Ethnic Transmissions feat. Hevance

Updated: Additional contents have been inserted below to acknowledge contributions of artistes under the Borneo Headhunters Music Production label to the Iban music industry.

***

Music has not only been a part of my life, music is practically the air I breathe. Really. I can’t go by a day without listening to at least ONE song…
However, I have never been much of a fan of the local music acts (and by that I mean MOST local acts) although I am well aware of the existence of SOME and am interested in a FEW. Ironically, among those local music acts, I find it hardest to support that of my own race – Iban.
Now, before you start condemning me for NOT supporting our local music industry, especially that of my own people, let me say that it’s NOT because I am not proud of my roots!!! I am proud to be Malaysian, specifically Sarawakian and even prouder to be IBAN…The thing is, apart from the traditional music like the Taboh etc., our Iban music industry is dissapointingly bland. With the exception of certain acts like Jerry Kamit, international sape-singer and maybe some others under Borneo Headhunters Music Production, all the songs practically sound the same. And if it’s not an original composition, its most likely to be a translated and/or remixed version of any famous song from any other language!!! I mean, come on fellas…how is a music industry gonna survive if it doesn’t EVOLVE and GROW???
Fortunately NOW, I can say that there IS a future for our Iban music industry. EVOLUTION is here and we can finally GROW…and being so proud of our Iban music industry, I am gonna continue the rest of this post in my mother tongue (with the main points highlighted in English). Laban tu keterubah ia aku nulis ngena jako Iban, enti bisi sekeda leka jako ke ukai kebatang ia Iban tauke enda entu ngena, minta ampun meh…

Aku bisi bekesempatan meda band anembiak bangsa kitai empu merindang ke ati bala mensia ke ngabas pengawa ba Waterfront Kuching lemai tu tadi. Taja pen enda maioh bala datai nyukong, aku asai amat gaga meda bala nembiak bangsa kitai cuba ngemaju ke agi industri muzik Iban kitai…Sida ia dikangau Ethnic Transmissions.

Ethnic Transmissions tauke E.T. tu band ti mai perubahan ngagai industri muzik kitai. Bisi bala madah yang kebenarnya industri muzik kitai sigi udah bisi perubahan di bai bala ari label Borneo Headhunters Music Production (bala sida Jerry Kamit) tang mungkin E.T. enda ulih dibanding ke enggau sida ia laban E.T. ngemai lagu Iban dalam versi pop/alternative – tang engka sida ke bukai bisi dulu mai lagu Iban dalam versi nya ti enda ditemu aku jadi aku dulu minta ampun meh. – ti ulih diterima ulih bala raban anembiak moden diatu. Lagu sida ke paling dikerindu bala peninga dikangau “Engka” enggau “Ngarap” bisi ditebah ke sida lemai tadi serta enggau lagu-lagu sida ke pemadu baru “Berpantup Kening” (Betul kah?), “Tasik Aku Enggau Nuan” enggau “Pemulai Pemadu” ti deka di keluar ke sida dalam ujung taun tu legi.

Ethnic Transmissions aka E.T. is a local Iban band that brings Iban music to a whole new level. Others may disagree that Iban music has already evolved with the artistes under the Borneo Headhunters Music Production label like Jerry Kamit, but I don’t think we can compare E.T. with them as E.T. presents Iban songs in a pop/alternative genre - unless they too have artistes in that genre that I am unaware of. If that’s the case, then I apologize. So anyways, I had the opportunity to hear them perform their famous song “Engka” (Maybe/Perhaps) and “Ngarap”(Hope) live at the Kuching Waterfront this afternoon. If you’ve listened to any Iban song before this, now listen to them and you’ll know why I am excited about them…

E.T. not only brings Iban songs to a whole new level – their new-age sounds are also opening it up to allow other people to enjoy the songs as well. Ati ku paling gaga maia ukai semina bala kitai Iban aja ti teperindang ninga sida tang bala bukai pen bisi gak. Belakang aku bisi duduk bala Cina anak-menyanak ti turut terperindang ati. Sida anak-menyanak pun meli album sida E.T. gak!

Ethnic Transmissions 1st CD and poster…

My autographed CD

E.T. ukai semina ngemai pemansang ke industri muzik kitai, tang ngemuka agi lagu kitai ngambi ke ulih diterima bangsa lain enggau engka menoa lain gak ila.

Ethnic Transmissions: Macmillan Jua (vocals, guitar), Daniel Ading (lead guitar), Dennis Jonathan (bass), Susanna Juan (keyboard), David Jacques (drums).

Band ke bukai bisi gak main lemai tadi. One of the other bands thay performed this afternoon was Hevance.

Hevance tu dikira ke anak buah sida E.T. enggau sida pen bisi manah peluang deka ngemaju ke industri muzik kitai taja pen lagu sida ukai semina lagu Iban aja.

Hevance: Aldrich (vocals, lead guitar), Lucas (bass), Thomas (2nd guitar), Gideon (drums).

And although Hevance is actually my *BFF’s **BF’s band (thus the 1st name basis and no prizes for guessing which one is him ) and they are E.T.’s protege and it was them that actually “introduced” me to E.T., I am not being biased when I say that with more practice, they are the up and coming stars.

My copy of Hevance’s demo CD.

Nah guys, if you ever need another person to join your band I humbly offer my services!!!

Note: Ethnic Transmissions (and soon Hevance) are signed under the Fish*Farm Records label.

*BFF – Best Friend Forever

**BF – Boyfriend