime Gunter of Volatile and Boy Sunny of Meteor Crates, Open Mic Malaysia aims to… Make Malaysia Great (for indie music) Again.