VIMA 2010:Alexander the Phatos

Alexander The Phatos brings a classical flair into his Hip-Hop music and bags 3 nominations in the VIMA 2010. VOIZE looks into the “Phatosism” of this Hip Hop Group and learns about P.O.Q Syndrome.

1) You’ve been nominated under the category of Best Hip Hop Category & Best Hip hop Group and Most Mind-Boggling Genre Bender for “Hey Mama” for VIMA 2010. Congratulations! Tell us how you feel.
I feel happy. After 7 years of struggling. At last Industry has spoken and no longer fused with P.O.Q Syndrome (Popularity over Quality). I didn’t expect to win. Having my name written as one of the nominees, competing those Big Names, Well-known Artists with good marketing schemes. It’s such a blessing.

2) Tell us about the making of “Hey Mama”. Every song has a story so what’s the story behind this song?
I‘ve been keeping this arrangement (Hey Mama) when I was like in a sophomore year (2007). I was doing a piano part and strings composition, for the last verse/singing part of “Have You seen her”. Too bad the piano part was not really fitting up the sped up vocal samples/chipmunk in “Have you seen her”. So here we go “Have You Seen Her” released without a Piano .So I took this Piano structure and started improvising  on the melody which is later become a main structure of Hey Mama, so the music(Hey Mama) itself is derived from “Have You Seen her”.

The thought of Re-Composing came in sudden in 2009, I’ve realized that I should be writing more songs about my lovely Mother Instead of “HERs”, A Momentary Insanity, Curable by Marriage (If you got married) Funny because the pain stays forever. Here we go, Re-Composing starts; the original basic skeleton of Hey Mama was quite empty. I have added two piano riff which is composed by me with the other pianist Cecilia Wong.

The idea of adding Alto sax, it was a long time ago (2007).Me and AnisHaron (Alto Saxophonist) have discussed it a lot about the arrangement, we were just couldn’t find the right time to record. He (AnisHaron) flew off to overseas earlier than I thought. We started working via Instant Messenger and Mails He even recorded his Alto Sax during his trip overseas. We finally made it after a few adjustments.

3) So, Alexander The Phatos or ATP for short, there are quite a few of you in this group and your group name is rather unique. Could you tell me how the bunch of you got together and why are you called ‘Alexander the Phatos’?
We were studying in the same university; the majority of ATP’s members were in the same course, Music. The rest of them are in different fields of study but within the same circle. ART.

Alexander The Phatos. I was reading Articles about Alexander The Great or Alexander III of Macedon. A well known king, described as one of the greatest military geniuses of all times. The word Phatos is derived from my own creation. I just like the way it looks, combined and written. It gives me some kind of vitality by combining this great entity from ancient with my created word.

4. Tell us about your upcoming album, “Phatosism”. What can we aspect from this album?
R.A.P ,Rhythms and Poetry, A heaven-sent Instrument goes how I designate my vocals, demonstrating words Rhythmically, Emotional Lyrics, A self confessional Based composition. Everything I wrote there is dictated mostly by two motifs called Love and Hates.

We go for everything when it comes to music. ATP melds everything Beside Hip-hop and Rap, from Classical,Jazz,Blues,Rock,HipHop,Rap,Neo-soul,Choral,Minimalist,MusiqueConrete ,Electronic, to Noise Music, A Non-Biased/Prejudiced Eardrum/Implies no pre-judging, that captures everything as long as there is a travelling wave and frequencies within a range of hearing.

ATP has completed and released   5 songs so far. Another 5 to 6 tracks are coming that includes “Beautiful Struggle (Interlude)” features a solo Violin Improvisation.”Beautiful Struggle (Reprise)” features a Multi-layered instrumentation from Electric to Acoustic Guitar, Choir Music, Chinese two-string fiddle (Erhu), Electronic Synth, Piano and Strings .A track “Ikan Kekek” features a remarkable syncopated choir arrangement. And I am currently busy working on the track “Just A Rapper” exhibits a combination of classical music elements on the String Quartet and Rap Music. I call it as my Masterpiece among all of the tracks I ever produced .It took me years to finally finish this composition.

5.  Any tricks up your sleeve to bag the awards for the 3 categories that you’re nominated in?
Nope.

6.      The theme for the VIMA 2010 would likely be “Indiecent”. Just for fun, tell us your definition for the word “Indiecent”.
Indie-century?