:: Defining the silence ::

Things have been quiet in this past 4 months. But do rest assure that Oligarchy is alive and well. We are not on a haitus. We are still planning our album and we are still planning on playing shows.

In time, the reason for us being silent will be given. In time. Because "this is not the time and place for us to be like this"

:: Birthdays and Singapore Street Festival 2014 ::

It has been a hectic few weeks trying to find time to practice as a band. Juggling both passion and our day jobs do sometimes have their obstacles.

Over the past three months, the boys of oligarchy have celebrated their birthdays, weirdly they are 13 months apart from each other. As in Wan is 13 months younger than I am and Kam is 13 months younger than Wan. Here is some shitty prezzie pics we have given one another.

I received a Davidoff: Champion Energy because I think the rest of the band think I stink bad.

Wan received a Batman shirt because he dreams he is Bruce Wayne at times. (FatMan would be appropriate for our nature though, but there isn't any FatMan so screw that.)

Kam received a lovely handbag, I mean Leather Drumstick bag because he has a bad habit of not bringing his drumsticks to work. Plus this bag has additional pouches for his facial products and men's grooming product for the vain pot he is.)

Anyhoots, the boys will be gracing the stage(s) of Singapore Street Festival once again. We will be heading over to Far East Plaza to rock it on the 22nd June at 5pm and will be heading down to Bugis+ on the 28th the close the event for the day.

We will be playing songs from the upcoming album because its exciting and we are the generous sort. So come down and rock it with us. WOOTS!

Rock It, Don't Fudge It
- Bob Oligarchy

:: Random Chats ::

Catch all the random stuff the boys are up to in Random Chats! Click and Subscribe to our YouTube channel filled with dumb things people like us will upload.

Oligarchy's Random Chats!

Oh, our music videos and other studio shenanigans will uploaded there too.

Rock it, don't fudge it
- Bob Oligarchy

:: The Curious Case of Kam ::

On the 1st of January 2013, we have announced that Kam will be taking over drumming duties full time with the departure of our former drummer. And many wondered, "Who is Kam?" It's time to probe into Kam's life on how he got embarked with Oligarchy's musical journey.

   

Little timid Kam's candid shot. He didn't see it coming.

 This is how I met Kam, Fresh out of BRTC (Basic Rescue Training Centre) . Clueless, and fresh to embark his service to the nation. He is a shy and quiet lad. Honestly I hardly have any decent conversation with him the first few days of his posting to my department.

During our time in National Service, we shared similar taste in music, old' school rock. I got to know he plays the drums for his then-band called "Black Mail". He already knows I'm playing bass with Oligarchy and we both invited to each other's shows whenever we have gigs.

My first impression of Kam as a drummer, sadly was not really a good one. First and foremost, the gig he was playing had crappy instruments and a lazy sound man doesn't do justice either. I know Kam was nervous as fuck, considering how little experience he had on stage. The young band began playing and struggled to keep nerves in check. The drumset falls apart, with the hi-hat falling over and Kam struggled to keep in beat whilst catching the falling cymbals. After the show, I told Kam that it was alright, we all started that way. There's only one way up with ample practice.

Years moved on as we finished serving the national full time. I received a call from Kam one day for a collaboration for a charity event. playing acoustic covers. Together with Wan we played together with Kam and his friends for the event.

Wan, Bob with Kam & Friends for Babes Charity Event.

We had an awesome time regardless playing outside our comfort zone. When asked about "Black Mail", Kam told that it has disbanded and all the members were busy with their own things. However, Kam did not stop his passion for drums there. In years to come, he was playing for a Malay old' school rock band named "Renegadez". Even though his experience with the band is rather short lived, I believe he gained valuable experience in recording with the band.

Kam with Renegadez.

Then in late 2012, with the uncertain departure of Suf, I contacted Kam as a candidate to play of Oligarchy. Although rusty from his musical inactivity post Renegadez, Kam attended for the auditions. In all honesty, Wan and myself were impressed on the progress of his drumming skills. In two weeks after much discussion, Wan and Myself offered Kam to embark on Oligarchy's musical journey. We informed that we will go straight to recording a full length album, a steep learning curve for him to take. Without much hesitation, Kam decided to be part of us and learn and grow as a musician.

And like the famous saying, "The rest is history." To many musical years compadre!

Rock it, don't fudge it
- Bob Oligarchy -

:: The truth about being in a band ::

Being in a band is like being in a relationship. I'll never understand bands that have band mates that are just band mates. For me, my band mates are my best friends. I see Bob close to every week and would usually talk to Kam on the phone at least once a week.

Being in a band IS like being in a relationship. Couples fight. Couples breakup. Couples go on hiatus.

I was reading through my blog when I saw this posting I made back in 2010;

"The saddest thing about 2010 is this. Oligarchy is on an indefinite hiatus. How long? Well, there is a very high chance that Oligarchy will be disbanded, although nothing is OFFICIAL yet. I know words are traveling around somewhere, someplace regarding the reasons why this is happening. Now is not the time for me to inform people about it. Nothing is official. There are many things that needs figuring out. To see if it all makes sense to even continue this journey at this point of time. No official breakup announcements are written in either our Myspace or Reverbnation page. Our music is still there for people to listen to or download. When things are finally thought about and decisions are finally made official, the announcement will be made at those 2 page and also here. If there is a need for me to personally explain why, that would be written here too. Now that's a promise I can make to everyone out there who are considered Oligarchy's fans and friends. As for now, Oligarchy is on an indefinite hiatus. The reason? It's musically based. Nothing more. Nothing less." - 30 December 2010

Probably the darkest period for Oligarchy happened around that time. I needed the hiatus to figure things out. Musically, I was thinking if Oligarchy can grow? Can we write? For sure, after so many years of doing it, I just needed to be away. Me and Bob did meet, to have a heart to heart talk regarding the hiatus. We made things really clear regarding whatever problems we had. It was good to have that, because as soon as word came out regarding the hiatus, a big fat vulture was just trying to make things between us worse.

It was during the hiatus that I made my own side band. We recorded a concept EP and played a few shows. Overall, it was something different. I got to see things in a different light and manage to push myself artistically.

Me and Bob rarely met during the hiatus. We would occasionally bump into each other (coz we were working in the same building....we actually got stuck in a jammed lift before at work, but that's another story). If you honestly asked me "Did you miss him during those time?" my honest answer would be yes (it would be no if Bob is reading this - must prove machoism).

Sometime around March 2012, i texted this;

"Oligarchy. Streetfest 2012???"

That was a message I sent to Bob. Short and simple but filled with a thousand emotions. Me sending that text out was, in my own way, asking Bob to lets continue where we left off with Oligarchy.

In less than a week, Bob, Sufi and myself, was at our favorite jam place. All 3 original members of Oligarchy. Sitting down, smoking, looking at each other and just giving off courtesy laughter (it has been awhile since we all were together at one place). When we started jamming the first song, it was like we didn't even go on a hiatus. It felt right.

Fast forward to now. We have gone a long way. We played more shows, got more publicity, made new friends and have an album to look forward too. We pushed ourselves. We pushed ourselves higher than before. True, there are some ups and downs, but we always find a way through.

Someone did ask me, why do I still want to continue with Oligarchy when I'm already part of a group that has their song up on radio? My answer to him was simple. Oligarchy is a part of my life. Over the years it has become an entity by itself. When I'm in Oligarchy, it just feels special. Every time when I'm onstage, when i look over to my left, there is Bob. And when I turn around, there's Kam. It just feels like home.

Being in a band is like being in a relationship. You fight, breakup and make up. But in the end, you know that you just love them and knows it lasted this long because it's special.

It really takes something special for individuals to be in a group and make music. Like my officer once said, when you sweat together, you'll stick together.

Keep your rock on people!
- Wan Oligarchy

:: Stray: Pilot Post ::

22nd February 2014 marks our 10th year as a band in brothers and music.As we crossed our first decade, I will try my very best to dig up moments in the past that made us what we are now. Of course, many of which are quite embarrassing and silly. However we would like to share our humble and goofy beginnings.

In celebration of our first decade, we have released our first single off our upcoming album. The track entitled "Stray" was actually written way back in 2006. Toying with the subject of vices, a punchy bass line starts the song as the drums and distorted guitars blasted in full gear within the first 2 bars.

Personally we do not have much early tapes recorded during our pioneer years (strictly due to crashing of the hard disk), however I have managed to salvage the first ever version of "Stray" recording during a jamming session back. I know you guys want to hear it. Let me warn you, due to its quality and our amateurish instrumental skills, it might bleed your ears.



The major difference between the first Stray to what it is today is the vocals. Strangely I sang the verse while Wan sings the chorus exclusively. I think I was teaching Wan how it's supposed to be sang or something. Either that or Wan decided to be lazy vocally. Either ways it's great listening to what it was and what it has become now.

"Stray" then begin to be a staple for gigs till the day we decided to record an album. "Stray" was not studio recorded prior, missing out on the EP we released in 2008 just because the full potential of the song was not realized.

With the first post after we crossed a decade, I present to you, once again, the music video of "Stray".


Published on 22 Feb 2014 - Music video by Oligarchy performing Stray. © 2014 Oligarchy.

Rock it, don't fudge it
- Bob Oligarchy

:: Test Part 1 ::

Kamari is a sexy beast.