Impressions

The Straits Times has called their music “sonic short stories” while Malaysian-based music magazine JUNK have warned that their music “will soothe and calm you, before making your head explode”. I AM DAVID SPARKLE began life as a collective improvisational band in 2001. Taking it’s name from a tongue-in-cheek anglicization of a popular ’70s Malaysian disco king, M. Daud Kilau, it’s this irreverence that saw them through relentless gigging at their early start in the local Singapore scene.


With a growing underground following, October 2006 saw them self-releasing their debut EP Apocalypse of Your Heart as a documentation of their older songs. In 2007, I AM DAVID SPARKLE took to the bigger stage for regional festivals Good Vibrations 2007 and Recharge Revelations 5 Global Gatherings, and saw the year out with ZoukOut 2007. In that time, they also managed to pick up Best Alternative Act at the Motorola SuperStyle MIX Music Awards. It was during this period of playing live and recording that they honed their musical chops and I AM DAVID SPARKLE released their debut full-length album This Is The New in November 2007 under KittyWu Records. 2008 saw I AM DAVID SPARKLE open for acclaimed Japanese instrumental quartet Mono in Singapore. In March 2009, I Am David Sparkle was the only band selected from Singapore in that year to showcase at the renowned South By Southwest Music Festival (SXSW 2009) in Austin, Texas. Their “mini-US tour” continued with more shows in Houston and Boston. I AM DAVID SPARKLE released a limited pressing of the single Nosferatu Makes Me Nervous on 7” vinyl, to commemorate the trip to the US. Never one to rest, more touring followed in Asia with performances in Hong Kong, Manila (A*Fest 2009), and Hanoi (3rd Hanoi International Music Festival). Most recently in April 2010, the band self-released the Live In Cactus Music, Houston EP, an unproduced, live recording of their performance at Cactus Music, in Houston, Texas.


I AM DAVID SPARKLE released their second studio full-length Swords in December 2010, followed by a sold-out album release concert in Singapore and a 6 city tour of Indonesia and Malaysia in support of the album. In November 2011, I Am David Sparkle embarked on a five show tour of Tokyo and Osaka which included Japan Music Week.


Art Is Blood is the quintet’s latest release. While still keeping their melodic sensibilities, this album intendedly wears the band’s abrasive influences on its sleeves. Previously launched in 2019 as digital downloads only, the release is making its debut on Spotify in October 2020.


JUNK Magazine has certainly put it best; speaking of the band’s hardworking ethic; I AM DAVID SPARKLE is “chugging along meaner than a Balrog”.


I Am David Sparkle is
Adel Rashid (Guitars)
Amran Khamis (Guitars)
Djohan Johari (Guitars)
Farizwan Fajari (Bassman)
Zahir Sanosi (Drums)

Discography

Apocalypse of Your Heart CDREP
Release Date: Oct 2006
Label: Self-Released

Recharge Revelation 5 Global Gathering
CD compilation / JUNK Magazine Vol.13
The Way of The Universe single
Release Date: Oct 2007

This Is The New CDLP
Release Date: Nov 2007
Label: KittyWu Records

Sonic Frontiers Vol 2 : Reveries
SonicFrontiers.net download compilation
All There Is To It single
Release Date: 15 Feb 2008

Nosferatu Makes Me Nervous 7”
Release Date: Mar 2009
Label: KittyWu Records


Live in Cactus Records, Houston CDREP
Release Date: April 2010
Label: Self-release

Swords CDLP
Release Date: 3 Dec 2010
Label: KittyWu Records

Apocalypse of Your Heart Reissue 12”
Release Date: April 2015
Label: Hail Satan Records / KittyWu Records

Art Is Blood LP / Digital Release
Release Date: April 2019
Label: Hail Satan Records / KittyWu Records