MANY fans of popular pop group KRU were left in tears when brothers Datuk Norman, Datuk Yusry and Edry Abdul Halim decided to call it a day in 2018.
Their decision has been reversed, and the multitalented brothers from Gopeng, Perak, are set to launch a new album 'Kaset' and tour major cities next year.
REQUESTS
Their "return" as a band was made possible by Sony Music's managing director for Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam and Special Projects Southeast Asia, Kenny Ong.
More importantly, countless requests were made by fans during their six-year hiatus.
CIRCUMSTANCES
At a press conference to announce their new album at Aloft Hotel, KL Sentral recently, Norman said their 2018 decision was based on "circumstances back then".
"We felt that as veterans in the industry, we ought to call it a day and become mentors to the newer generation of entertainers," he said.
"However, absence makes the heart grow fonder, and many fans pleaded with us to continue making music as KRU because life would not be the same without the band."
DINNER
Ong said he convinced the brothers to reunite as a band, and after having a scrumptious dinner together, they said "yes".
"They decided to mark the return of KRU as a band with 'Kaset', and the name of their 10-song new album is a tribute to their early days of making music."
Ong added that it was not easy to convince them and that he was delighted that they agreed to continue with their great performances.
IN TOUCH
Edry said while they had decided to regroup as KRU, they had never broken up.
"We have always been in touch and I visit KL annually despite living in Manchester, the United Kingdom, with my wife and children."
He likened the KRU journey to a team of mountaineers scaling new mountains.
"Success is doing something that challenges and satisfies us. It is all about quality, making music we like, not about being popular," he said.
"And while the current age of social media comes in handy for us to promote our songs to a wider audience, we will still do some promotions the good, old fashioned way."
GOOD MUSIC
Yusry said being a pop trio once again was not about the money, but about "our love of good music and getting close to music lovers of today".
"Unlike in the past when each of us wrote our fair share of songs, we have written each of the 10 songs in the new album together, and that's just the way it was when we started in the 1990s."
He said KRU did not plan to cater to new listeners, but welcome them to listen to the KRU sound.
"We welcome young, creative minds to help us come up with great, new music videos for some of our songs."
ORIGINAL
Norman said 'Kaset' was a "return to the original KRU sound" and that they would release one song every month from the album, beginning next month.
"We've learned a lot of new things in the last six years, and we're putting those into practice in 'Kaset'," he said, adding that they would produce music videos for some of the songs.
He added that last year, he met a friend's son in school who sang ';Jangan Lepaskan', an early KRU hit, beautifully.
"This convinced me that KRU's music remains relevant as ever and we have to connect with young listeners of today."
REVOLUTION
KRU, formed in 1992, revolutionised the music scene with their blend of pop, hip-hop and R&B.
Their best-known songs are 'Fanatik', 'Jangan Lafazkan', 'Terhangat Di Pasaran', 'Awas', 'Ooh La La' and 'The Way We Jam'.
Norman, Yusry and Edry also made films such as 'Magika' and 'Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa' that won Best Film at the Malaysian Film Festivals in 2010 and 2011, respectively.
The brothers have continued with their business empire, KRU Studios, producing music for artistes, as well as television programmes and films.