Art Fazil shows less serious side in latest album

Local singer and songwriter Art Fazil wants to dispel the myth that he is a serious musician

Art Fazil's recent offerings have a more accessible, rhythmic pop sound, often with humorous lyrics.
Art Fazil's recent offerings have a more accessible, rhythmic pop sound, often with humorous lyrics. PHOTO: MORO RECORDS

Singer-songwriter Art Fazil's new CD album marks the end of what he describes as an "experimental" phase.

Titled Rentak Art Fazil (Art Fazil's Rhythm), it compiles singles he has released in the last six years, as well as new songs.

While the bilingual troubadour's discography dating back to the early 1990s might feature folkinfluenced songs and poetry-like phrases, his recent offerings have a more accessible, rhythmic pop sound, often with humorous lyrics.

"It was a challenge to myself," says the 51-year-old bachelor. "I don't like the words 'dumbing down', but I wanted to simplify my music to make sure younger listeners are able to get into my music. I wanted to break this myth of Art Fazil, the serious singer-songwriter."

He noted that many of his younger listeners are also consuming music through YouTube, so he produced music videos to go with the songs.

The "experiment" worked and the singles in the CD include Rilek Brader (2012), one of his biggest hits.

The song's video has clocked more than one million views on YouTube and the catchy tune, the title of which is a colloquial form of the phrase "Relax, brother", became a hit on Malay radio and television in Singapore and Malaysia.

He did not feel right that these songs have been released only in a digital format, hence the decision to compile them into a CD.

"Through the music videos, these songs have been consumed in a visual format. But I always believed that songs should be listened to, not watched," says the singer, whose string of awards include several of Mediacorp's Anugerah Planet Music accolades over the years.

"I know that I won't sell as many CDs as I used to, but by having it in a physical format, it becomes a kind of collector's item, like a memento or a way to preserve the music. I know people of my age group still keep CDs. Eventually, I'd like to release them in vinyl too."

All of the songs are in Malay, except for new tune Play Like Fandi, his ode to home-grown football icon Fandi Ahmad, which is in English. The song also features a cameo by long-time sports commentator and radio personality Brian Richmond.

"I've always been a fan of football and Fandi is my hero. There's never been a song about him, so here's a tribute so that people will remember what a great player he was. It's a labour of love and getting him to appear in the song's music video is a personal highlight of my career."

Other songs in the CD include Melayu Dikota Inggeris (A Malay In An English City), inspired by the time he lived in London in the 1990s and 2000s.

Besides his solo work, Art has also been busy with several other projects. He has been gigging a lot with Karmahead, his project with percussionist Bobby Singh, in which the pair play a style that fuses Indian ragga with genres such as blues and folk.

Also known for his visual artworks, he had his paintings displayed at two exhibitions in the past year, Art On The Hill and Kontemporari 2017.

On the solo music front, Art says he is done with his experiment and is already working on new songs for the next album.

They mark a return to his old, melodic folk style. The lyrics also mirror past, socially conscious songs, such as Full Moon Over Marina Bay and Mama, I Can't Breathe, both of which are found in his self-titled 1993 solo English debut album, as well as the poetic Malay lyrics found in songs by his old band, Rausyanfikir.

"I think I've explored enough," he says.

"I've recently fallen in love again with the acoustic guitar and I'm going back to writing folk songs."

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on February 12, 2018, with the headline Art Fazil shows less serious side in latest album. Subscribe