The Steve McQueens

The Steve McQueens is a Singapore-based jazz, Soul Funk, Neo-Vintage band formed in 2013. The band consists of Eugenia Yip (lead vocals), Fabian Lim (saxophones), Joshua Wan (keyboards), Jase Sng (bass) and Aaron James Lee (drums). They are famous for their unique and unheard of music genre where traditional jazz meets with contemporary music.

Though a young group, they have been invited to numerous International Jazz Festivals ^[1] and performed at the 2015 Southeast Asian Games closing ceremony.^[2]

Origins of the Band Name

The group defines music as an element to free the soul. They believe that "the expression of emotion through music is a means to liberate oneself" and this belief holds strong in both their compositions and music-making journey.

The actor, Steve McQueen was the icon for cool in the 60’s and 70‘s. The group relates their musical style of "anti-establishments escapism" to his anti-hero persona, together with iconic films like "The Getaway", "The Great Escape" and "Papillon".^[3]

Music Life

The Steve McQueens was formed in Singapore in 2013. The group began as a trio, with Eugenia as singer, Joshua on keyboard and Ben on bass, working at the Oriental Hotel as a jazz trio. As the band began to establish itself in the local scene, two other members were recruited, Marcus Szeto who joined playing the guitar and Bobby Singh as the percussionist. The Steve McQueens did their first gig on April 23, 2013 at the Sultan Jazz Club. However, for various reasons, Jase (bassist) and Aaron (drummer) replaced Ben and Bobby and Fabian Lim (saxophonist) joined the group.^[3]

The group started off with playing regular gig at BluJaz Café, Marina Bay Sands and other venues. They were featured on Late Night at Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay in January 2014 for their first album launch (Einstein Moments) and most notably at The Singapore Jazz Festival (Mar 2014) where they were spotted by veteran jazz funk producer, Jean-Paul 'Bluey' Maunick, founder and leader of the British acid jazz band, Incognito. Bluey invited them to his London studio (Livingston Studios) to record with him and the result is their latest album, "Sea Monster".

The Steve McQueens Seamonster album is also the very first release for Bluey’s brand new joint record label project alongside David Ranalli, Julian Fontenell and Ravi Chidambaram, Splash Blue. The album is released in Asia on Singapore-based label Foundation Music.

Jazz influences

The Steve McQueens are influenced by established Jazz, Soul and Funk musicians such as Thelonious Monk, James Brown, Erykah Badu, Amy Winehouse, Brad Mehldau and Robert Glasper which music varies from soulful and sultry to eclectic and eccentric.^[1] They listen and are influenced by different subgenres of musical styles. Their compositions are mainly based on what they feel at that particular time, experimenting with the different sounds and seeing what works best for the music.

Their references of "Neo-soul" influences come from D'Angelo, The Roots, Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu as well as improvisation approaches that are more "open" like jazz instrumentalists Robert Glasper and Daryl Reeves. On the other hand, they also combine Neo-soul with "Vintage' Soul/ R&B styles of Stevie Wonder, James Brown and Bill Withers.

International Performances

Jakarta

• Java Jazz 2014
• Java Jazz 2015

Japan

• Tokyo SUMMERSONIC 2015

London

• Opening for Incognito at the O2

Singapore

• Singapore International Jazz Festival 2014 and 2015

Discography

• Einstein Moments (2013)
• Sea Monster (2015)

Other Performances

• Opening for Incognito, O2 Indigo, London, 23 May 2015^[4]
• 2015 Southeast Asian Games closing ceremony, National Stadium, Singapore, 16 June 2015

References