The story: 
Moving On recorded live with Celine(formerly with Arson; currently Cndrs)on vocals. Check out Celine's original music at https://soundcloud.com/cndrs
It isn't a cover because Jon plays (and sings!) on it. 

Background:
I was introduced to Celine by a mutual friend, but for the life of me can't recall who. She started out as a drummer for an all-girl band. I thought she was extremely talented and she had character. Simply put, Celine was just je nes sais quoi. 

We had been shortlisted for the Baybeats' auditions that year. Somehow, I fell ill with a lung infection. Tim refused to take on the role of vocalist. We had a couple of considerations, but I picked Celine. Despite being only 17, she stepped up, stepped in, and we nailed the audition, but didn't play due to logistical reasons. The boys loved sharing the stage with her because she always had that million-dollar smile and gave her all.

Celine would go on to front Arson (and perform at Baybeats) and release her own music as Cndrs. - Illyas 

Trivia: 
-This is the only M.I. recording to feature Jon's singing. 

-It is also Illyas' favourite version of the song. 

Written by: Jonathan Chua, Timothy Adalia, Jarell Monteiro, Illyas Lim Effandi & Harun Rashid
Lyrics by: Illyas Lim Effandi

Personnel:
Vocals: Celine Teo
Guitars: & Additional Vocals: Jonathan Chua 

Recorded by Jonathan Chua

Moving On (featuring Celine Teo)(Live)

The Premiere - Mistaken Identity (feat. Celine Teo)

The story:
A rock-musical adaptation of the best-selling book "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho

Background:
The Alchemist is essentially our attempt at writing a rock-musical within a pop context. I had just finished the book and the protagonist, Santiago, really resonated with me. The book was gifted to me. My god-sis found that I was quite lost and needed some direction. I actually have a couple of copies of the book now because I tend to buy them at airport bookstores for flights.  

Tim had also begun taking his guitar playing a lot more seriously. He always did, but it was around this time that he really formalised his learning by plowing through theory books. We took as somewhat classical approach to the song. I went to the library to borrow tapes on musicals because we didn't have Youtube. Tim was listening to more classical music. Jon and Jarell had always known what they were doing. It somehow always came more naturally to them when determining the vibe of a song. 

The intro and first verse were written to capture the feeling of a monologue on stage. Because, the song loosely follows the three-act structure (of a play), the breakdown was heavier to represent the confrontation of a second act. The chorus was written last since the song ends with it. We actually had a lot of trouble writing it because M.I.’s approach to choruses was always “big, loud and preferably catchy”. 

If I remember correctly, we'd actually finalised the guitar parts and Jarell came up with the idea to do a drummer-boy baroque-style beat with only the snare. We loved it, so Tim and Jon adapted. Harun recorded the bass and we demanded a brief solo from him. - Illyas 

Trivia:
- The Alchemist is Jon's favourite M.I. song. 
- Tim did not provide vocals for the song because we wanted to remain true to the source material. Santiago was alone on his journey.

Lyrics:
Wandering lost, wondering where this road will take me
A shepherd boy no different from his sheep
This fork might bend, but will it shape for me?
To each his own, so I'll dethrone the destiny that life has set for me

Don't cry
Fall into my arms, I'll sing you to sleep
In time, 
I will return to you my queen

The eastern sky has lightened to mourn the night
Omens have spoken, nothing will break my stride
In search of a treasure residing beyond the brine

No reprieve, I don't need relief 
Faith has kept me on my feet
Cos there is nothing I won't give 
To feel so alive

Credits
Written by: Timothy Adalia, Jonathan Chua, Illyas Lim Effandi, Jarell Monteiro & Harun Rashid
Lyrics by: Illyas Lim Effandi

Vocals: Illyas Lim Effandi
Guitars: Timothy Adalia
Guitars & Keyboards: Jonathan Chua
Bass: Harun Nur Rashid
Drums: Jarell Monteiro

Recorded and Produced by Neil Lim

Moving On (17/1/2016 9:44:45 PM)

The Alchemist

The story:
Acoustic version of Moving On.

Credits
Written by: Jonathan Chua, Timothy Adalia, Jarell Monteiro, Illyas Lim Effandi & Harun Rashid

Personnel:
Vocals: Illyas Lim Effandi
Guitars: Timothy Adalia
Guitars & Keyboards: Jonathan Chua
Bass: Harun Nur Rashid
Percussions: Jarell Monteiro

Recorded and Produced by Neil Lim

Unknown album (17/1/2016 9:44:45 PM)

Moving On (Reprise)

The story:
Yes, the song's about intimacy. It's about the different feelings people have about it - guilt, pleasure and doubt, among others. It also highlights the range of motives of people who seek physical comfort and connection. 

The background:
The history to this song is pretty straightforward. Jon started us off with the main riff (heard in the verses), which I thought was pretty sexy and rest of the music materialised fairly quickly. 

Initially, we thought it was a little too safe, so we experimented in different ways. Obviously, the subject matter was risque. Tim and Jon were required to interweave their parts throughout. Also, Tim has a beautiful voice so we got him to take the lead vocals for the breakdown/outro.

Like many other M.I. songs, Close Your Eyes follows the verse-chorus-verse-chorus-outro arrangement. Somehow, we never liked ending with choruses. Perhaps, it's because we thought it was too mainstream. 
- Illyas 

Trivia:
- Close Your Eyes was on the soundtrack for an episode of Generation Ex, a Mediacorp (2007) television show about extreme sports enthusiasts. 
- Close Your Eyes is Jarell's favourite M.I. song.
- Tim sings lead for the breakdown/outro. 

Lyrics:
Translucent lies, never come in white.
Feelings are imaginary signs. 
Time seems inclined to compromise,
when corresponding lips become entwined. 
Dim out the lights, the air is turning cold; Your pantomime.

Close your eyes, and leave the broken glass behind.
Waxing lyrical about going physical
Close your eyes, tonight you're not alone (you're not alone)
The key to magical is only chemical. 

Hands fumble blind under crimson light.
Duvets hide the sins we glorify.
Time seems inclined to compromise,
When corresponding lips become entwined. 

Just close your eyes, you've got me hypnotised.
Alluring scent of sweat, skin and bones. 

Credits
Written by: Jonathan Chua, Timothy Adalia, Jarell Monteiro, Harun Rashid & Illyas Lim Effandi
Lyrics: Illyas Lim Effandi

Vocals: Illyas Lim Effandi
Guitars & Vocals: Timothy Adalia
Guitars & Keyboards: Jonathan Chua
Bass: Harun Rashid
Drums: Jarell Monteiro

Recorded and Produced by Neil Lim

Close Your Eyes

The story:
Cliche is a musical op-ed about the state of the music industry in the early 2000s. 

Background:
This is what happens when I'm left to my own devices. Manufactured music started rearing its ugly mug around this time. I mean it'd probably been around since forever, but it never really consumed band music, not up till that point.

I really wanted to prove that a song could be written in "half a day" and by a person who had severely limited music ability - yours truly. 

Thematically, the inspiration for the song was the film "Josie and The Pussycats", about a manufactured band. For the lyrics, I got the idea of references from the great Billy Joel's "We didn't start the fire". This was one song I couldn't just write down the first things that came to mind. The boys really indulged me in the production of this opinion piece. In fact, they creatively ensured that the music would match the words, for example Jarell's well-placed drum roll and Tim's over indulgent solo, in which he incorporated so many overused tricks used by punk-rock guitarists. Jon worked the chord progression for further pop-punk "authenticity". Neil added touches like Tyler's "ja ja ja" when he was producing my vocal track. - Illyas

Lyrics:
Palm-muted verses with whiney vocal lines 
Now a drum roll takes centre stage 
It's so predictable
Some manufactured band 
is gonna spark another craze 
With a dozen songs that sound the same,
Click Five is driving me insane
It's never-ending, so stop pretending! 

"Please forgive me"
Where have I heard that line before? 
I'm sick and tired of your games 
The chorus is bound to go "na, na, na, na na" 

Low-fidelity's cliché (Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!)
I wrote this song in half a day

Don't need conviction
The best excuse is passion
Lip-syncing will save the day (Yeah!) 
Busted's staining Fender's name 
Lennon's turning in his grave 
Tyler's ja-ja-jaded and overrated 

Don't blame it on piracy
When you've got Ashley on MTV

Trivia:
-The song makes references to a number of artistes such as The Click Five, Busted, John Lennon, Steven Tyler and Ashley Simpson (who was caught lip-syncing). 

-The Ashley Simpson reference was originally, "when you've got Pug Jelly on MTV". Pug Jelly were a Singapore-based band that managed to get on MTV. Illyas absolutely abhorred them and was strongly felt that they didn't represent the best music Singapore offered but decided against including the line in the final version because "a win is still a win, for Singapore music". 

Credits
Written by: Illyas Lim Effandi, Timothy Adalia, Jonathan Chua, Jarell Monteiro & Harun Rashid
Lyrics by: Illyas Lim Effandi

Personnel:
Vocals: Illyas Lim Effandi
Guitars: Timothy Adalia
Guitars & Keyboards: Jonathan Chua
Bass: Harun Nur Rashid
Drums: Jarell Monteiro

Recorded and Produced by Neil Lim

Cliché

The story:
M.I's collaboration with R&B vocal group Soulz. 

Background: 
Flashback is undoubtedly our opus maximus. It was a minor radio hit after it was picked up by local DJ Soo, a voice for local acts. 

M.I. had been invited to contribute a track for a compilation album. I got the idea of a collaboration when I was invited to be the chief judge of Singapore Polytechnic’s Talent Time one year. I was given the opportunity to work with the finalists, who had distinctly different vocal styles.

We wanted Flashback to sound very grand with elements of hip-hop, rap, r&b and pop but still retain a signature M.I. guitar-driven sound. Flashback was a steep learning curve for us because it was imperative that we exhibited a high enough level of musicianship but learnt how to take a backseat as well. Jarell demonstrated his versatility by having to switch styles a fair bit – keeping it tight for the verses but really rock out on the choruses. Tim worked his magic by peppering the song here and there with little guitar bits. Jon had to conjure the simplest yet catchiest of riffs for the choruses on the guitars and keyboards. Harun had a free rein to execute his creativity on this one, re-recording the bass lines after he joined us. I utilised my voice as an instrument by only contributing backing vocals in the choruses and having only one main part in the breakdown. 

Soulz would stay late after school for weeks to write the vocal parts. 

Production was a logistical nightmare. It took us about a month to write the song with the singers. Over another, we recorded the music at Black Isle Studios, where we basically maxed out the recording tracks with layers of synths, percussions, vocals and guitars. Unsatisfied with the original mix, we took it back to Neil at FMO Studios for mixing and sent it by snail mail to Cyclic Studios, Canada for mastering.  – Illyas 

Trivia:
-For the song's radio debut, DJ Soo said: "The band Mistaken Identity is truly mysterious. I received an email from them that only said 'play our song'". Said email was sent by Jon. 
-Syed Idros is of Singapore Idol fame for his rendition of Unchained Melody. He received the nickname Methanite Man from the rest of the group for the way he pronounced "me tonight” and took 95 takes to perfect that line. 
- The only M.I. song that has Illyas shared credits for the words. 

Lyrics: 
Stay another night 
We’ll watch the world go by
Living on stolen time
This crime is yours and mine 

Forever and day of waiting
Running from our past 
This might stop your heart from breaking 
Don’t look back 
Just take my hand 

A flashback to the past. 
It’s finally over, so hold me while it lasts 
(Can we make a start straight from the heart?)
A flashback to the past. 
It’s finally over, so hold me while it lasts 
(It’s finally over, come on over)

Every night I’m dreaming of you. 
Not believing we were through
He took a piece of you and then he went away
Forever and a day, waiting for your love
Baby, when you went astray
I’ve lost my sympathy and now I can breathe easy

Come on Baby let’s scram
Cos this place ain’t nothing tears 
You and me with a love like no other
Just believe and we’ll make it together 

You know our love can take us higher
You know our love will make us stronger
You know our love will last forever
Our love is so divine 

Another fallen angel cries alone to fill this empty night
Another fallen angel will cry to fill this empty night 

Credits
Written by: Timothy Adalia, Jonathan Chua, Jarell Monteiro, Harun Rashid & Illyas Lim Effandi
Lyrics by: Illyas Lim Effandi, Hafiza Hanafi, Farhan Mustafa, Syed Idros & Iskandar Shah

Personnel:
Vocals: Illyas Lim Effandi
Guitars: Timothy Adalia 
Guitars: Jonathan Chua 
Bass: Harun Nur Rashid 
Drums & Percussions: Jarell Monteiro 

Featuring Soulz
Vocals: Syed Idros Rahman, Farhan Mustafa, Hafiza Hanafi and Iskandar Shah

Recorded at Black Isle Studios  
Mixed by Neil Lim
Produced by Neil Lim & Illyas Lim Effandi

Moving On

Flashback (Featuring Soulz) - Single

The story:
A free-verse poem about despair in the format of a song. 

Background:
Truth be told, we didn’t plan the theme of Nicotine Induced because the EP just happened. In hindsight, I think the main themes of the record are acceptance and rejection -  influenced by the lyrics as I wrote a lot about wanting to be accepted and facing rejection. It kind of tied in with our own personal journeys and collective identity as a new act. 

Nicotine Induced was supposed to be a four-track EP. We had somehow managed to impress Home Studios and in particular Neil with our performances at some minor band competition. They gave us a “record deal” so to speak. They would record an album for us for free but we had to pay to record the drums because they didn’t have one. We negotiated for an EP because we only had 4 songs and we could only pool $400 to pay for four hours of recording. Times were really hard then. They weren't our label because we had to pay for everything else. We picked the cheapest studio, one located somewhere in Jurong. Jarell had to really practice because he didn’t have the luxury of time unlike the rest of us. He did an amazing job and without a metronome. Tim calls it his “internal clock”. 

Forsaken was a last minute addition. I had just gone through a break-up midway through recording. I literally wrote the song in one sitting (on my five-string second-hand guitar) one night because I was penning my thoughts and feelings about my then recently failed relationship.

The guys thought it was a good song, so we included it on the EP even though it didn't quite fit with the rest of the record. Then again, all the songs on the record didn’t really fit with the others. 

I removed the name from the line "a ballad written for" because I wanted the song to encapsulate this moment in my life but not immortalise its muse, the person. 

Tim added the "static effect" thingy in the bridge to represent loss and incoherence. Jarell had to play an egg shaker and I’m certain he absolutely hated the experience. 
- Illyas

Trivia:
-At 4:51, Forsaken is M.I.'s longest song. 
-Forsaken won second place for Singapore Polytechnic’s Lyric Writing Competition 2005. The irony! Considering the song features the line “I’m tired of being second”. 
- It is the only M.I. song without a traditional chorus. 

Lyrics:
Another night alone, 
I know it's getting colder. 
Obsession starts to grow. 
Will I be the one you hold?

Another teardrop wept.
Hidden questions answered.
This silence has been broken. 
Confessions of a man. 

This masterpiece was written.
The story of two drifters.
Was it based on love?
Or, was it all false hope?

Will this trinity be ever, you and I and together?
Ashes on the floor,
A ballad written for...

Another day apart. 
The hours are growing longer.
Light starts to dim.
Has the end? Begin! 

People come and go.
It's memories that linger. 
I'm tired of being second. 
An empty promise sold.

This tragedy was never
The fate of star-crossed lovers
A poet at his end.
A chance was all he asked.

Will it be his moment?
Or, was it never meant?
All his thoughts are spoken
In a ballad written for...

Credits
Written by: Illyas Lim Effandi, Timothy Adalia & Jonathan Chua.
Lyrics by: Illyas Lim Effandi

Vocals: Illyas Lim Effandi
Guitars: Timothy Adalia
Guitars, Bass & Keyboards: Jonathan Chua
Percussions: Jarell Monteiro

Recorded and Produced by Home Studio

Nicotine Induced

Forsaken

The story:
Heartache, anger and frustration - when things spiral out of control inside. 

Background:
We had found our mojo so to speak, and rocked this one out quite quickly over a couple of practice sessions. I guess we simply wanted a song that we could have fun playing live. Interestingly, the Obsession sound would be carried onto Moving On (album) and greatly influence it. 

This is the first song where the lines between rhythm and lead guitarist were blurred between Tim and Jon. Previously, Tim would play all lead parts. But we realised that we needed him on vocal duty. This did lead us to discover that Jon has this knack for writing killer hooks and Tim for grand(er)parts. A lot of our choruses in the future would feature these elements. 

Tim and I explored different possibilities with our voices here. Perhaps, for me, the only thing noteworthy about this song is that it was weird trying to sound more American having grown up on Britrock. The rest of the band were heavily influenced by American music then.

Lyrically, it is about love but with a focus on the rage that comes from it - the imagery is clearly influenced by the emo/screamo stuff we were listening to. However, I didn’t want to just write an angry song about (I don’t know) “cupcakes and razor blades”. I thought it’d be a decent departure by adding shades of remorse, helplessness and a desire to leave it all behind. Hence, the song has quite a heavy use of juxtapositions. The spoken word part gave off a sense of confidence, just to have it taken away again in the end. 
- Illyas

Trivia:
- The band members have never called the song by its full name, only referring to it as Obsession. Similarly, the band and close friends only address the band as M.I. Since we’re on the topic, Jarell came up with the name Mistaken Identity because people tend to confuse the band members’ ethnicities. Thank God for that because Nas was quite insistent on calling us Splash. 
- Nicotine Induced was recorded at Home Studio that didn’t have a band setting. So we had to record the drums elsewhere. 
-Jon and Tim used a mini amp and covered it with a waste paper basket to get a particular reverb sound they wanted. 

Lyrics:
Don't send your messenger, 
Can't read another line,
A passive audience,
To an act played on me
To many times before
A scar that you won't show
A wound that I can't hide
Yet, still I'm mesmerised

Through my heart
Your bullet ripped my hopes
Through my heart
Your dagger slit my pride 

Signs aligned in sequenced dreams
This feeling never fades
Afraid of our tomorrow
He scarred your yesterday
Inflicted suicides
A scar that you won't show
A wound that I can't hide

Every moment seems so far away
As you stab me in the back once again
Well finally, it's over

There's no escape from this nightmare
There's no escape from the dark 
Time and time again

Credits
Written by: Jonathan Chua, Timothy Adalia, Jarell Monteiro, & Illyas Lim Effandi 
Lyrics by: Illyas Lim Effandi

Vocals: Illyas Lim Effandi
Guitars: Timothy Adalia
Guitars & Keyboards: Jonathan Chua
Bass: Nasrun Rahim
Drums: Jarell Monteiro

Recorded and Produced by Home Studio

Obsession Turned Addiction

The story: 
A man struggling with inner conflict, hating the hypocrisy of society and fighting to not succumb to conformity.  

Background.
This was the first song we ever wrote collectively. Tim played the intro riff to us and we were simply blown away. The first thing I said to him (in jest, of course) after I overcame my "shock" was, "so where did you rip this off from?" I remember feeling the sadness, helplessness and loneliness oozing from it. We were in a jamming studio next to Hong Lim Park, which incidentally became the venue for Pink Dot years later. We left the studio rather late, at about 11 p.m. The stillness of Singapore's Central Business District - the empty streets, the lone individuals walking about, the solitude -  really complemented the emotions that were running through me then. I wrote the lyrics on the last bus home. 

Initially, it was about a man (not me)struggling with his sexuality. But I felt it was too controversial to talk about sexuality (the greatest taboo) then in highly-conservative Singapore, especially for a first song. The original was, let’s just say, a lot more graphic. In later revisions, the lyrics became more nuanced, about inner conflict due to societal pressure, because I hoped to reach out to as many people as possible. - Illyas

Trivia:
- A demo of Vanity actually exists. The band painstakingly, with the kind help of good friends, pressed 200 homemade CDs, stuck labels onto them and distributed them to strangers at MRT stations and malls. 

Lyrics: 
She stalks the night, 
with her glove over iron fist 
in her urban disguise. 
Sleepless nights, 
drowning in her fabrication; 
her world of sin. 
You and I, 
victims of vanity, 
we'll drown. 

Illusions will leave them awake submerged. 
Entwined in fears in their own demise. 
Calling out to me. Am I, hers? 

Silhouettes, imprinted on the asphalt fields. 
That lonely crowd passing by, 
deluded by a fashion man decides. 
You and I, given time,
Victims of vanity, we'll drown. 

Is it the way that I live? 
Is she calling out to me? 
Do you feel what I feel? 
Is there nothing left in me?

Credits:
Written by: Timothy Adalia, Jonathan Chua, Jarell Monteiro, Nasrun Rahim & Illyas Lim Effandi
Lyrics by: Illyas Lim Effandi

Personnel: 
Vocals: Illyas Lim Effandi
Guitars: Timothy Adalia
Guitars & Keyboards: Jonathan Chua
Bass: Nasrun Rahim
Drums: Jarell Monteiro

Recorded and Produced by Home Studio

Vanity

The story:
The last D.O.V.E operative is being hunted by C.A.N.I.N.E. His comrades have fallen, one by one. Cornered, he's at his wits' end. Can he escape their clutches as they close in on him?

Background:
This was the penultimate song from Nicotine Induced to be recorded. I sat on this for months due to writer's block. The guys had come up with this awesome “Funeral for a Friend” kinda vibe and I really wanted to do it justice. I never said this to them, but I always had some form of imposter syndrome because I never wanted to be the vocalist. 

Finally, the pressure of having to finish our record from the studio kicked in and I felt like running away. On the train home from school, my mind went into overdrive. I started to imagine that people were after me. Well, they were. The messages from the band members and studio became quite suffocating. I feared disappointing them. That's when the inspiration to write about a thriller hit me. I quickly formulated a story about a spy being hunted. 

I chose the dove as a symbol because it represents fragility. In contrast, the hunters were teeth-barring bloodhounds (this image was playing in my head, and I think I got it from Blur’s Parklife album cover). The punctuated riffs and drumming in the intro sounded like gunshots to me. 

Unfortunately in my head the protagonist didn’t get away. The end scene is him begging for release through death. The title alludes to the cognitive dissonance he has in his dying moments, wondering if everything that he had done for his organisation was worth his eventual demise. 

The use of the present tense in the song was to get the listener to feel as though he or she's right there as the story unfolds.- Illyas

Trivia:
- Self-deceit or Sacrifice was used as the band’s soundcheck song for months with Illyas mumbling nonsense (as Jarell calls it) until the lyrics were written. 

Lyrics:
Like thieves amidst these shadows, 
We thread this black and white divide. 
Hear footsteps gaining on us. 
Take cover! In this vinyl sky. 
Fall prey to delver C.A.N.I.N.E 
Retract as gunshots fill the night. 
They're closing in too swiftly.
Our sanctuary seems so far. 

Perplexed by suffocation, the mist is blinding out my sight tonight.
Dampness on my skin, diffuses warmth from the blood beneath it. 
And I can't find the strength to carry on. 

In the face of interception, 
frail hopes of rapture fill our minds.
Two other D.O.V.E.S have fallen.
Is this self-deceit or sacrifice?
Walls resonate each cadence. 
Grey marks the trail of watchful eyes.
Too many lives were taken 
and our sanctuary feels so far. 

Release me. Self-deceit or sacrifice? 

Credits
Written by: Timothy Adalia, Jonathan Chua, Jarell Monteiro, & Illyas Lim Effandi
Lyrics by: Illyas Lim Effandi

Personnel:
Vocals: Illyas Lim Effandi
Guitars & Additional Vocals: Timothy Adalia
Guitars & Keyboards: Jonathan Chua
Bass: Nasrun Rahim
Drums: Jarell Monteiro

Recorded and Produced by Home Studio

Self Deceit or Sacrifice

The story:
In memory of Zamri. This one is for you. Rest well my friend and thank you.

Background: 
Hourglass is our first original, but we didn't write the song collectively. We'd been playing together for about six months with Tim and Jon in our line up. Jarell, Nas and I had been jamming for over a year after Iela and Harun left. Believe it or not, we were a skapunk band! Jon joined the line-up through an ad we posted. The first thing he said to us was: "Are these the only 4 songs you know how to play?". A couple of months later, Jarell suggested that we try out his church mate. Tim came for an "audition". Jarell and I were blown away by how he clicked with Jon so quickly. It also helped that the whole band had this odd chemistry. Nas was shifted to bass and I was demoted to vocalist. 

All we did for a long while was covers of songs we liked. Tim, the perfectionist, was pretty adamant about working on our chemistry instead of attempting to write anything. He still loves covers and he has a point about learning from them. But we were itching to be more than a jukebox. 

I received news that my former classmate from secondary school had passed away at the age of 18. He was actually from the same class as Nas. I wasn't particularly close to him, but he kindly gave me my first cassette tape when we were 13. He had dubbed his Suede's Coming Up for me because I couldn't afford the $7 to buy my own. I put together the few minor chords I knew for a chorus and just wrote the lyrics down. I knew nothing about chord progressions, themes or lyrical devices at this point. The band liked what they heard(because standards weren't high lol) and Tim and Jon worked on the rest of the song separately. Jarell and Nas added their parts in the studio. This is probably why the song sounds quite Frankenstein-ish; with odd parts soldered together. 

Hourglass did give us the confidence to start writing our own stuff. In a sense, my friend gave me another gift by setting us off on the next stage of our musical journey. 

I thought the line "cradle to the grave" was a little overused. So, I changed it to "bed" to represent a hospital bed. I thought about how my friend was suffering and his mom would have had been heartbroken to see him in that state. 

The final version sounds nothing like the demo I came up with. A friend of Jarell's commented that Hourglass sounds the music that would be used for a car chase scene. - Illyas 

Trivia:
-Hourglass is Tim's favourite M.I. song. 
-Illyas loves the song because it brought the band closer but also disowns it because "it sounds very raw".
-A live performance of Hourglass nabbed M.I. second place for a local band competition that would lead to the band to getting a recording offer. 

Lyrics: 
It's haunting how it seems 
Life breeds memories
A silent prayer sent 
Ascend from cradle to this bed 

Just tell me, 
Tell me if you're fine
Just whisper,
To break this silent night 

I've salvaged nothing from this wreck
He's travelled through his phase in time
Walked in a room of tainted sounds
She's watched his body fill the ground 

Credits
Written by: Illyas Lim Effandi, Timothy Adalia, Jonathan Chua, Jarell Monteiro & Nasrun Rahim

Vocals: Illyas Lim Effandi
Guitars: Timothy Adalia
Guitars & Keyboards: Jonathan Chua
Bass: Nasrun Rahim
Drums: Jarell Monteiro

Recorded and Produced by Home Studio

Hourglass

Photo Credit: Tsang Photography
Apparel Sponsor: Wet Oven 

Reuniting for 1 song in 2021. Follow our journey back into the studio and music on Instagram. 

Releases:
Nicotine Induced EP (2004-2005) 
Moving On LP (2006-2007)
Our Complex Simplicity Digital Single (2009)

"The history of this band is ludicrous and melodramatic, but also surreal. We didn’t have a clue about what we were doing when we started, aged 16-18. We never became rockstars but somehow, this remarkable incredible journey  gave us another life – one where we watched our wildest dreams take flight. 

We made music that's ours and we were heard."

Alternative indie-rock band from Singapore with a bassist curse
2003-2009; 2012; 2021- 

Members:
Timothy Adalia (Guitars & Vocals)
Jonathan Chua (Guitars, Keyboards & Bass)
Illyas Lim Effandi (Vocals)
Jarell Monteiro (Drums & Percussions)

Former members: 
Harun Rashid (Bass)
Nasrun Rahim (Bass)
Muhammad Yazif (Bass)
Shawn Seet (Bass) 

As this site also serves as a time capsule, I added the story, background information and some trivia for each track. Do check them out. I'll try to get the rest of the band to share stories about the songs too. Till all are one. - Illyas

Mistaken Identity

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