Local band mux brings to the local stage a sound that is quixotic, artistic and if you get it, it’s music to the ears.
By Penny K
mux is a Singapore-based experimental trio that I found out about through sheer, dumb luck. Their music (which can be sampled through videos on their website) is at once synthetic, rhythmic and lyrical – very intriguing. We asked if we could speak to them to find the answers to all our burning questions, and being the nice guys that they are, they gladly complied.
“Our only compulsion is sharing the experience of listening"
Your videos are a little dark so it’s hard to see but who makes up mux and how did you guys meet?
Haykal: mux is Bani Haykal, Luqman Hakim, Siraaj Anwar. We also have our most awesome collaborator running visuals for performances, Jun. 
Luqman, Siraaj and I have been friends for quite awhile, involved in lots of other un-mux-y affairs before this. mux was formed predominantly to explore other possibilities where it comes to music and text. Jun was my “associate in crime” from National Service, we were in the same office and we practically exploited the equipment we were given. That was happiness. the first major mux performance (What Day Is It Today?) was the result of our brief exploitation off work. Pretty intense year that was for us.
Luqman : I met Haykal through his brother as we were playing in the same band ages ago. How I met Siraaj on the other hand is a long story. First contact was made when I met him at Haykal’s place, he was jamming with a couple of guys then i didnt see him again for awhile even though we went to the same school. Anyways, couple months after our first meeting Siraaj called me reminding me who he was and asked if he can borrow my bass for a gig. For some reason I decided to lend this dude I barely know my bass, well he has this effect on people – makes you want to say yes to him (be warned). He held on to my bass for a couple of years until I eventually sold it to him… for a steal no less.
Siraaj: The 3 of us were in B-quartet and we assisted Haykal on his spoken word performances. Me and Luqman are actually in another band and we invited Haykal to join but he turned the whole situation around and then mux was formed.
That is a long story indeed. How would you describe your music – is it even called that? – because we can’t!
Haykal : Yeah, it’s been a chore for us as well. It could fall under the category of music, because we work predominantly with sounds to write and produce 
music-esque pieces and composition. At the end of the day, everything is based on the ideal of storytelling and music. Sound and design are the mediums we incorporate to tell stories and weave in ambience. Every portion of our pieces is sculpted to represent with purpose. As much as we love to feel our way through music, we also believe in giving our pieces thought before crafting them.
Luqman : I’d say we go through phases. From electronica to jazz then folk..
Siraaj : How about post-jazzy, folky, electronica rock??
What are some gigs you’ve performed at?
Because we often write for performances, our gigs do not fit into the typical ‘band gig’ arrangement. Some of our past works include What Day Is It Today (The Studios 2009, The Esplanade’s Theatre Studio) The Unpressionist (Imprimatura, The Substation Theatre) and people without people (The Substation Theatre). We’ve had a solo showcase where we featured our individual compositions at Raw Kitchen, an opening act for Spartak and a couple of shows at Home Club.
How was it working on City Scapes* ?
* a sound design project with Perspektif for the Singapore Design Festival 2009 in collaboration with Singapore Assocation of the Visually Handicapped (SAVH)
Haykal : It was one of our works that involved a process. We did a lot of brainstorming, designing and writing the piece. Working with Alex (a guy from SAVH) made us see music for its most basic and primitive function which is to be listened to. In popular music today, music is built primarily around the concept of image, a physical representation which in many ways has very little relevance to music itself. It made us see music for what it really is, making it really rewarding.
Luqman : I really enjoy doing sound design and scoring so City Scapes was very enjoyable for me. Of course it was challenging and the thought process 
was insane, but it always is. Coming up with an idea, concept, motive or whatever you want to call it is always demanding but that’s how we approach our projects. Writing for the sake of writing is baseless; like an M. Night Shyamalan movie, it’s good but somehow always has room for being better.
Siraaj : It was fulfilling and challenging at the same time. It does open up your mind about how we take our lives for granted sometimes. It was a fun adventure all in all.
Let’s talk infrastructure. What would you say are the challenges of being performing artists in Singapore?
Haykal : I think that it’s thoroughly competitive, and most of the time for no reason at all, so it has been a chore for us just trying to get our works out and be able to sustain the production’s process and ourselves at the same time should there be no willing generous partisan so support the cause. I’ve got to admit that we’re very fortunate to be taken in by The Substation’s Associate Artists’ Program, that gives us more room to experiment and work. It’s the best thing that’s happened to us. We will not doubt the fact that it’s been hard trying to get our work around, but if we’ve got to struggle, I guess the beginning’s the best time for it.
Luqman : Locals are not well informed on the goings-on of local art. Besides the obvious lack of marketing for local artistes, organisations are afraid to push boundaries.Children are not brought up with enough arts surrounding them in their everyday lives. The art and music classes in primary and secondary schools are just there as part of curriculum. You are not taught drawing or painting techniques; instead you are told, “Ok today you’ll draw this basket of fruit”. and whoever draws best gets better marks. It’s not like English, Math or Science where teachers teach and you as a student are asked to practise and know your past tense, idioms, equations, formulas.
Siraaj : People here are not open to the arts and people who are supposed to promote the arts tend to take safer routes than explore new boundaries. There are not much avenues for us to showcase our performances.
Fast facts
What is one thing Penny’s Daybook readers MUST know about mux?
Haykal : We are broke.
Luqman : We look unapproachable but we are very friendly if you talk to us.
Siraaj : We are very poor so please support us so that we can have our Macdonald’s breakfast.
Why the name mux?
Luqman : You’d think I would know that! (Laughs) Haykal told me once but I forgot. Mr Haykal, if you would please..
Haykal : It comes from the word “multiplex”, as an adjective, which means consisting of many elements in a complex relationship. Also, it’s got a cute ring to it.
Are you annoyed with our invasive questions?
Haykal : Not really, probe on.
Luqman : Not at all.
Who counts as mux’s inspirations
Haykal : Off the top of my head, on my end at least, old Disney , Charlie Kaufman, Bjork, Terry Gilliam, The Books, Theodor Adorno, Richard Stallman, Ayn Rand.
Luqman : We have different inspirations but the one thing that’s universal: we all like old Disney movies and soundtracks.
Siraaj : Everyday life accounts.
Bani Haykal has a published book of poems, how cool is that?
Haykal : Read it at the library! It’s loanable!
Luqman : That is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G.
Siraaj : Awesooooome!
Thanks guys, we wish you all the very best!
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