Taufik's Bonafide Ambitions

By Diyana Alan • Urbanwire
email reporter • email story • printer friendly version

An Idol is Born

After attending the SG Hip Hop Fest recently, I got a first-hand glimpse of what life is like as a Singapore Idol.

The Soul guy croons to Mrs Jones

Taufik Batisah is a superstar, literally. His surprise appearance at the SG Hip Hop Fest on December 11 left fans driving out in cars trying to keep up with his chauffeur-driven automobile, grabbing every opportunity to snap pictures of the crooning 23-year-old. And he obliged, by winding down the windscreen at his fans' request. Taufik is now somewhat of a traffic-stopping heartthrob for both teenage girls and their mothers alike.

Ever since he was crowned the first Singapore Idol on December 1, he has become something that the local entertainment industry never quite had. After all, having 200 people gatecrash your birthday party and walking around with bodyguards for fear of being mobbed aren't everyday affairs for local English entertainers. And it's especially a rarity when the guy hasn't even released an album.

The Makings of an Idol

Backstage with Bonafide, Vintage Flav'r & producer Shaheed

Before Taufik became Singapore Idol, he was part of a hip-hop duo called Bonafide. A group popular with the local hip-hop community which many only took notice of after they opened at the Singapore Indoor Stadium for the Black Eyed Peas concert earlier this year with fellow local hip hop trio, Vintage Flav'r.

Together with rapper, Mark Essential, Bonafide seemed like a recipe for success. Both members were talented, personable and had opened for an internationally known music sensation. They also managed to reach out to the local music community by forming a duo that made music of a popular genre. Both R&B and hip-hop were getting commercialised and Bonafide took advantage of the formula by fusing their individual talents.

An album was on the way, until of course, Taufik auditioned, became a finalist and then won the Singapore Idol competition. When UrbanWire asked him about his earlier years in the entertainment scene, the grounded Idol replied, "I'm very amateur. I've been in the music industry for only about 3 or 4 years. It started out with Mark and me."

"We've been performing at small gigs to the local hip-hop community and you know, we've been working really hard making our own kind of music, producing our own songs," said Taufik on his baby steps to recognition in the local music industry.

Partner and good friend, Mark, couldn't agree more, "We were looking for other producers to help us. We had worked with Terry Lee and Shaheed (well-known local hip-hop producers). And we were affiliated to some people but nothing concrete came out of that, so Taufik and I thought we should do things on our own."

This included penning their own songs, creating their own beats both in the studio and on the computer, and coming up with several strong tracks for a demo tape in order to "shop for labels".

Reunited Again

Reunited Again- Taufik Batisah & Mark Essential

How good did it feel to perform with Taufik again after more than a 6-month hiatus, Mark? "I'm thrilled! Our last show was in May and when I heard that we could perform, I was really thrilled. Because he's been my partner in music for so long, to be able to get back that chemistry again, it's excellent," he replied.

Hip Hop Fest Emcee, Imran with Taufik

Taufik shared the same sentiments, "I feel right at home at the Hip Hop Fest. I mean, these are the people who've been supporting me a long, long time. I feel really good performing to the hip hop community."

The Future Ahead

It seemed like Bonafide had been planning their musical career moves

from the beginning. Realising their potential and originality, both Taufik and Mark were willing to go through any means to shoot into superstardom.

Taufik's victory at the Singapore Idol competition has done much good for the group's status as more people are beginning to recognise Bonafide, a group that Taufik believes will always be the foundation of his success.

The on stage chemistry between Mark and taufik is undeniable

On the future of Bonafide following his impending solo career, the charismatic headliner admitted that while recording his debut album takes precedence now, he still hopes to launch a career with Mark as members of Bonafide. "We had a dream which is to do music together and that dream is still alive."