One Buck Short

Members	Rahul - Guitar/Vocal Mundzir "Mooks" - Lead Vocal Imran - Drums

In 2008, One Buck Short (affectionately known as OBS) released their debut album “Halal & Loving It” to high expectations. They had a reputation that preceded them, thanks to the popularity of their 2003 EP “Where Is The Mouse?!”. The pressure was on for them to deliver the goods worthy of the hype.

Thankfully, they did not disappoint. “Halal & Loving It” produced hits like ‘Fast Times’, ‘Kelibat Korupsi’ and ‘Khayalan Masa’, to name but a few. With producer/arranger Greg Henderson at the helm, it was hailed by many as one of the best locally produced rock albums ever.

What followed post-release marked some of the busiest times for a band on the rise. OBS proved that they had the show to go with the sound when they opened for acts like Fall Out Boy (in Singapore), Panic! At the Disco, My Chemical Romance and Good Charlotte. The band was the only Malaysian act billed for the inaugural SingFest in 2007 and also performed at the first MTV Asia Awards. They also toured China, Australia, Macau and the Philippines.

Despite these high-profile achievements, the band’s proudest work was decidedly local. They produced the successful Rockaway in 2009. A celebration of homegrown (and some regional) acts, Rockaway was a runaway success – over 12,000 came for the event and over 350,000 hits were registered on the website, which featured a live stream of the show.

CH-CH-CHANGES
Things will come full circle on 8 October 2011 as One Buck Short will release their long-awaited second album to coincide with the return of Rockaway. Entitled “Kampong Glam”, their sophomore release will also be their first full Malay album, with first single ‘Carilah Duit’ leading the charge and offering listeners a taste of what to expect. The 7-track album will see a new-found maturity in their signature punk-rock sound. After all, a lot can change in 3 years and One Buck Short is no exception to this.

No doubt, the biggest change to affect the band was the departure of bassist Izal in January 2011. Though the band admits that it has been hard adjusting to the new band dynamics, Mooky (vocals), Rahul (guitar) and Imran (drums) plan to solider on as a 3-piece, with a session bassist when needed.

Furthermore, the years following their debut were ones of great personal growth for each member of the band. Drummer Imran pursued a solo project as singer-songwriter Narmi, Mooky got married (and is soon to be a father!) and Rahul’s been traveling extensively, working on shows with international acts. As a result, the band explains that the new album “touches on the issues we face as adults: the daily working grind, the pressure to succeed, the worries of whether you’ll be able to provide for your family.” Very different indeed from their debut which was written when they were all still in college! However, the band assures that “it’s still very One Buck Short.”

Their creative process has also taken on a new direction. Previously, Rahul was the band’s main songwriting force but this time around, the effort was shared between all. “We also went back to basics and worked on most of the tracks in Imran’s bedroom with [producer] Greg either playing guitar or jamming on the bass with us. So there’s a different vibe altogether that you’ll hear on the album.”

RESPECT YOUR ROOTS
Though they received international exposure with their debut, the band says that they’ll be focused mainly on Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia for “Kampong Glam”. “We’ve always been a band that’s straddled the line between being an urban act and an underground act. With this album, we wanna capture new listeners – everyone from the “kampong” to the big city – and then tour and play all the small towns and big cities across Malaysia.”

And you can bet that the first stop in this plan is Rockaway 2011 on 8 October. Get ready to get your money’s worth with One Buck Short.


One Buck Short - Song List :
1. Sekelip Mata
2. Carilah Duit
3. Hilang Segala Rasa
4. Ditiup Kata Rindu
5. Kelibat Korupsi
6. Pok Pok Bujang Lapok