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AboutFrom RONINRIOT.com
RONIN may have risen to become one of Singapore's most popular and successful bands in recent times, but as the members themselves will tell you; "The going has not been easy. It wasn't easy, and we take nothing for granted.."
Back in 2002, these five lads had big dreams and aspirations but were too ignorant and oblivious to the music scene around them to get their act together for the longest time. There were about as into Hip hop, nu-metal, indie rock and pop rock as Jim Morrison was close to being sober; a non-existent relationship. Levan Wee, the uniquely blonde and fair-skinned albino vocalist, was into Les Miserables and U2 while Bang was preoccupied with spreading the gospel of Black Sabbath. You get the picture. But all five Ronins (Levan Wee, 23, vocals. Derryn Wong, 23, bass. Sean Cheng, 22, Lead Guitars. Bang, 23, Drums. Simon Lee, 23, rhythm guitars) were determined to bring back the glory days of old school rock n' roll to the masses by their own means and visions.
So these five lads spent the better part of the first year playing obscure and strange far-out gigs in places like Katong Sh*t-Knows-Where, Hougang Mall-In-The-Middle-of-Nowhere, and even had the cops raid on them (by complaints from neighbours) when they were jamming 'inconsiderately' on the roof tops of their own jamming studio. A future career in music was nowhere in sight but these five individuals stuck together through all the tough times to emerge a stronger and more focused band after overcoming each and every obstacle. They had a dream to live, and nothing was going to stop their dedication. RONIN continued writing songs, jamming, arguing and playing gigs for the next year and eventually gained a growing reputation as one of the most exciting live acts in town.
Their big break came in 2003 when they decided to record their first EP with legendary producer Leonard "The Hand" Soosay, who crafted the music they had written into what it sounds like today. Fast, fever-pitched rock n' roll anthems to blast through your speakers at blistering volumes. The EP allowed the band to get higher profiled shows which led to them playing to bigger audiences.
RONIN continued honing their craft, and eventually gained the interest of the mass media. Their live shows became steadily more escentric and many hailed the band as the scene's up and comers. RONIN, however, remained oblivious to modern trends and the 'in's of the music industry and continued doing their own thing and crafting their own visions. Their army of fans began growing by the hundreds as the power of the word of mouth took its course. RONIN was the band to watch out for.
The EP was a hit with the fans and the media alike, which instigated the band to follow it up with their first full length album.
By this time, RONIN and UNIVERSAL MUSIC had established relationships with each other. The band recorded "DO OR DIE" at Snakeweed Studios with Leonard "The Hand" Soosay once again, and finally signed a deal with UNIVERSAL MUSIC at the start of 2005 for the distribution of the album.
"DO OR DIE" was released on the 22nd August, 2005, and has since risen to become one of the best selling albums in the country, with RONIN becoming one of the most high profiled bands in Singapore, performing to huge crowds of thousands. Their first hit singles "Black Maria" & "You Got Mojo" have received heavy rotation on Power98 and 98.7FM and have recently entered the national singles charts. The band is currently filming their first MTV and have plans to go regional in the coming months.
The album is a testiment to all the turbulent times that the band had to go through to get to where they are right now, and is a message to all their fans; Never give up on your dreams till you live them. It's DO OR DIE baby, and don't you ever forget it.
RONIN may have risen to become one of Singapore's most popular and successful bands in recent times, but as the members themselves will tell you; "The going has not been easy. It wasn't easy, and we take nothing for granted.."
Back in 2002, these five lads had big dreams and aspirations but were too ignorant and oblivious to the music scene around them to get their act together for the longest time. There were about as into Hip hop, nu-metal, indie rock and pop rock as Jim Morrison was close to being sober; a non-existent relationship. Levan Wee, the uniquely blonde and fair-skinned albino vocalist, was into Les Miserables and U2 while Bang was preoccupied with spreading the gospel of Black Sabbath. You get the picture. But all five Ronins (Levan Wee, 23, vocals. Derryn Wong, 23, bass. Sean Cheng, 22, Lead Guitars. Bang, 23, Drums. Simon Lee, 23, rhythm guitars) were determined to bring back the glory days of old school rock n' roll to the masses by their own means and visions.
So these five lads spent the better part of the first year playing obscure and strange far-out gigs in places like Katong Sh*t-Knows-Where, Hougang Mall-In-The-Middle-of-Nowhere, and even had the cops raid on them (by complaints from neighbours) when they were jamming 'inconsiderately' on the roof tops of their own jamming studio. A future career in music was nowhere in sight but these five individuals stuck together through all the tough times to emerge a stronger and more focused band after overcoming each and every obstacle. They had a dream to live, and nothing was going to stop their dedication. RONIN continued writing songs, jamming, arguing and playing gigs for the next year and eventually gained a growing reputation as one of the most exciting live acts in town.
Their big break came in 2003 when they decided to record their first EP with legendary producer Leonard "The Hand" Soosay, who crafted the music they had written into what it sounds like today. Fast, fever-pitched rock n' roll anthems to blast through your speakers at blistering volumes. The EP allowed the band to get higher profiled shows which led to them playing to bigger audiences.
RONIN continued honing their craft, and eventually gained the interest of the mass media. Their live shows became steadily more escentric and many hailed the band as the scene's up and comers. RONIN, however, remained oblivious to modern trends and the 'in's of the music industry and continued doing their own thing and crafting their own visions. Their army of fans began growing by the hundreds as the power of the word of mouth took its course. RONIN was the band to watch out for.
The EP was a hit with the fans and the media alike, which instigated the band to follow it up with their first full length album.
By this time, RONIN and UNIVERSAL MUSIC had established relationships with each other. The band recorded "DO OR DIE" at Snakeweed Studios with Leonard "The Hand" Soosay once again, and finally signed a deal with UNIVERSAL MUSIC at the start of 2005 for the distribution of the album.
"DO OR DIE" was released on the 22nd August, 2005, and has since risen to become one of the best selling albums in the country, with RONIN becoming one of the most high profiled bands in Singapore, performing to huge crowds of thousands. Their first hit singles "Black Maria" & "You Got Mojo" have received heavy rotation on Power98 and 98.7FM and have recently entered the national singles charts. The band is currently filming their first MTV and have plans to go regional in the coming months.
The album is a testiment to all the turbulent times that the band had to go through to get to where they are right now, and is a message to all their fans; Never give up on your dreams till you live them. It's DO OR DIE baby, and don't you ever forget it.
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