WAS IT ENOUGH - THE ALBUM
Reening's debut album Was It Enough (supported by CENDANA), released on August 6th, 2021! A collection of 10 tracks of his originals with a mixture of pop, blues, soul and R&B, this album is made for a groove induced adventure.
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Reening's favourite picks:
1. Was It Enough
2. Say What You Know
3. Leave It All Behind
4. Follow The Escape.
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Borneo English Top 10:
Was It Enough peaked at #1 and Leave It All Behind is now on the list as well!
Artwork by Sarah N.
WAS IT ENOUGH
Moving ever closer to the imminent release of his debut album, Sarawakian-born singer songwriter Reening Lau is set to release his first single off the album. 'Was It Enough' is a blend of pop, soul and funk with a latin twist and is bound to keep listeners grooving along to it's attractive rhythm. "Back in 2015, I was still working an office job as a junior architect and had to deal with my issues on dealing with perfectionism. While trying to capture the initial concept of the song, I had the line, "Was it, was it, was it enough" just repeating itself to me constantly, a by-product of me wondering if the amount of work I did at the time was enough to reach a satisfactory standard. I then decided to solidify the ideas into a song. Brought out my acoustic during one magical night of writing and the song was materialised in under an hour." - Reening Lau
In terms of the album release, 'Was it Enough' was intended to be the first song off the album as it was the most attention grabbing. This first single can described as an channeling one's uncertainties and fears into a positive force that enables one to release themselves from the trap of being perfect. The chorus of the song is one of the main highlights as its catchy melodies and riffs and allows for the audience to quickly grasp it for a fantastic singalong session (should the need arise) and it stays within the minds of the listeners long after the first listen. 'This song wouldn't have been able to see the light off day without the many creative talents who were involved with the project' continues Reening. From punchy basslines and dynamic drums to latin infused piano melodies and soaring guitar lines, 'Was It Enough' is bound to keep you on your toes and asking for more.
WAS IT ENOUGH - MUSIC VIDEO
Video shot and recorded at AOK records.
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Video directed by Jeremy Jecky.
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Lyrics and music by Reening Lau
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Mixed and Mastered by Hairul Hasnan.
Artwork by Sarah N.
Leave It All Behind
The second single off Reening’s debut album, ‘Leave It All Behind,’ builds up on the rising momentum of ‘Was It Enough.’ ‘Leave It All Behind’ is a tune made for the biggest festivals and draws its inspiration from the current lockdown scenario, with neo-soul RnB inflections and a twinge of rock-fuelled anthem singalongs.
This song captures the feeling of frustration and the determination to break out of one’s of field of comfort and complacency to strive for their goals and ambitions in life. It carries a slightly more laidback feel compared to Reening first single, ‘Was it Enough’ but is still similar in terms of its attractively syncopated groove that riles up one’s emotions.
“I wanted to write a song that effectively portrays what I dealt with during the earlier part of the pandemic, where I would go about doing nothing aimlessly due to the cancellations of public gatherings and live music. This song is a reminder as well as a means of venting out my frustrations with both the situation and myself.”
With its catchy and easy to sing along melodies, tasty guitar licks and anthemic hook, ‘Leave it all behind’ is an anthem made for the masses, and it is looking to be one of the songs to truly break Reening’s sound into the mainstream.
LEAVE IT ALL BEHIND - LYRIC VIDEO
Lyric Video created by Qibbs Art.
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Lyrics and music by Reening Lau
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Mixed and Mastered by Hairul Hasnan.
PRESS RELEASE
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Armed with just his will, his voice, and a guitar as his weapon of choice, Reening aims to make a name for himself in the independent music scene. Hailing from Sarawak, Malaysia, Reening’s interest in music was inherited from his Lunbawang (Dayak) heritage. His journey has been a rather unconventional adventure as he initially started out in a design-based practice (Architecture) but manoeuvered away to pursue music, his long-time passion.
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He graduated from the University of York with a Masters in Music Production and has a good grasp on producing, mixing and mastering tracks. But his talents aren’t confined to just being behind the mixing desk. He also makes frequent appearances in the local music scene as a performer—be it at open mics or featured shows—honing his skills as he performs set after set. Through his efforts, he has garnered a few notable achievements, among which include being a finalist for Feedback Open Mic (KL, Malaysia), a featured artist at Sitok Kuching! and successfully passing through to the second-round auditions of The Voice, UK.
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In early 2020, Reening released his first EP, Was it Enough. The EP was an experiment in manipulating different musical ideas, from a groovy funk dance number to an instrumental math rock experience. This release represented his first step in creating an identity for himself as a songwriter and musician, as well as embracing the aspect of accepting one’s flaws and imperfections. “When you have this idea of crafting the perfect song, it will never be good enough and you sacrifice the chance to share your music and grow as an artist.”
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Fast forward to 2021, with the assistance from CENDANA through its independent music funding programme, Reening and his team are ready to share the album version of 'Was It Enough.' Featuring 10 songs, 5 newly written pieces coupled with 5 of the original songs from the EP which went through rearrangements and remastering, the creative talents behind this album are a force to be reckoned with. The album was released on the 6th of August and is available on multiple streaming platforms!
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Even with the pandemic causing a halt for live shows, Reening has taken up new arms to adapt to the situation in the form of online shows/virtual streams. He has a performed few ticketed events with Peatix Live as his platform and is also a regular user on clubhouse. A notable achievement this year was reaching the semi-finals of the ‘ClubHouse Got Talent’ competition as well as being a featured act for Malaysia’s on Nada Music's 18th Open mic! (27th August 2021)
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Reening’s music brings about surprise and intrigue as his songs takes listeners through a multitude of styles. From bluesy rock solos to smooth and soulful R&B, he aims to set the mood with each endeavour. However, one thing remains constant in all his projects: the guitar is the main driving force behind his creative ideas. His song writing is influenced by human relationships, questions of purpose and the occasional need for creative outburst. With his expertise in forming sophisticated and gruelling guitar lines and a voice that brings about a charismatic baritone charm, Reening is sure to impress the audience and deliver an exciting performance.
Reening Lau (Vocals and Guitar)
Hairul Hasnan (Drums & Programming, Producer),
Benzie Jorai (Bass, SWYK, TL, OAM, NM),
Vie Everollah (Bass, WIE, NTS, LID, LIAB), Damian Paul (Keyboards),
Moses De Silva (Bass, FTE)
Vangelis Tikka (Keyboards, WIE)
Farouk Kamil (Recording Engineer, AOK Records)
Recorded at AOK Records, Kuching, Sarawak.
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Horns (NM):
MNaim - Trumpet
Imran Aiman - Alto
Shahrizan - Tenor
Ziaf - Trombone
4 horns arranged by Ziaf
Carlyle Fedelis Backing Vocals (LIAB, TL, NM)
Backing vocals recorded at Soundlab Studios by Hezron Dirman.
Mixed and Mastered by Hairul Hasnan.
All songs composed by Reening Lau.
Album cover photo by Jane Chang Photography
Album artwork and design by Sarah Ngui
WIE = Was it Enough, NTS = None to Spare, LID = Let it Decide, LIAB = Leave it all behind, OAM = One Amongst Many, SWYK = Say what you know, FTE = Follow the escape, NM = Notice me, TL = The Limit