Estrella – Ternyata

Jumaat lepas, 29 Feb 2008 aku ke Loft, Zouk untuk menyaksikan awekku Liyana Estrella perform disana. Mulanya aku menyaksikan dan mengenali dan jatuh cinta pada liyana – estrella ketika persembahan di akustik stage di MCPA Hall. Ketika itu berlangsung Independent Day Out. This is the next BIG thing in the town.

Bual bicara yang dipetik dari gua.com.my

by Terrina Hussein

21 Feb 2008

We heard your album launch at Centro, KL Sentral was a blast. How did you feel playing in front of so many people?
Liyana: Personally, I get a rush performing every time, whether it’s a big or small crowd. But for this particular show it was extra special because it was our album launch, a real milestone. We worked hard on the gigs, and on this album, and seeing friends who were there from the very start cheer us on for the launch made me feel a little weepy but super-charged, in a weird way … haha.
Yob: We felt good about it. It reminded me of the first show Estrella ever did at La Bodega, so many friends and family coming down to support. The launch party went well, everyone was happy, many thanks to Roslan Aziz, Laguna Music, the media and fans who came down to Centro.

Your music is a little jazzy-pop with a bit of fun pop-ambience thrown in. Have you always liked eclectic music?
Liyana: Eclectic music is fine. I wouldn’t say our music is so eclectic, but we do play around with a lot with beats and try out different instruments, depending on the song and mood.
Yob: Yeah, we do. We listen to all sorts of music. Even though we started as an acoustic band, but we’ve always been a fan of eclectic music, music will always be music, music with a good melody or vibe will forever stay in our minds, resembling self meditation.

The tracks are quite dreamy and romantic. Was creating a tender style to the album intentional?
Liyana: No, it wasn’t. It just so happens that the material we have and have been playing at gigs tend to lean towards that tender note. Prescription for the lovesick! Or for stressed-out drivers stuck in hectic KL traffic.
Yob: Yes, we like it to be that way. It makes us feel good, playing with imagination just to get the feel, writing something from what we see every day. Playing romantic stuff is an individual feeling, you will get it if you feel that way, it’s a bonus.

How do you think Malaysian music listeners will take to your kind of music?
Liyana: So far, we’ve been getting a lot of good feedback, listeners are happy with the album. We’d like to appeal to all, so that everyone can chill and enjoy what we churn out. We’ve also been receiving great encouragement, where friends from different states have been leaving messages & comments on our myspace, inviting us to come down to Ipoh/Penang/Sabah to play. Can’t wait to do that! =) Soon, soon.
Yob: I think they will really dig it, the tune is very easy-listening, and the lyrics are soothing and not too difficult to understand. They can have Estrella music everywhere, except if they’re in denial or have never been in love before. Life is all about love after all.

Your debut was a long time coming. What was the hold up?
Liyana: Well, we started gigging in May 06, so I personally feel the timing is right for us to release it. We wanted to do gigs first, and test out our stuff on the audience, see if they like it. After that, we took our time recording, working around our job schedules as we wanted it done properly so we didn’t rush. We wanted the quality to be satisfying. Thank you Laguna Records! Mwah!
Yob: Some of us have day jobs, there’s a lot of commitment to be fulfilled plus we wanted the album to be as good as it became.

Where did the band’s name come from?
Liyana: It came out of the blue. We were looking for a band name, and we played around with my friend’s online dictionary translating words in Portuguese, French and finally, Spanish. We stumbled on Estrella and liked it instantly. Rolls off your tongue. I know a lot of local bands have Malay names or English names, but we decided to have one in a different language, just because. It means star light / beam in Spanish. I have this feeling that we’re pronouncing it wrong! Oh well …

Who was involved in the making of the album? How much was done by the band and how much by outsiders?
Liyana: Eight of the tracks were written and arranged by either Yob or myself. The other two tracks were contributed by the ever-talented Duan from 7 Collar T-shirt, who wrote ‘Heaven’ and ‘It’s You’. Duan also sessions and jams with us for shows etc. Jeffrey Little recorded and produced the entire album in his studio, Greenhouse Studio in Ampang. He’s also our drummer. The album was mixed by Roslan Aziz, except for ‘Stay’, which was mixed by Tan Chee Meng. I’d say that it’s a joint effort, but our manager Jeremy Little and everyone from Laguna Music really made the difference for us. They have the drive and knowledge to help us grow with our music, and they made the whole experience a lot of fun =)

Any upcoming album promotions or shows?
Liyana: 29 Feb at The Loft, opening TAG with Deserters and 6 March at Laundry, alongside SCTS for Fly FM’s Campur Chart Goes Live! Come, come, come!

Any plans for a follow up album?
Liyana: We always go with the flow, but for now, I think we’re going to concentrate on this album first, to get it as far out as possible to all Malaysian (and non-Malaysian) listeners!

Estrella is signed to Laguna Records. For further information, log onto the following websites:

http://estrella.laguna-records.com

http://www.myspace.com/estrellaband

http://amp.channelv.com/estrella

Intro…

Liyana …Estrella..