May 26, 2008

Wicked Aura Batucada: Deliciously Wicked!

By Cheryl Leong

Singapore's premier samba percussion troupe is a rambunctious band of thirteen brothers, who never fail to whip the crowd into a frenzy when they take the stage. Their infectious blend of funk, afrobeats and ethnic rhythms have been heard across numerous international shores, playing to much critical acclaim in prestigious local and overseas festivals. It is little wonder that Singapore's darling is always greeted with rousing cheers and much anticipation before a set.

MTV Asia takes a moment to catch up with Budi and Aidan on their upcoming concert, their thoughts on the local scene, dead musicians and alternative career choices.

MTV Asia: I believe congratulations are in order, seeing as you guys have an upcoming first solo concert (Black, Green & A Little Touch of Gold), which isn't just a performance as part of a festival. What can we expect from that?
B (Budi): Black, Green, & A Little Touch of Gold! [Laughs]
A (Aidan): Aww man. He's really smart in the morning.

MTV Asia: Succinct, you are. But how about a little more than just that?
A: Well, we've been around the world, done big stage events like WOMAD and Good Vibrations as part of festivals, and they do have the best atmospheres. But this will be the gig that really allows us to concentrate on just us, and see people yawn… [Laughs]
B: It's our own materials, basically. I guess what you can expect of this Esplanade concert is the product of 5 years of evolution and hard work, and wearing our influences on our sleeves. Hopefully everyone will have a great time!

MTV Asia: Any plans to unveil a new album?
A: It's definitely on the way. Mixed and mastered, and ready to be released. Now it's just a matter of the business side of things.

MTV Asia: How's it different from the first?
B: This is the first! Well, okay we did have an EP before, which we only sold in Australia because we did a show there. But this is the first full-length feature.

MTV Asia: Cool. So when can we expect that out in stores?
A: [Laughs] Definitely before the end of the year. The product's done, just a matter of getting it out!

MTV Asia: Where else do you hope to conquer next?
A: Africa, Brazil…
B: We haven't been to AMERICA… We'd like to touch down there. Japan…

MTV Asia: You do have quite an international following though?
B: Yeah mainly through the myspace page. Not so much youtube because we haven't been updating. And for the record, the videos there are not the ones we upload, although we hope to do official Wicked footage there soon too.
A: The website's undergoing a revamp now as well, with a new logo and look. By the time the album comes out in June, the whole Wicked Aura product is going to be in a different light from what it's been!

MTV Asia: What are some of the most memorable performances do you recall?
A: Mainly some of the first overseas performances. Madrid's one of them. That was crazy. After WOMAD for Singapore, which we at first thought was going to be just a one-off thing, we got invited to Madrid, the UK. Every festival was just better and better and more exciting, and meeting all kinds of musicians that we never thought we'd get the opportunity to meet. I'd say, Sri Lanka, UK, Australia as well.

MTV Asia: Is there anybody that you'd want to work with?
B: James Brown.
A: He's dead.
B: Oh damn. Well actually we all want to work with different people. George Clinton's still alive! [Laughs] But that said, I think the beauty of Wicked Aura is that we come from a hodge-podge of different musical influences and everyone loves all kinds of music.

MTV Asia: So is 13 the magic number? And yes, where are all the ladies?
B: Well there used to be one, but she had to go back home. Now it's just a weiner party!
A: It's the gay boys!
B: Yeah, sometimes I wish we were all gay, because we get bored sometimes, and we'd have so much fun with one another. [Laughs] For now though, it's actually quite an ideal number.
A: It's about as much as you can handle, the kind of band that we are.

MTV Asia: Yeah that's the thing: how do you all get along?
B: Not all the time, we don't.
A: We punch each other all the time man. You want to see some of the bruises? [Laughs]
B: We get along like brothers, cause you know, brothers fight all the time.

MTV Asia: People seem to have this impression that Singapore doesn't really have much talent, but that's obviously not true, judging from all the great local acts here today. So why do you think that we still have that kind of misconception?
A: Probably because there isn't an avenue for that kind of talent to express themselves. At the point where people in the UK/US are exploding, here they're like, is there enough here for me to invest full time into this, or do I just take something safer? The percentage is so much smaller, because Singapore is also so much smaller as well. I think we're actually fine, but we just take a longer time to develop an arts scene. Be patient, and just keep pushing.

MTV Asia: If you weren't in Wicked Aura, what would you be doing?
A: Selling satay at the coffee shop! [Laughs] But seriously, I'd probably be working in sports or music. There's nothing else I'd prefer. He [Budi] might be a pimp! [Laughs]
B: Yeah I'd be a male prostitute! [Laughs] Kidding, but I might probably be a fashion designer. It's just about creating. I love creating, and the process and journey of doing so. And you don't exactly have to be gay right, to be a designer? No! I could create an atomic bomb….?
A: Yeah and I could have been Adolf Hitler man! [Laughs]
B: I could've been Colonel Sanders! -pointing to his KFC dinner-

MTV Asia took the hint… and left the starving Wicked boys to dig in ravenously before their performance.