Members
Khairyl Hashim (guitars, backing vocals)
Ery Asrul (drums, percussions)
Ramlan (bass)
Who they are
Formed in December 93, Sideshow Judy created a buzz when they performed at the World Trade Centre Auditorium in July 94. Their set came across with raw punk energy, spontaneous, urgent and defiant.
"But we are not even punk," states Pauline Chong, 16, the band's guitarist and singer. "I was a radio kid in the early '80s and I liked the synth-pop and new wave then. We only sound punk because trios tend to have a sparse sound and I guess a lot of our frustrations come out in our music."
"And we are actually very nervous at that concert. It was our first gig. I was feeling ill but that first song, Spaceship Dog, went so well that it built the momentum for the rest of the show."
In August 94, the band released their debut demo, Eye Matter, an EP of six original songs, all about strange, quirky and offbeat subjects. Quicksand is about child sex abuse, Benny is about a cigarette addict dying of lung cancer while Dunking in the Soup concerns a man who has been brow-beaten by his parents since young.
Sideshow Judy was born together with drummer/guitarist, Ery and bassist, Ramlan. "A lot of kids today have bands before they are 16," observes Chong. "In a way, this has created the intolerance in the scene because there are so many bands and too few concerts to play in. Everyone wants their turn.
"In Singapore, the message to us has been - grow up or you will be left behind. Well, being in a band is also about responsibility. It means at least two hours of rehearsals per week. It's a lot of discipline."
- by Philip Cheah (BigO Sept 1994)
Biography
So, there we were, no band and enthusiasm dripping out of our insides. Ery then hauled in his good friend Ramlan to help out on bass. Since then, his collaboration has become a permanent outfit.
THE NAME
The name Sideshow Judy was taken from a song by The DB's titled "Hardcore Judy". However, hardcore music not being our forte or influence, we changed it to Sideshow Judy, a name much less intimidating since there is a female in the band.
THE MUSIC
Sideshow Judy's music is American-influenced power-pop in the vein of Buffalo Tom and Sugar, aggressive and raw yet with a melodic edge. Song-crafting is shared by all in the studio, but most of the melody structures are written by either Ery or Pauline. Though differently influenced in musical genres, Sideshow Judy's music is a melting pot of influences, desires and musical tolerance.
- Joe Ng
Reviews
Inside Your Insights
(Demo)
The first demo entitled "Eye Matter" (I Matter) was released in August 1994, the demo title being a pun on the selfish and self-centred nature of the society we live in.
The second release from Sideshow Judy, "Inside Your Insights", sees the band taking a maturing step forward in terms of musical abilities and songwriting skills. The inclusion of second guitarist Khairyl Hashim has helped thicken the band's punkish sound as well as enhance the band's pop sensibilities. "Inside" is evidently college rock with jangly guitar pop on songs like "Pomegranate", "Placenta", "Sally's Story" and "Happy Birthday". The main subject matter in this demo discusses love and all the facades of it. Unlike "Eye Matter", whatever teen angst that was present then has now calmed down and the band has taken a change perspective. It is love, the selfishness, obsessiveness and greed of love and its effects on individuals that results in one's actions. The band's music is still diverse, dependent on who the songwriter is, and "Crack" is an example of the chaotic noise Sideshow is capable of. - Joe Ng
