SIBLING musical duo Martin Looi and Lav Looi have announced their latest collaborative project, 'Wrapped in Harmony', a fresh take on holiday classics that combines the elegance of the violin with Lav's soulful vocals.
This eight-track album is a hybrid of instrumental arrangements with the violin as the focal point, blended with Lav's distinct voice on select tracks, breathing new life into timeless songs.
With 'Wrapped in Harmony', Martin and Lav deliver unique arrangements of beloved Christmas classics, reimagined with modern pop stylings.
HOLIDAY SPIRIT
Listeners will be enchanted by renditions of songs like 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas', 'Silent Night' and 'Hallelujah', featuring Martin's violin work and Lav's vocals on several tracks.
The duo also revisit their previous release of 'The Christmas Song' and adds the energetic 'Santa Tell Me', a nod to contemporary holiday tunes.
Taking three months to complete, 'Wrapped in Harmony' is the product of careful song selection and meticulous production.
Martin shares that Tchaikovsky's 'The Nutcracker' is his personal favourite on the album, allowing him to return to his classical roots and exploring a modern flair.
"Our goal with this album is to spread the holiday spirit and put a little bit of ourselves into each piece," says Lav."
It was challenging and a little scary to rearrange songs that people already love and know so well as I feel like there is already an expectation for these classic songs to sound a certain way, but I had fun with them while maintaining the core elements, and I can't wait to share them and I'm curious about the reception," she adds.
Available on all streaming platforms from this month, 'Wrapped in Harmony' invites listeners to a festive celebration of familiar and refreshingly new music.
STRING PASSION
At 25, Malaysian violinist Martin effortlessly fuses classical training with a modern twist.
Whether gracing prestigious events or collaborating with artistes like Joe Flizzow and Jaclyn Victor, his musical finesse mirrors his sharp style.
Armed with an audio engineering degree from the Australian Institute of Music, Martin's upcoming hit harmoniously combines the timeless allure of the violin with contemporary pop.
As he refines his sound, Martin stays true to his first love — the violin.
Last year, he released an instrumental EP, titled 'Sugary'.
"It is a five-track masterpiece that weaves classical sophistication with contemporary hip-hop and pop influences, promising an extraordinary musical experience," he says.
With a musical journey that commenced at the tender age of 5, Martin's mastery of the violin in this EP serves as a testament to his evolution as an artiste.
It features three original compositions that showcase his signature style of fusing the timeless elegance of the violin with the pulsating rhythms of modern beats.
In August, he ascended the Sky Box at KL Tower, 300m above the city while playing the national anthem 'Negaraku' on his acoustic violin to mark the National Day celebration.
VERSATILE TALENT
His elder sister Lav, 30, is a Spain-based music producer, vocalist and artiste hailing from Melaka.
She started playing classical piano at 4 and attended the Berklee College of Music, where she graduated with a bachelor's degree in contemporary writing and production.
Her experience in international music production and songwriting has led her through North America, Europe and Asia, where she has worked as a composer, producer and recording engineer for several renowned music studios, including Dead Room Recordings and Grand Theft Records.
Her original compositions and vocal contributions have been used in commercials for major brands, including KFC, Gojek, Pizza Hut, Lazada and Llao Llao.
Lav's talent and love for music later brought her to Berklee Valencia, where she completed a master's degree in scoring for film, TV and video games.
Since her graduation, she has continued to work as a session vocalist and pianist, composer and producer for artistes.