Epy & Ardiv win 'YouTube to YouLive' clash
Epy & Ardiv will headline their own show on 12th July at the Laundry Bar.
By Steven Patrick
A Malaysian double act named Epy & Ardiv are promising to resurrect the sounds of ska and reggae for the country. Last week, the Bob Marley-influenced duo aced the 'YouTube to YouLive' competition with a catchy and original tune called Temanku.
The purpose of the talent-scouting event was to unearth the next Yuna or Zee Avi who both broke via the website. And in terms of originality and live performance, Epy & Ardiv might just stand a chance at cracking the market with their fresh, radio-friendly songs.
On the night of the finale at Laundry Bar, a live music club at The Curve in Mutiara Damansara in PJ, they didn't so much perform as opposed to having a party on the stage.
On top of Ardiv's original composition, they played a decent cover of Bruno Mar's The Lazy Song that had the judges—indie music movers and shakers Reza Salleh, Jipie from Pesawat and Laundry Bar owner Darrin Lee—raving. Pesawat's singer Gipie said Epy & Ardiv blew him away, while Darrin called them the most accomplished act in the competition.
The duo was one of 500 acts that uploaded their videos onto YouTube in April in the hope of getting into the finals and winning the RM5,000 cash prize, a guitar and a headlining gig at Laundry Bar on 12th July.
Ardiv Johari said that they enlisted a three-piece horn session and a couple of long-time guitarist friends "to give them an edge". And it worked in getting them into the top 10 where they were required to perform live. "We've been playing at functions and weddings for years, so that experience really helped," said the 23-year-old music diploma student.
"We're going to use the money to record Temanku in a studio with proper production," added Epy, a 23-year-old who works at his brother-in-law's law firm as a clerk under the name Rafsan Elsee Iskandar.
Ardiv added that he hasn't decided if he'll get his dad, famed producer Johari Teh, who has produced songs for Awie, Amy from Search and Ziana Zain, to work on his own recording. "I need to move and grow on my own," he said. "You know, we've been working on this song for months and he just heard it tonight! I'm surprised he actually liked it."
"You know children," said Johari, proudly applauding his son's triumph, "they all want to find their own way. I'm happy he won and I finally got to hear his song."
For part two of this story, go to: YouTube turns local unknowns into idols
Published: 2nd July 2012
Comments (2)
1.epy working as a clerk at his brother in law company under tunesmith sdn bhd.
2.ardiv didnt produced a songs for amy search,awie etc.actually his dad who produced a songs for them.
3.ardiv's dad name is johari teh not johari salleh.
4.ardiv wrote temanku. =)
that all.im so sorry for incovenience.
Thanks. We've corrected the article and apologise for the errors.