In 2013, Ian Francis Khoo, Aiman Shakirin, and Reuben Ravi were 3 pals playing their high school brass band and formed The Filters. The trio expanded into a quartet when guitarist Iain Chan joined the band in 2017 after helping them produce a cover of “Pagi Yang Gelap” by Hujan.
As an independent fractional math rock band, The Filters is well loved for their tenacious onstage presence. Having been featured on Audiotree International and nominated for NME’s Best New Asian Act in 2022, The Filters has been on the trajectory of expanding their soundscape while still applying a “quality control process” to their material. During our conversation with The Filters, we got to learn about the band’s early days, the stories behind their music, and what’s in store in the near future.
Can you remember your first concert? Who was it and how did it make you feel?
The first “concert” we ever played was an open-mic session at The Bee in 2014, a week before the SPM exams. This was before Chan joined the band and we were still a three-piece. We played alongside other up-and-coming bands, one of them being Dé Fusion, a Malaysian post-rock band that blends their post-rock sensibilities with traditional scalings. It was nerve-wracking, to say the least, but it was the first time we got to share our sound with a live audience. Most of our family members were also in attendance which made it all the more special. Unless the context of your question is regarding what is the first concert we attended together as a band. In which case, that would’ve been more recently at Asean Music Festival. Where we had a day to catch a myriad of live bands from all around Asia. A standout being the band Jatayu from India, a jazz fusion band that incorporates traditional Indian music with modern jazz. We felt incredibly blessed to be surrounded by musicians from different walks of life, cultures, and creeds but who all spoke the same language of music. It also made us feel that we should probably spend more time watching shows together.
How much of your songwriting is based on reality, fantasy, or other people’s experiences?
All of our songs are deeply rooted in reality and that includes taking from our personal experiences or the experiences of others. On our debut album “Exhaler”, Ian had written songs for each of us. “Planet Platonic”, which details the dynamics of Reuben’s toxic relationship (and the eventual breakdown of said relationship) with his then-girlfriend. CMC, was written as an observation of Chan’s character and the indignations that he has experienced. “Leave Me Alone”, was written about Ian’s grandfather who was diagnosed with dementia, eventually succumbing to its effects and has sadly passed. And “Cervidae” which was written for Aiman and Reuben about the social pressures of school and the stigma surrounding the pursuit of a music career. As for fantasy? It’s not something we’ve ever delved too deeply into but it’s not something we’d ever be opposed to.
Do you have a favourite lyric from your own songs?
We can all collectively agree on “BZD” as a whole. But a notable excerpt from that track would be: “Life’s slippery grip on you, you’ll just slip right through, she only mourns cause she held you too loose, but death, he’ll welcome you home, and like an old friend, does he hold, cause he’ll never let go.”
What do you do to calm your nerves before a live performance?
Having a drink together (sans Aiman) goes a long way in loosening up our inhibitions onstage. Probably contributes to a lot of the erratic and oftentimes chaotic stage presence we exude. However, if you met us offstage, you’d know that we’re actually very socially inept and awkward. But mainly, we just spend time together beforehand and just talk about how nervous we are. Being nervous is good. The day we stop being nervous before a show is the day that we’ve stopped being musicians.
What have y’all been up to collectively?
We’ve been taking fewer shows this year to focus on the recording of our second album (which we were already writing before “Exhaler” was even released). It’s been good to hunker down in our studio to just work on new material and avoid the social aspects of live shows. So, yes. There are certainly plans to release new music.
What influences determine the style or risks you take in your career?
We’re not really sure what influences have necessarily determined our styles or risks. But the main thing that brought the four of us together was our innate sense to keep evolving and pushing boundaries. And not just the boundaries of Malaysian music but even our own capabilities as musicians. If our new material isn’t forcing us to be better musicians, then are we really progressing? Does that make the newer songs harder to play? Of course. Does it mean that our new sound might alienate older audiences? We’re betting on it. But we have absolutely no interest in repeating ourselves or making an “Exhaler 2.0”. We either evolve or die trying. Hell, pursuing a career in music was already a risk in and of itself. So it’s safe to say that our style has always been to stay risky.
Favourite thing(s) to do on a day off?
We talked about this just a few days ago while waiting to get onstage. You’d never guess that from the music we make that we’re actually the most boring amalgamation of people. We’re not “rock stars” in any sense of the word, we’re just regular people who work regular jobs to provide for our loved ones and contribute back to our families. And what do regular people do on a day off? We sleep. That and we like to walk. A lot. Other than that, Chan races cars occasionally, and Reuben plays the organ for church and weddings.
If a friend from abroad were to visit Malaysia, what food or attractions would you recommend for them to try?
For food? Awah Cafe. It’s a small restaurant in Kuching that serves traditional Bidayuh food. As for attractions, spending a weekend in Cameron Highlands would be chock full of things to do.
Best (most helpful) and worst advice you’ve received.
The best advice would be, don’t stop. Don’t ever stop. For as long as your legs can still stand, for as long as your eyes can stay open, for as long as your heart is still pumping blood into your veins. Don’t ever stop. The worst advice would be, if we don’t write any Malay songs we’ll never have a future in this industry. That was almost 10 years ago now. We’d like to think that we’re doing alright.
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