THE LADY
This humble lady from Tamparuli, Sabah devotes herself into music in an early age. Started out learning the guitar and sing at the tender age of 5, she never had a real formal lesson in music before entering college. Her influences came from her own family members, practically by both of her parents and elder siblings, whom play instruments like the guitar and drums for self entertainments. Throughout her teenage times at her hometown, she involved in church choirs and band, songs and plays writing, performing at a local gigs, played for the Sabah’s local traditional group and even learned to play the Caklempong and Gamelan instruments in a special school. The Beatles, Michael Jackson, Roxette, Carpenters, Wilson Philip, Whitney Houston, Madonna, D’loyd and The Mercy’s are among her early music influences.
(Photo by : Alex Tan)
EDUCATION
Entered then, Akademi Seni Kebangsaan, ASK (now ASWARA) on 2003, it was an honoured for her in majoring the Creative Music studies under the guides of among Malaysia’s treasured arranger/composer Ruslan Imam, Datuk Johari Salleh and Prof.Ooi Eow Jin. First-majored instrument in modern/Jazz guitar with gurus like Khair Latiff (Nik) and Isyam Swardy, she uses guitar as the platform for her in music writing and singing. Before started singing Jazz, Joan took a basic study in Classical singing mentored by Khaifiza Abdul Halim, one of the successful student of Syafinaz Selamat and then pursued her Jazz singing lesson with Rohimi Sobeng. Finally, she completed her studies on 2007.
METHOD
Joan officially exposed to Jazz music when she learned the repertoire of Jazz guitar studies back in college. She’s been singing gospel and pop songs before but Jazz is her real favourite for it’s freely flexibility and less stress in performing. Not only depending on college lessons, she did some self studies on Jazz singing through reading, listening and watching not only for the singing methods but in any jazz music sources including theories and instruments playing skills. She believes that the combinations of talents and educations will give the best all out not only for the listeners, but for self satisfactions too.
Never tend to gain fame, this soft spoken lady missions in Jazz singing are sharing, pleasuring and exposing the beauty in Jazz music. Though she doesn't have a big husky voice, but there's something in her soft airy middle tone voice that offers more than just a loud singing to the listeners.
As for her influences, she refers to four greatest Jazz legend singers. Ella Fitzgerald for her brilliant technically tuneful singing, Astrud Gilberto for her simple presentation, Billie Holiday for her intense appreciation in delivering and Sarah Vaughn for her on stage physicals performances. She also favors the singing of Roberta Flack and Randy Crawford. Joan tries to develop all these techniques in her singing and performances to make every on-stage unique, acceptable and fun.
(Photo by : afuphotography (afu007)©) IDOLS
