Written by Amal Murni
In collaboration with Khairee Adlee
Hailed all the way in Lumut, Khairee Adlee has released two EPs in the past few years and has collaborated with several local musicians. Let’s dive in to know him more:
Hello Khairee, for those who are not familiar with you and your work, could you explain to our readers your past projects?
For starters, I am 20 years old. I started publicising my music probably as of early 2018. Started out rapping and I got bored because the genre got oversaturated, so I moved on to doing Pop Punk mixed with a little rap (little inspirations from Sum41 and Zebrahead).
Then I moved on to a poppy sound because why the hell not...? I needed something to express myself and I felt like being poppy (not referring to the artist “Poppy”), I did try getting my metal influences to bleed out a bit but I couldn’t make it work.
Lately however, I've been creating whatever sound I want, so I went back to rapping and did a song with Izzat Hanapi (he's dope, don't sleep on it). I made a song that would be more on the Pop Rap spectrum with 'Zaiana binti Possum'. (no disrespect luv u Zai). Started producing again and made my own blend of Alt. Rap mixing EDM and Hyperpop with Eminem's lyrical miracle spiritual madness.
My first EP was a bunch of unreleased love songs put together. The second EP was half-assed songs, third EP was mainly due to "felt emo, might delete," and fourth EP (not really an e.p) consists of 3 songs so far, which are the latest songs I have on youtube.
The only show I've had so far was along side my friend who had quit making music quite some time ago, not to mention we also shared the stage with a lot of great rappers as well.
What were the albums/ songs/ artists that made you want to write and create music?
Well the first artists/songwriters I actually got into were Avenged Sevenfold. Their songs made me want to learn the drums and guitar, and eventually got an itch to actually make music. Their self-titled album was the one that's tied to my adolescent years (I was about 8-9). But if I really think back, Linkin Park were the real heroes of my childhood. Mike Shinoda was the first rapper I knew and Chester Bennington was the first hardcore vocalist that resonated with me.
Would you consider yourself as an ‘up and comer’? What’s your point of view on the current local music scene ever since Covid-19 started?
I don’t think I would consider myself as an up and comer, that would imply that I have started to garner a certain amount of following, although I don’t know if I have influenced anyone so.
To answer the second half of the question, I think that due to quarantine, people had the chance to take a real good look at themselves and how they fit in to this world that we share.
"And for that reason itself, we now have a better grasp of what we want to do with our music/ art, whether it be a complete change up in style, better story-telling or just trying to release a better message to the world. So I really view it as a much needed time off from the public eye."
We know that you have collaborated with some local musicians - who are you interested in collaborating in the future (local and international)?
As of late, Im thinking of collaborating with people like Chlorine, Thatboy and mostly people from the indie scene. But that’s not to say I don’t want to collaborate with anyone else from other genres. I would totally be up for a collaboration with a local metal band if I could, as long as I have writing-freedom I guess, other than that, I would probably collaborate with anyone as I consider myself as a genre-flexible person.
"There are so many awesome people making interesting shit and giving their views about and to the world, sometimes all it takes is for us to listen."
But if I had to pick an international artist to collaborate with, it would probably be with Bring Me The Horizon.
Would you be so kind to tell our readers your music journey?
In the beginning, I labelled myself as a rapper, making shitty “poetry” and spitting them onto shitty beats trying to be the "next best thing"... but as I grew, I realised that none of that really matters; the fame or clout. Music has really been something to lean on every now and then (if not always). Even when I'm just listening to music, I like to listen to the intricacies being put into it. It’s the crafting of certain frequencies that really get me, and for the 2 years I have been active in my music, I've really learned that it's not just about what's being said in the music, it's also how it's delivered. The emotions conveyed by the vocals and instruments. There are particular frequencies that resonate with something inside all of us and finding that can be difficult whether you are a listener or a creator. I'm just trying to find that sweet-spot and the pocket of frequency that I resonate with most.
Once Covid subsides and gigs are on again, who would you want to open for?
Yo, honestly, I would be happy to simply perform and put my shit out there for display.
It doesn’t matter who I share the stage with... beautiful memories can be made even with the most mundane people (which includes me tbh).
Do you have any advice for aspiring musicians who are intimidated to make music on their own? What are your tips and tricks?
I'd say, just give it a go for yourself. Nothing has to be put on display right on the spot. It takes work and actual effort to seem effortless, not the lack of effort.
Having a blueprint of what you want to create is also helpful, no one can truly tell you what to do with your creations but there's nothing wrong with having training wheels on either.
"You can't create a proper whirlpool without stirring the mug first right?"
Khairee, what are your quirks and pet peeves?
I like to annoy the shit out of people and say absurd things. And I hate people who complain too much. (Like seriously if you cant change something why give it more power? Why cant some people just shut up and take it as it is, and if you cant do that then really do something about it. Change how you react to the situation you’ve been given. I mean there's talking out and figuring out an issue and then there's complaining and doing nothing about it.
Alas, a complaint about people complaining now.
The 9th question is reserved for sprinkles of positivity -- what milestone/s are you proud of this year?
I feel blessed having to meet people that I've heard about since even before I started my musical journey in Brunei. Though I haven't met all of them in person, I do see the impact that they've made, whether they were good or bad, it's not for me to dwell on.
What's important is, I really do feel the community is trying its best to make up for lack of connections in our country. It will need some work, like any other things in life, but progress is always good.
The floor is all yours: let our readers know about your recent/ upcoming project(s), where to find you (social media), and feel free to express yourself here!
Aite, so I got a new song coming out to complete my fourth EP, which will probably be in late December, and if you're a post-hardcore fan then you would want to stay tuned. Following to that, I got a more concept driven collection of sound blending; grunge, punk, EDM, alt. dangdut and stuff like that coming out next year. In the meantime, do follow my Instagram and Twitter and see me try to get myself cancelled, and if you want to check out my music, I got links for daze.
Twitter & IG – Khaireeadlee
Youtube – Lytbulb Association
Links for music - here