Jack & Rai

The Singaporean duo makes the leap from cover band to original artistes.

Jack & Rai, the two front men of popular local cover band EIC, have taken their smooth vocals and soulful melodies off stage and into the recording studios with the debut of their self-penned album, ‘in stores now!’.

Featuring 11 original tracks including their first hit radio single The Falala Song and the cheeky Fiona, inspired by a certain local celebrity, ‘in stores now!’ marks a significant milestone for the two seasoned musicians.

‘We’ve been very encouraged by the fantastic response from our fans in Singapore over the past six years, and we hope they’ll continue to support us as we embark on this truly exciting journey of making the leap from a cover band to original artistes,’ said Rai. ‘Hopefully we manage to win the hearts of more music-lovers in the region as well, and who knows in future, going global might not be that far-fetched?’

Jack & Rai have come a long way since they first met as solo musicians in 2000 and later on formed the cover band EIC. Both have since left their day jobs to pursue their passion for music full-time and to invest their fullest attention and energy in producing their debut album.

‘in stores now!’ has been a self-supported project from start to finish – from creative direction to marketing to distribution – a decision Jack & Rai made to ensure that the final product would stay true to their vision.

‘It has been a huge challenge and perhaps an unconventional decision not to go through the traditional channels, but it has only made the end result sweeter. We are very proud of how ‘in stores now!’ turned out and we hope the public’s response will be equally enthusiastic,’ said Jack.

‘in stores now!’ is now available at all branches of Gramophone and HMV in Singapore, and is currently awaiting approval for digital distribution.

Websites:

www.jackandrai.com

www.myspace.com/jackandrai

www.imeem.com/jackandrai

www.youtube.com/jackandraitv

About Jack & Rai:

Jack & Rai have been the frontmen of EIC since the band was formed in July 2002. Before their first gig as a duo at Wala Wala, they met while performing as soloists on separate nights at local bar Barcelona. A few chance meetings between 2000 and 2002 turned into ad-hoc jam sessions before an audition at Wala Wala started a new chapter in their lives and music careers.

Since then, Jack & Rai have been regularly entertaining full-house crowds with their infectious brand of cover songs from the likes of U2, Coldplay, Oasis, Jason Mraz, John Mayer and the Dave Matthews Band. Presently, they are also co-hosts in a radio show on Class 95FM, with Jean Danker, which airs every Monday and Friday from 7-8pm.

In December 2006, Jack & Rai decided to take on a new challenge – to create a full album of original songs and make the transition from cover band to original artistes. Collaborating with producer and A&R consultant, Amir Masoh, they began the groundwork for ‘in stores now!’.

After a full year of planning, conceptualising and recording, they are pleased to unveil their debut album comprising 11 tracks, which relate their honest stories and experiences in the free-spirited style people have come to be familiar with at their live gigs.

Quick Facts:

• Acoustic pop/rock duo formed in mid-2002
• Regular gigs weekly with band EIC in clubs such as Wala Wala, Balaclava and Timbre
• Presently co-host a radio show with Jean Danker every Monday & Friday, 7-8pm on Class 95FM
• Composed, arranged and sang ‘Television Affair’ which was featured on Blog TV’s
• ‘Free Hugs’ episode and also used as the theme song for Kid’s Central programme ‘Junior Jams’ which aired from Jan-Mar 2007
• Appearance on ‘The May Lee Show’ as musical guests, Star World (June 2007)
• Rai wrote and sang theme song for Channel NewsAsia’s Blog TV (2008 season)
• Jack wrote and arranged theme song for ‘Schoolhouse Rockz’, which aired on Kid’s Central (2008)
• Celebrity Endorsement by Nike (2007 till present)
• Worldvision Ambassadors (2007-2008)
• Speak Good English Movement (National Library Board) Activists (2007-2008)
• Up till now, ‘The Fa La La Song’ has generated about 31,000 hits on their 2 Youtube Videos, and almost 40,000 hits on their Imeem profile

‘in stores now!’ track list:

1. Beetle Girl
2. The Fa La La Song
3. Fiona
4. Contemplate
5. Us
6. Pixelated
7. Hurricane
8. Poof
9. Television Affair
10. Release Me
11. Prophet of Universal Love

Industry feedback on ‘in stores now!’:

“It is not everyday that you meet artists who would give everything for their beliefs and fully understand what that statement truly entails. Music aside, these are genuinely nice guys. Short of cloning, this is as close as you would get to owning your very own Jack and Rai.”
- – Amir Masoh, Producer/A&R for ‘in stores now!’
- Produced and A&R for artistes like Taufik Batisah & Daphne Khoo
The Writing Room, Singapore

‘This is a fun and addictive collection of heartfelt songs. They are sure to find their way into your iPod and into your hearts.’
- – Dan Garcia, Engineer/Mixer/Producer, The Spot, Los Angeles
- Partial Discography includes Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Lopez & Toto
Mixed 6 tracks in ‘In Stores Now’

“I thoroughly enjoyed myself mixing the two songs, good melodies, harmonies and creative lyrics. My only complaint is…. after hearing the other songs I wish that they had given me more to do… ”
- – Frank Lee, Mixing Engineer, Alchemix, Singapore
Mixed ‘The Falala Song’ & ‘Fiona’

“These guys are a good example of how talent, commitment, stage presence and charisma with a solid marketing plan can work together to build a brand name band and they are an inspiration to many young bands trying to make a career out of music.”
- Danny Loong, Co-Managing Director
Timbre@The Substation, Timbre@The Arts House, Ublues Group Pte Ltd
Bandleader for Ublues Band and member of The Soulfellas