“Getting Together” was a compilation of SYAWAL single’s from 2000 until 2002. It contains a series of songs that uplift their talent to the pop star (maybe…) at those years.
The early stage…
SYAWAL, who consist of Saidani, Mirza, Azuwan, Joeharmawi, Rasdi and Danny, at their early stage of singing direction, was more on doing cover of local Nasyid apprentice such as Raihan, NowSeeHeart and Hijjaz. Their impersonation of accapella-based performance has been the major influence in their stage performances. With the synchronize pop-style vocal with the exotic Arabian sub culture’ music,` really get them into the mood of singing (at that time, they really stunned the audiences with singing in harmony). People love to listen to that kind of vocal. Dragging emotion to really attached with their cover-version songs.
By December 2000, I myself, where got the stint of their stage performance (in Sorob, Kota Belud) eventually attracted to their well organize and harmonize vocal. Approaching their skipper, Saidani, who were the main person in making the group, is my instant initiation to work with SYAWAL. I remember our conversation with Saidani, at the back-stage, I told him I got these few songs, maybe we can work together. He said that’s really good. From that moment I start my scratch idea of writing SYAWAL’s materials.
I remember when I discussed with Mirza, regarding how does it looks like with SYAWAL got their own songs and they style they should fit-in to the music. We did some research and end up with east meet west music. He asked me to submit few songs to review. I did remember when I submit the first single “We Believe in You” which is more like western touch. Then the “Live in Harmony” makes a follow-up, which made the headlines on the performance in the end of December 2000.
Joeharmawi, who first listen to my solo demo, “Friendships in our lifetime”, single that telling a story of closing chapter in UNIMAS. He asked me to give some material to SYAWAL, since they are looking for something new direction. So, from 2000, few tracks include their opening smash track “We believe in You”, then followed by “Hope and Pray”s singles which written in local dialect, includes “Kounsikahan” (means pleasure of happiness) and “Id suang mato nu” (means inside your eyes). The first few singles were more like western direction, which Joeharmawi and Rasdi then requested the coming materials to be more local in-touch. Azuwan, who basically helps me a lot in vocal arrangement, suggested that the coming materials should up-lift in vocal side, which means, requiring climbing vocal pitch. They suggest to me the new songs should challenge their vocal ability.
The break away…
By March 2001, the new wave of SYAWAL comes with the birth of singles “Hikmah”. Written in short minutes, “Hikmah” eventually catch SYAWAL to their music alignment. “Hikmah” comes along with complementary single “Ikhlas”, which I dubbed as B-Side, that steal attention in front of the big crowd in Chung Hwa’s Hall, Kota Belud on May 2001. Both of the songs were sang on that occasion and frequently sang in their major appearance. As Saidani comments on the both singles, which really got the break-even style, and really fit into SYAWAL direction.
“Bagaikan Puteri”, the follow-up single came by May 2001, a song about child birth and pampered to the journey of mankind. It also a story of how parents should live up with their offspring, love and care, and so on. Also make an impact as a cooling-down song, bring back the lullaby for those who listen to it.
Getting Together…
In the early 2002, to summarize their early appearance until the current pop hits singles, I, my self, Mirza and Azuwan, brainstormed an idea to release a compilation. Bye that time, Danny already departed from SYAWAL, following his family re-allocation to their home town in Sarawak. Also, Saidani has taken a big break from the group to concentrate more on his new duty, husband and father.
However, the remaining SYAWAL’s were still determined to finish the project of Getting Together. The crews of the project are Mirza, Azuwan, Joeharmawi and Rasdi, along with Harry (JJ) and Mazlan (Ukat) standing as the sessionist to make it happen. The (late) Zul, elder brother of Mirza, has also contribute a lot in the project, which required all of us works in the whole month of March 2002. It is so exciting to see the working group, who really stand up to their commitment to see the final outcome of SYAWAL.
At the first stage, we really don’t have the title of the compilation. However, Azuwan was the man who suggest the title, which according to him, that the journey of SYAWAL has come in the various situation, from percussion line-up to the vocal pop-star. Also, he feels that the album is a story board of SYAWAL. Then we eventually called the project as SYAWAL: Getting Together. The idea of putting singles “Searching” and “Pleasure”, which both is the translation of the early singles “Pencarian” and “Kounsikahan”, respectively, just to make a new sound of SYAWAL, getting international…hahaha.
The mastering production was the hard part, where I worked with Mirza (who also co-produced the album). Thinking back on how we just slept 3 hours per night, in three consecutive days, to give the final touch of Getting Together. The rest of production was done at MyRoom Studio, whilst recording and mixing, merely took place in Syawal’s Room of Harmony.
The best part of this project was photo shooting, where I have to come out with an instant idea of the album cover. Taking place in Kota Belud exotic view, the photo was done well. Thanks to Rasdi (transport) and Joeharmawi (camera). The craziness has taken us into the birth of “Getting Together” at last, in early April 2002. Though the product was just as good as it is, it’s mean a lot to SYAWAL. Also, not to forget the small contribution of 2 British girl in this album. The ladies, Louise and Sheza, hailed from Swansea, England, in their very own track “Meaning of Friendship”. Hey guys, the ladies have the copies of Getting Together, meaning…SYAWAL, hits the international border…hurrah!
Still more to come…keep your finger crossed.
Ronny Brandon
5th June 2009
Putrajaya
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