Originally from Selangor, Malaysia, 41’s music draws parallels to Japanese experimental post-rock giant Envy and earlier versions of the genre’s pioneer band Mogwai, while edging to carve an identity of its own. “I’d say we’re looking to create a sound that is closer to the European version of post-rock. It has a more chill-out, relaxed quality but with emotional depth and substance. But we’re not trying to sound like anyone… it’s just a collective expression of our emotions,” explains guitarist Zulmaran Hilmi, 21.
41 started off as a cover band when Zul, Wan Hafiz Wan Ahmad, Mohd Syahdan Pabir and Ng Min Hsern got together in secondary school during their Form Three studies.
The group believes that much of 41’s philosophy is summarised in its moniker, which was originally 41 Short Kilometres. For the band members, it’s their way of saying “life is about the journey and not about the destination,” where the name draws attention to a distance between two random places.
The band currently has a four-track demo showcasing its blend of music. However, though the recordings do spot strong hints of great things to come, there’s also a subtle hollowness underneath the music that renders it just a small step away from achieving the gripping quality that 41 is meant to deliver.
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