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Doppelganger Indie Picks: Y2K (MALAYSIA) meets Superman is Dead (INDONESIA)


Here we go again with Doppelganger Indie Picks. Each time, we select one local and one foreign artiste to share with you. This edition, we are shaking with excitement as we reintroduce two punk acts, both of whom have been around for quite some time. Whilst our Balinese counterpart, Superman is Dead enjoys a fan base of over 5million on Facebook, the other closer to home (we're speaking of Ampang in Kuala Lumpur) has an insignificant amount of but in our opinion, have the promise of being a really really really (as my Italian friend Valentina says) a smashing big band! So the long and short is, the Malaysian band Y2K has been established since the early 2000s and is about to release it's second album. How many albums did Sex Pistols release? Perhaps this article (Sex Pistols' Steve Jones interview: 'We should do a covers album') could be an inspiration to them to reinvent, repackage and just bloody get their band out there more and more and more :P Can't you tell we like 'em?

[MALAYSIA]



Who would never have heard of Y2K? To those who haven’t, they need to stop what they are doing and read up on the Malaysian punk history, pronto.  Y2K have been the silent killers for years since the 90s, occasionally making an appearance on stages (but never showing their faces beyond the eye slits of their stylish balaclavas) to give the most heart racing, fist pumping punk rock there is out there. Tight as a band, and really sound as general human beings, Y2K are definitely still one of the pioneer bands leading the underground scene today. www.facebook.com/Y2Kbandits (Written by Celine Belli)

Have a peak at Y2K opening for PARAMORE in KL:


[INDONESIA]


 
 
 
SID, punk rock pioneers of Bali, Indonesia were born and bred in Kuta Rock City and made of Bobby Kool (lead vocal, guitar and a graphic designer), Eka Rock (a family man, bass and backing vocal) and Jrx (drummer).
The name ‘Superman is Dead’ evolved from Stone Temple Pilot’s “Superman Silvergun”. The name moved on to “Superman is Dead” because they like the idea that there’s no such thing as a perfect person out there. SID got together in 1995, drawn by their common love of Green Day and NOFX. Their influences soon extended to the punk ‘n roll genre a la Supersuckers, Living End and Social Distortion, and here they stay.SID public image is described as “Punk Rock a Bali” (a combo of the raw energy from NOFX vs Social Distortion with a Balinese Rockabilly attitude).
 
History
SID‘s first releases were with fabulous, small scale indie labels 1997 “Case 15″, 1999 “Superman is Dead”, 2002 “Bad Bad Bad”(mini album, 6 tracks).
 
In March 2003, SID finally signed with Sony-BMG Indonesia after extended negotiations regarding their right to sing the majority of their tracks in English. That decision resulted in SID becoming the first band from Bali to be invited to sign with a major recording label in Indonesia, the first band in their nation to be recording majority of songs in English and the first punk band in Indonesia to get the national exposure and promotion that working with a major label in a third world country provides. And so the history of Indonesian Punk Rock begins! 
 
And where are they now?
At the end of 2002, one of the more respectable music magazines cited SID as “The Next Big Thing” for 2003. With the release of their fourth album “Kuta Rock City” followed by major air play nationally and in some countries overseas, coupled with the instant popularity of their newest film clip.
 
SID found itself suddenly touring continuously throughout Indonesia.In 2003 SID got mentioned by Time Magazine Asia. They also won a few music awards “MTV Awards for The Best New Artist 2003”, “AMI Awards for The Best New Artist 2003” and nominated again in “AMI Awards 2006 for The Best Rock Album”.October 2007, they did an amazing Australian tour, 8 cities, 16 gigs, 33 days with their strong D.I.Y work ethic. June – July 2009, Superman Is Dead held An American Tour, 16 Gigs in 16 cities. 11 gigs of them were the ‘ Vans Warped Tour’ and the last 5 gigs were ‘From Bali With Rock’. They worked very hard to succeed this exciting tour and had crossed the big land from West Coast to East Coast return.
 
SID have shared the stage with international bands such as International Noise Conspiracy, NOFX, MXPX and Hoobastank.They remain proud, Balinese boys with a love for punk rock. (Provided by SID mgmt)

And so, our friendship struck with Y2K / FYI Entertainment since the early scene beginnings in 2000 has led to #CJPlayground - a mammoth day of music + tech + games with the #CJConcert on 15 NOV 2014 in Cyberjaya where both bands Y2K and SID will share the same stage amongst other great independent bands. Enjoy this session's Doppelganger Indie Picks!

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