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At the time, Hay, despite a great reputation with stringed instruments, had not worked with violins before. Lau said for any musician, having an instrument custom-made for them presents many challenges, such as getting the right balance of character, playability, and tone.<ref name=":14">{{Cite web |last=harrywalsh |date=2016-06-28 |title=Epic adventure brings Malaysian musician to Donegal |url=https://donegalnews.com/epic-adventure-brings-malaysian-musician-to-donegal/ |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=Donegal News |language=en-US}}</ref> "I had been holding the idea of a violin that would wrap around your body for support, so I suggested making a Phoenix and Dennis agreed that it was a perfect symbol to represent his music and his journey and rebirth as a musician," Hay says, "We spent a few months discussing the design and then Dennis travelled all the way from Malaysia to Ireland to have the violin fitted to his body. It was more like tailoring a suit than building an instrument."<ref name=":12" />
At the time, Hay, despite a great reputation with stringed instruments, had not worked with violins before. Lau said for any musician, having an instrument custom-made for them presents many challenges, such as getting the right balance of character, playability, and tone.<ref name=":14">{{Cite web |last=harrywalsh |date=2016-06-28 |title=Epic adventure brings Malaysian musician to Donegal |url=https://donegalnews.com/epic-adventure-brings-malaysian-musician-to-donegal/ |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=Donegal News |language=en-US}}</ref> "I had been holding the idea of a violin that would wrap around your body for support, so I suggested making a Phoenix and Dennis agreed that it was a perfect symbol to represent his music and his journey and rebirth as a musician," Hay says, "We spent a few months discussing the design and then Dennis travelled all the way from Malaysia to Ireland to have the violin fitted to his body. It was more like tailoring a suit than building an instrument."<ref name=":12" />


The 23K gold-plated and peridot studded phoenix electric violin that was the result made it's debut at Lau's first large-scale concert, "Dennis Lau & Friends: The Phoenix Rising", held in Kuala Lumpur in October 2016,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-08-29 |title=Dennis Lau to hold large scale concert with all-star talents |url=https://sg.style.yahoo.com/dennis-lau-hold-large-scale-070400708.html |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=sg.style.yahoo.com |language=en-SG}}</ref> which Hay and his wife attended as special guests.<ref name=":13" /> In his signature style, the concert featured several mixed ensembles, showcasing the array of talent Lau has collaborated with over the years, including Ning Baizura, Jimmy Sax, Syafinaz Selamat, Atilia and Soo Wincci.<ref name=":14" /> In fact, Lau set a record for the most number of music collaborations by an instrumentalist in the Malaysia Book of Records at the concert.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-03-21 |title=Biola Konsert ‘The Chosen’ Dennis Lau – Cecah Harga Ratusan Ribu Ringgit |url=https://rileklah.com/node/3460 |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=Rileklah.com}}</ref> Alongside musicians, Lau, with Jennifer Thompson as producer and notable composer Audrey Suwito as music director, incorporated rhythmic gymnasts and speed painters into the performances, with some 2000 people attending.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rising to the top |url=https://thesun.my/archive/2053136-KTARCH406857 |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=thesun.my |language=en-MY}}</ref>
The 23K gold-plated and peridot studded phoenix electric violin that was the result made it's debut at Lau's first large-scale concert, "Dennis Lau & Friends: The Phoenix Rising", held in Kuala Lumpur in October 2016,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-08-29 |title=Dennis Lau to hold large scale concert with all-star talents |url=https://sg.style.yahoo.com/dennis-lau-hold-large-scale-070400708.html |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=sg.style.yahoo.com |language=en-SG}}</ref> which Hay and his wife attended as special guests.<ref name=":13" /> In his signature style, the concert featured several mixed ensembles, showcasing the array of talent Lau has collaborated with over the years, including Ning Baizura, Jimmy Sax, Syafinaz Selamat, Atilia and Soo Wincci.<ref name=":14" /> In fact, Lau set a record for the most number of music collaborations by an instrumentalist in the Malaysia Book of Records at the concert.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-03-21 |title=Biola Konsert ‘The Chosen’ Dennis Lau – Cecah Harga Ratusan Ribu Ringgit |url=https://rileklah.com/node/3460 |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=Rileklah.com}}</ref> Alongside musicians, Lau, with Jennifer Thompson as producer and notable composer Audrey Suwito as music director, incorporated rhythmic gymnasts and speed painters into the performances, with some 2000 people attending.<ref name=":24">{{Cite web |title=Rising to the top |url=https://thesun.my/archive/2053136-KTARCH406857 |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=thesun.my |language=en-MY}}</ref>


In May 2016, Lau was selected by the Malaysian External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) to represent the country as a delegate to Marché International du Disque et de l'Edition Musicale (MIDEM) in Cannes, France. Selected based on his achievements and track record in spearheading his music company Mosaic Music Entertainment, Lau found the time to visit Hay in Ireland for preliminary discussions over the phoenix violin as a detour from Cannes.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chua |first=Dennis |date=2016-05-31 |title=Paperplane Pursuit, Bunkface and Dennis Lau to attend Cannes' Midem {{!}} New Straits Times |url=https://www.nst.com.my/news/2016/05/148850/paperplane-pursuit-bunkface-and-dennis-lau-attend-cannes-midem |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=NST Online |language=en}}</ref>
In May 2016, Lau was selected by the Malaysian External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) to represent the country as a delegate to Marché International du Disque et de l'Edition Musicale (MIDEM) in Cannes, France. Selected based on his achievements and track record in spearheading his music company Mosaic Music Entertainment, Lau found the time to visit Hay in Ireland for preliminary discussions over the phoenix violin as a detour from Cannes.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chua |first=Dennis |date=2016-05-31 |title=Paperplane Pursuit, Bunkface and Dennis Lau to attend Cannes' Midem {{!}} New Straits Times |url=https://www.nst.com.my/news/2016/05/148850/paperplane-pursuit-bunkface-and-dennis-lau-attend-cannes-midem |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=NST Online |language=en}}</ref>
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His second album released in 2015 "The Journey" was a contemporary R&B album, showcasing an experimentation with electronic dance music (EDM),<ref name=":22" /> and during the "Dennis Lau & Friends: The Chosen" concert in 2019, Lau arranged and performed with artists singing in three languages, Malay, Mandarin and English.<ref name=":23" />
His second album released in 2015 "The Journey" was a contemporary R&B album, showcasing an experimentation with electronic dance music (EDM),<ref name=":22" /> and during the "Dennis Lau & Friends: The Chosen" concert in 2019, Lau arranged and performed with artists singing in three languages, Malay, Mandarin and English.<ref name=":23" />


This eclecticism shows itself also in Lau's penchant for a broad range of unlikely collaborations, teaming up with the beatboxer Shawn Lee as early as 2010.<ref name=":21" /> In an interview with New Straits Times in 2010, Lau says "I don't like to play solo. Collaborations make it better because t's not focused on one performer."<ref name=":20" />
This eclecticism shows itself also in Lau's penchant for a broad range of unlikely collaborations, teaming up with the beatboxer Shawn Lee as early as 2010.<ref name=":21" /> In an interview with New Straits Times in 2010, Lau says "I don't like to play solo. Collaborations make it better because t's not focused on one performer."<ref name=":20" /> The 2016 "Dennis Lau & Friends: The Phoenix Rising" concert featured rhythmic gymnasts and speed painters,<ref name=":24" /> while the "Dennis Lau & Friends: The Chosen" concert three years later featured a magic show as the opening act.<ref name=":23" />

He's worked


=== Violins ===
=== Violins ===

Revision as of 16:15, 29 March 2024

Dennis Lau
Born9 September 1985
Ipoh, Malaysia
Occupation(s)Violinist, Pianist, Composer, Producer and Entrepreneur
Years active2006 - Present
Known forCollaborations with local artists and stunning, energetic live performances.
Websitehttps://dennislau.thechosen.io/

Dennis Lau (born 9 September 1985) is a Malaysian electric violinist, pianist, songwriter and producer based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Known for his explosive stage performances with the violin, he released his maiden album "DiversiFy" in 2009, featuring an eclectic mix of musical genres and collaborating with several notable local artists. Lau is regarded as a patron of the arts, grooming young musicians and pursuing a broad range of collaborations. In 2011, Lau made his film debut in Namewee's "Nasi Lemak 2.0" starring as Lan Qiao.

...

Childhood and Early Life

Dennis Lau was born on 9 September 1985 in Teluk Intan, Ipoh, Perak as the only son (?) to (?), a corporate figure, and Chuah Chai Eng, a pianist. He was three when he first started playing the piano, guided by his mother, and at age eight he moved onto his signature instrument, the violin. An instrument, he says, that most resembles the human voice, with it's versatility in diverse genres.[1]

His mother was thrilled at Lau's enthusiasm and talent when approaching the piano and violin, but as his interest waned, hers intensified.[2] "She forced me everyday to play the piano and violin," Lau recalls.[3] "By the age of ten I hated it," Lau admits, "I totally rebelled, but I had no choice." He would return from school to practice scales, while meal times were spent poring over musical theory and committing them to memory.[2]

Lau went on to obtain several diplomas in classical piano, including the ATCL (Associate of Trinity College London), AMusA (Associate Diploma in Music, Australia), ABRSM (Associate Board of the Royal Schools of Music) and LGSM (Licentiate of the Guildhall of Music, hons.).[4] Under the tutelage of prominent violin instructors Nora Kim and Andrew Chye, he became one of the youngest pianists to reach Grade 8 at 11 years old.[5] The young protégé was Award Winner for Outstanding Performance in the LTCL and FTCL examinations at the Trinity College of London.[6]

After his secondary studies, he decided to further his music education, saying that he was "very bad" at academics, and music was the only thing he could "pass".[3]

Education

Lau attended UCSI University in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and graduated in 2006 with a Bachelors in Music under the Newcastle Australian Music Degree Program,[6] having studied violin in the School of Music. The release of his limited edition album DiversiFy in 2010 included a short film screened at the university. Lau says his time at university was "extremely innovative" and provided him "an encouraging environment to try out new ideas". [7]

During this period, Lau performed as a soloist with the Universiti Malaya Symphony Orchestra (UMSO) in the presence of Duli Yang Maha Mulia Sultan Azlan Shah. He was also actively involved as a regular secessionist with the RTM Orchestra and National Symphony Orchestra, while holding the first violin position for the Malaysian Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (MPYO).[4]

Outside of playing with orchestras, Lau began performing at weddings, hotel lounges and corporate events to make ends meet. Lau recalls, "My first gig was at a hotel in KL. I played to an empty crowd every night but that didn't put me off as I was determined to make the extra money."[8]

Career

2007–2009: Pre-Debut

In 2007, while in Bangkok for a vacation, the inspiration for Lau's first original song "I Just Wanna" came to him suddenly. "When I returned to KL, I immediately called my friends to find a studio where I could express the tune in my head," Lau reminisces. "It sounded very special to me since it was my original creation and I had not had my own music recorded at that time." From then, Lau began composing more and more songs, which he would later compile into his first album "DiversiFy".[8]

In the years following his graduation, he began making appearances at high-profile events as a performer,[9] notably for Dato' Sri Khalid bin Mohamed Jiwa and Dato' Siti Nurhaliza's first wedding anniversary. Demonstrating his later inclination to pursue unlikely collaborations, Lau teamed up with local jazz band James Boyle and the Ragged Tigers, for both the Penang Island Jazz Festival and the Genting International Jazz festival.[10]

In the same year, he founded entertainment company Mosaic Music Entertainment and production company Mosaic Movie Productions.[5] In 2008, Lau performed again in the presence of Duli Yang Maha Mulia Sultan Azlan Shah, dedicating a melody for the Sultan's mother on her birthday.[11]

Debut

In November 2009, Lau released his maiden album "DiversiFy", featuring classical music fused with elements of jazz, hip-hop and R&B.[8] The album was recorded over a period of two years, with Lau preferring to compose and record track by track. "I wanted it to be based on my experiences and the people I've met."[11] As a result, the album was recorded all over the region, in Beijing, Guangzhou, studios in Singapore, and Kuala Lumpur.[8][11] Sony Music Entertainment Malaysia signed Lau and acted as distributors of DiversiFy, making Lau the first instrumental artist signed with Sony in Malaysia. DiversiFy won the award for Best Producer at the Voice Independent Music Awards (VIMA) 2009.[10]

Lau began performing internationally, giving a mesmerizing performance to Star World's Asia Uncut Programme hosted by Jon Niermann in Shanghai. He initiated his first international collaboration in 2009, with David Tao during his "Love Can" concert.[10]

2010–2015: A Budding Star

Following the success of his first album, Lau released DiversiFy Limited Edition in November 2010, which included two trailers, behind-the-scenes footage, an exclusive soundtrack[7] and three bonus tracks. This featured collaborations for "Syukur" with Altimet, and "Reflection" with saxophonist Jimmy Sax. Lau produced his first short film with award-nominated director Adrian Lai, titled "Prelude in F Minor", after one of the songs in the album, starring television personality Daphne Iking and drama regular Steve Yap Lau. His alma mater, USCI University, screened the film in conjunction with the limited edition release.[12]

Now developing a signature style, Lau began another unlikely collaboration with Malaysian beatboxer Shawn Lee in 2010. "We met at an event late last year and just decided to start jamming here one night. It drove the neighbors crazy but we figured we could really do a collaboration from then," Lau recalls. Playing the violin against Lee's thumping rhythms, a series of collaboration projects called "Unity of Arts" took off.[13] "I love hip-hop and R&B but I am classically trained," Lau says, "so I decided to blend them together."[8] This habit of pursuing improbable collaborations and exploring the spaces between musical genres would remain persistent traits in Lau's career.

In 2011, Lau pivoted and made his film debut in Namewee's "Nasi Lemak 2.0", starring as the villain "Lan Qiao".[10] The film follows a chef who tries to learn a secret recipe to improve his business.[14] The low-budget film premiered in Melbourne, Australia on Malaysia's National Day, 31 August 2011, then later in Malaysian cinemas on 8 September 2011. [15] The film was hugely successful, reaping RM7 million,[16] however it faced some controversy at it's screening, with one occasion taking place in Ipoh involving a involving a group calling themselves the Pertubuhan Gagasan Rakyat Didahulukan Negeri Perak (The Perak People First Alliance Society).[15]

Lau gave several notable performances in this period. He was asked to open for Adam Lambert at Bukit Jalil Stadium, Kuala Lumpur during his Asia tour in 2010. In 2011, he collaborated with Malaysian hardstyle duo DJ Bass Agents at Crown Casino Melbourne for the Merdeka celebrations in Australia. He was a guest artist at the prestigious Islamic Fashion Festival held in London, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, as well as giving a Special Performance by Invitation for Her Majesty, Seri Paduka Baginda Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Nur Zahirah in Istana Terengganu, Kuala Lumpur.[10]

In 2012, Lau recommenced his spree of performing in the presence of royalty, playing at the Installation Ceremony of the King at Istana Negara, the official residence of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the monarch of Malaysia. He performed during the royal visit by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and Kate Middleton. Lau also performed as a guest artist for several international artists, including MC Jin's "My Dream" concert in Kuala Lumpur[10] and Japanese rock musician Miyavi.[17]

In August, Lau released a new pop single and music video titled "Gotcha Style", combining elements of art with music. Collaborating with Moots of Pop Shuvit, Thanuja Ananthan the Miss World Malaysia 2009 and acclaimed fashion designer Bernard Chandran,[10] the single, distributed by Sony Music Entertainment debuted on 12th August 2012 on Malaysian radio station HITZ.FM English Chart.[5] In the same month, Lau starred in Namewee's second movie, Hantu Gangster, which hit cinemas nationwide. The film featured an array of local celebrities, including Farid Kamil, Amber Chia, Reshmonu and MizzNina.[16]

Throughout this time, Lau continues to invest time and effort into his entertainment company Mosaic Music Entertainment, making a name for himself in entrepreneurial circles and bagging the Rising Star Awards Outstanding Performance Artiste of the Year at the McMillan Woods Global Awards 2013,[18] his first among many from the entrepreneurship awards body.[19] In the same year, he went on to star in Jason Kok's film "Fantasia", taking the supporting role of Lin Lai Feng, a violinist.[20]

In 2014, Lau collaborated with the National Department for Culture and Arts (JKKN) of Malaysia to publish "A Malaysian Journey", an album with classic Malay songs featuring famous artists including Amy Search, Dato' Siti Nurhaliza, Ning Baizura and Dato' David Arumugam.[21] The following year, he released an international version of the album, simply titled "The Journey".[9] "The Journey is like a personal album which charts my musical adventure from the age of 3 when I first started learning to play the piano," Lau says. The album took five years to produce, compiled into 10 songs produced in collaboration with local artists, including Jojo Struys, Abigail Chew, Michael Leaner, Soo Wincci, Edmond Chong, Yuri Wong, Moots[22] and the award-winning, LA-based producer and songwriter Tat Tong. One of the tracks closest to Lau's heart is "My Mama Says", written by Lau himself featuring the vocals of Crystal Lee.[23] The song released on Mother's Day, with Lau dedicating it to his mother's nurturing.[24]

Lau won a series of awards in this period, securing the Brand Laureate Grand Master Brand Icon Leadership Awards in 2014,[18] the ASEAN Leading Violinist Performer 2014 from the ASEAN Retail Chains and Franchise Federation (ARFF), followed by the Global Music Entrepreneur Icon of The Year in the Global Branding Awards in 2015.[25] Lau won several more awards from the McMillan Woods Global Awards body, including the Global Music Entrepreneur Icon of the Year Award in the Masterclass category and the Icon in Contemporary Instrumental Music Award in 2015.[18] In August, Lau spoke for the first time at TEDxTARUC (Tunku Abdul Rahman University College) in Kuala Lumpur.[26]

2016–2019: A Phoenix Rises

After six years of consideration, Lau finally decides in 2016 to commission renowned luthier Alistair Hay of the acclaimed Emerald Guitars to build a custom-made violin.[27] "Just like a soul mate, a musician's instrument plays a very important role in the development of the player's voice and personality," he says.[28] After seeing Chinese artist Wang Leehom unveil his iconic silver dragon guitar "Bahamut" on his Music Man tour, also custom-made by Alistair Hay, Lau was inspired to build a custom six-string violin that could rival the stage presence of Bahamut.[27] Lau sought out Hay, based in Donegal, Ireland, to begin development.

At the time, Hay, despite a great reputation with stringed instruments, had not worked with violins before. Lau said for any musician, having an instrument custom-made for them presents many challenges, such as getting the right balance of character, playability, and tone.[29] "I had been holding the idea of a violin that would wrap around your body for support, so I suggested making a Phoenix and Dennis agreed that it was a perfect symbol to represent his music and his journey and rebirth as a musician," Hay says, "We spent a few months discussing the design and then Dennis travelled all the way from Malaysia to Ireland to have the violin fitted to his body. It was more like tailoring a suit than building an instrument."[27]

The 23K gold-plated and peridot studded phoenix electric violin that was the result made it's debut at Lau's first large-scale concert, "Dennis Lau & Friends: The Phoenix Rising", held in Kuala Lumpur in October 2016,[30] which Hay and his wife attended as special guests.[28] In his signature style, the concert featured several mixed ensembles, showcasing the array of talent Lau has collaborated with over the years, including Ning Baizura, Jimmy Sax, Syafinaz Selamat, Atilia and Soo Wincci.[29] In fact, Lau set a record for the most number of music collaborations by an instrumentalist in the Malaysia Book of Records at the concert.[31] Alongside musicians, Lau, with Jennifer Thompson as producer and notable composer Audrey Suwito as music director, incorporated rhythmic gymnasts and speed painters into the performances, with some 2000 people attending.[32]

In May 2016, Lau was selected by the Malaysian External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) to represent the country as a delegate to Marché International du Disque et de l'Edition Musicale (MIDEM) in Cannes, France. Selected based on his achievements and track record in spearheading his music company Mosaic Music Entertainment, Lau found the time to visit Hay in Ireland for preliminary discussions over the phoenix violin as a detour from Cannes.[33]

This period saw Lau focus on music production and performing. In 2017, Lau's single "The Destination" featuring vocalist Esmond Chong hit number one on the Malaysian radio station HITZ.FM MET10 charts.[34] In 2018, Lau saw increasing collaboration with Singaporean musician Hanjin Tan on several songs, "Lafite", "Da Call", and "You Are The Most Beautiful".[35] The music video for an earlier track the duo composed entitled "Marry Me" was produced by Lau's Mosaic Entertainment Group and directed by Patrick Low, who actually filmed it in Donegal when Lau went to visit in 2016.[27] Lau also returned to collaborate with Namewee, this time with a track and a music video, "One and Only", which released in April 2018.[36] He also won more awards from the McMillan Woods Global Awards body, taking the Entertainer Entrepreneur of the Year in 2017,[37] then the Music and Content Production Excellence Award in 2018, for his work in the music industry.[38]

Following on from the phoenix violin, Lau commissioned two more violins with Hay. Revisiting the dragon theme with the creation of "Suilleach", a six-string silver dragon violin, and "The Chosen", a simpler, more elegant design for ease of travel.[39] In March 2019, Lau initiated a collaboration with Adam Izzy and award-winning producer Tat Tong to produce a track and music video of the same name, "The Chosen",[40] and by June, Lau put together another full concert, titled: "Dennis Lau & Friends: The Chosen".[41]

Lau, with Jennifer Thompson as producer once again, chose to feature a more powerful and emotive roster of young talents, including Aisyah Aziz, Jeryl Lee, Dewi Seriestha, Lee Elaine, Dennis Yin, NAMA, and Fara Dolhadi.[41] The all-Malaysian, multi-racial blend of artists rendered Malay, English and Chinese songs and featured a partnership with education NGO Teach For Malaysia (TFM). Sharing a common goal with TFM of empowering underprivileged students, four pupils with musical talent were scouted from TFM schools and given a six-month Masterclass and Mentorship Programme in vocal and performance training by Lau and Fara Dolhadi. The students then made special appearances at the concert, finally coming together with other artists to sing the specially composed song "Esok", which have themes of seeking opportunity in life, meant to inspire the younger generation from underprivileged backgrounds.[41][42]

Lau also debuted "The Chosen" violin at the concert. For this third commission, Lau gave Hay free creative direction, and the result was a violin sleek and silver, with a body carved in the shape of a teardrop, the lightest and most transportable of Lau's three violins. The phoenix and dragon violins, while impressive, proved to be a logistical nightmare. "When Alistair came up with this design, I didn't expect it," Lau admits, "I just asked for it to be practical. It cannot be like the previous ones."[43] The concert featured a magic show as an opening act, by Asia's Got Talent finalist Sobhi Shaker. The concert was well received, with a portion of ticket proceeds going to T4M to support it's mission to end education inequality.[44]

Lau continued to put on notable shows in this period. He performed at the 20th Hong Kong Handover Anniversary in 2017.[45] He also performed for the First Lady of Malaysia Tun Siti Hasmah and Dr.Mahatir bin Mohamad's—the then Prime Minister of Malaysia and oldest statesman in the world—63rd wedding anniversary, gifting a violin to the First Lady alongside Dato' Siti Nurhaliza.[46]

2020–2021: Pandemic Years

In March 2020, as the COVID-19 virus begins to affect the South East Asian region, especially after the four-day "Itjima Tabligh" religious gathering at Masjid Jamek Sri Petaling in Kuala Lumpur which saw 14,500 Malaysians attending an event where 40 tested positive,[47] Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin declared the first nationwide lockdown, dubbed the Movement Control Order (MCO).[48] In hindsight, the lockdown, which later became known as "MCO 1.0", almost led to a total economic collapse. [49]

The gig economy was devastated, and Lau was no exception, with an instant halt in all performances and projects. "During the pandemic and MCO period, the first two weeks specifically, I was really down.[50] Music is my passion and the freeze on live performances was like an artistic imprisonment for me.[51] Feeling unproductive is possibly the worst feeling ever. But, this period also allowed me to pen my senses and observe what possibilities are around me that could be productive and to add value to," he says. Guided by opportunity, Lau starts "My Chicken Shop", turning him into a free-range chicken supplier overnight.[50] In the course of the pandemic and the later MCO 2.0 and 3.0, this project later evolved into "Ah Lau Food King" and involved a larger roster of products, including condiments and fresh seafood supplied to households and local Chinese restaurants.[51]

Since 2022

As the pandemic eases in Malaysia, Lau opens 2022 by starring in Namewee's "Nasi Lemak 1.0", the sequel to the 2011 film "Nasi Lemak 2.0", returning again as the villain Lan Qiao.[52] In 2023, Lau held an intimate performance at the Jao Tim Restaurant along Jalan Sultan in Kuala Lumpur, arranging several ensembles again in his signature style in a special "Dennis Lau & Friends" showcase.[53]

The same year, Lau initiates a collaboration with Datuk Syafinaz Selamat on a single "Glory", with the help of his long-time lyricist "Tesh" Tinta (?). The song was composed as a tribute and a celebration to Malaysian athletes, and would take over a year to complete.[54] In July, "Tesh" Tinta (?) tragically passed away,[55] unexpectedly leaving "Glory" his final project with Lau and this deeply affected the violinist, who had a unique and extensive working relationship with him. "Glory" released in January 2024.[54]

Presently, Lau continues performing at notable functions and events in the South East Asian region while managing his food businesses and entertainment company as an entrepreneur in the meantime.

Artistry

Style

Over the years, Lau develops a signature style that comes to characterize his approach to music and performance. As early as 2009, with the release of his first album DiversiFy, Lau said "I love hip-hop and R&B but I am classically trained, so I decided to blend them together."[8] The album has elements of classical music fused with jazz, hip-hop and R&B, which demonstrate Lau's natural inclination to eclecticism in art.[18] The first album is titled "DiversiFy" because Lau believed in the breadth of the violin—"I want to show people that the violin, as an instrument, can create a new beat to any kind of music."[8]

In the midst of organizing the "Dennis Lau & Friends: The Phoenix Rising" concert in 2016, Lau gave an interview to a magazine notably saying "R&B, electronic, pop—these are all just labels, actually, music transcends labelling."[18] By then, he had gained a reputation for his finesse, showmanship on stage, and ability to adapt to different music genres.[6] Back in 2012, Lau experimented with multi-disciplinary art with "Gotcha Style", a track and music video collaborating with rappers, dancers, and fashion designer Bernard Chandran to bring violin and vocals together with pop and dance.[5]

His second album released in 2015 "The Journey" was a contemporary R&B album, showcasing an experimentation with electronic dance music (EDM),[23] and during the "Dennis Lau & Friends: The Chosen" concert in 2019, Lau arranged and performed with artists singing in three languages, Malay, Mandarin and English.[42]

This eclecticism shows itself also in Lau's penchant for a broad range of unlikely collaborations, teaming up with the beatboxer Shawn Lee as early as 2010.[13] In an interview with New Straits Times in 2010, Lau says "I don't like to play solo. Collaborations make it better because t's not focused on one performer."[12] The 2016 "Dennis Lau & Friends: The Phoenix Rising" concert featured rhythmic gymnasts and speed painters,[32] while the "Dennis Lau & Friends: The Chosen" concert three years later featured a magic show as the opening act.[42]

He's worked

Violins

abc

Mentorship

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Discography

Albums

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Singles

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Filmography

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References

Citations

  1. ^ "From Fire and Ashes, Dennis Lau Rises". AugustMan Malaysia. 2016-10-21. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
  2. ^ a b Staff, ExpatGo (2012-12-18). "Dennis Lau, Malaysia's Funkiest Violinist". ExpatGo. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
  3. ^ a b MAGANATHAN, DINESH KUMAR. "Violinist Dennis Lau is simply electric". The Star. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
  4. ^ a b "Seasoned violinist to appear on Asia Uncut" (PDF). New Straits Times.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. ^ a b c d "Dennis Lau's "Gotcha Style" Creates Waves - Hype MY". 2012-08-24. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
  6. ^ a b c "Dennis Lau". Global Cruise Entertainment | Blackburn International Entertainment Agency. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
  7. ^ a b "NON-STOP CREATIVITY! FORMER UCSI UNIVERSITY STUDENT RE-LAUNCHES MUSIC ALBUM WITH NEW TRACKS, FILM". UCSI University. 2019-01-28. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g Teh, Jo (6 December 2009). "Nimble fingers at work" (PDF). The Star.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. ^ a b "Dennis Lau". Deezer. Retrieved 2024-03-15.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g Yumpu.com. "Front Page - Dennis Lau". yumpu.com. Retrieved 2024-03-15.
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  12. ^ a b Chua, D (3 October 2010). "From violin prodigy to filmmaker" (PDF). New Sunday Times. p. 24.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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  20. ^ YAN, SETO KIT. "Fantasia". The Star. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
  21. ^ CDP. "A MALAYSIAN JOURNEY DENNIS LAU". portal.jkkn.gov.my (in Malay). Retrieved 2024-03-27.
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  23. ^ a b Kk, Alfred Allen (2015-12-13). "Meja Rasa KK (Blog): Electric Violinist Dennis Lau Releases New Album "The Journey"". Meja Rasa KK (Blog). Retrieved 2024-03-27.
  24. ^ "Invaluable Lessons" (PDF). Unreserved. 16 May 2014. p. 5.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  25. ^ "Global Branding Awards". globalbrandingcouncil.org. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
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  27. ^ a b c d "Phoenix violin features in new collaboration - Emerald Guitars". 2017-12-19. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
  28. ^ a b "Dennis Lau's Phoenix violin continues to rise - Emerald Guitars". 2017-09-04. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
  29. ^ a b harrywalsh (2016-06-28). "Epic adventure brings Malaysian musician to Donegal". Donegal News. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
  30. ^ "Dennis Lau to hold large scale concert with all-star talents". sg.style.yahoo.com. 2016-08-29. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
  31. ^ "Biola Konsert 'The Chosen' Dennis Lau – Cecah Harga Ratusan Ribu Ringgit". Rileklah.com. 2019-03-21. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
  32. ^ a b "Rising to the top". thesun.my. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
  33. ^ Chua, Dennis (2016-05-31). "Paperplane Pursuit, Bunkface and Dennis Lau to attend Cannes' Midem | New Straits Times". NST Online. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
  34. ^ "Dennis Lau". iiab.me. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
  35. ^ CHEANG, MICHAEL. "Dennis Lau and Hanjin Tan's musical collaboration began in a Hong Kong canteen". The Star. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
  36. ^ 唯一的唯一的唯一 | One & Only by Namewee 黃明志 feat. Dennis Lau 刘凯彦 | It's an honour to work with an artiste whom I can call a friend and brother at the same time. He is not only passionate, talented and creative in his... | By Dennis Lau - Electric Violinist & SongwriterFacebook.
  37. ^ Chan, Jade (29 March 2017). "Sandwich franchise couple honored" (PDF). p. 4.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  38. ^ "McMillan Global Awards 2018 @ ShangRi-La KL (23/5/18) | Rentak Sejuta: Southeast Asia's #1 Music News Site". 1in1m.proboards.com. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
  39. ^ "Dennis-Lau-and-the-Phoenix-Violin". 2024-03-04. Retrieved 2024-03-28.
  40. ^ The Chosen (Official Lyric Video) by Dennis Lau feat. Adam Izzy. Retrieved 2024-03-28 – via www.youtube.com.
  41. ^ a b c zpharamond (2019-05-01). "Restless Heart: Dennis Lau Takes On Another Mega Concert". Robb Report Malaysia. Retrieved 2024-03-28.
  42. ^ a b c "Concert Review: Dennis Lau & Friends Deliver Epic Performance". 2019-07-03. Retrieved 2024-03-28.
  43. ^ Ng, Karmun (2019-05-15). "Dennis Lau's 'The Chosen Instrument' is an extension of himself". FirstClasse. Retrieved 2024-03-28.
  44. ^ "Dennis Lau & Friends Deliver An Epic World-Class Performance at THE CHOSEN CONCERT". Budiey Channel. 2019-07-03. Retrieved 2024-03-28.
  45. ^ "Dennis Lau - Mosaic Entertainment Group - Live Band in Kuala Lumpur, Wedding Entertainment, Wedding Live Band". mosaic.com.my. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
  46. ^ Violin Gifting to Tun Siti Hasmah by Siti Nurhaliza & Dennis Lau | It's not everyday you get to "jam" / Gesek the Biola (Violin) with the first lady of Malaysia. I must say #Blessed is an understatement. Special Thanks... | By Dennis Lau - Electric Violinist & SongwriterFacebook. Retrieved 2024-03-28 – via www.facebook.com.
  47. ^ Arumugam, Tharanya (2020-03-14). "14,500 M'sians at 'tabligh' gathering, 40 test positive for Covid-19 | New Straits Times". NST Online. Retrieved 2024-03-28.
  48. ^ "Malaysia announces movement control order after spike in Covid-19 cases (updated)". The Star. Retrieved 2024-03-28.
  49. ^ www.kkd.gov.my https://www.kkd.gov.my/en/public/news/19011-pm-says-no-full-lockdown-as-mco-1-0-nearly-led-to-economic-collapse. Retrieved 2024-03-28. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  50. ^ a b Tindall, Monica (2020-11-28). "Dennis Lau, Ah Lau Food King, Kampung Chicken Delivery". The Yum List. Retrieved 2024-03-28.
  51. ^ a b Chua, Dennis (22 July 2023). "#Showbiz: Violin maestro's chicken mission". New Straits Times.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  52. ^ Victor, Mark Mathen. "The enduring Malaysian spirit". thesun.my. Retrieved 2024-03-29.
  53. ^ Chua, Dennis (2023-06-23). "#Showbiz: Violin maestro Dennis Lau remains on top of his game [NSTTV] | New Straits Times". NST Online. Retrieved 2024-03-29.
  54. ^ a b GLORY - Dennis Lau & Datuk Syafinaz Selamat. Retrieved 2024-03-29 – via www.youtube.com.
  55. ^ I WON'T GO (Live) @ Tesh / Tinta Funeral by Dennis Lau X Fara Dolhadi. Retrieved 2024-03-29 – via www.youtube.com.
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