Taking care of business

IT'S RARE to find boyband members who managed to make a name for themselves upon going solo. Aside from Justin Timberlake, Ronan Keating and Robbie Williams, the rest have all but faded into obscurity.
However, Brit boyband The Wanted's own Nathan Sykes obviously wants to be a part of that elite club, and with his debut solo album Unfinished Business, he might be taking a step in the right direction.
On the album, not only does he showcase his songwriting skills, but also his very distinctive vocals, which never really got the recognition they deserved when he was singing with the other lads.
Sykes was in Kuala Lumpur for two shows recently. The last time he performed here was way back in 2013 with The Wanted.
Back then, he was known as the "cute one" in the group, being the youngest member at just 17 years old when The Wanted had its first hit single with All Time Low in 2010.
Since The Wanted announced an indefinite hiatus in 2014, Sykes has been busy as a solo artiste.
His July 2015 debut single, Kiss Me Quick, reached number one on the US dance charts, and last November, he released Unfinished Business.
At a press conference just before one of his local shows, Sykes said: "Obviously, I am now much older at 24," he said tongue-in-cheek. "It is lovely to be here."
Jokingly, he added that he wanted to stay in Malaysia longer, as long as he could find a place with no phone signal or WiFi.
Speaking about Unfinished Business, he said that he grew up listening to jazz, soul, and music from Motown.
"When you join a boyband as a songwriter, you have to adapt," he said.
"I [was writing] songs to suit a boyband. Fortunately, my songwriting [skills] really progressed [while I was] in the band, and that really encouraged me to continue writing."
Sykes explained that boyband albums usually consist of around 12 tracks that are not connected.
For his debut album, he wanted to go on a musical journey, and have all his songs tell a story.
Sykes also revealed that early in his music career, he was given the chance to either go solo, or to join a boyband. He surprised himself by picking the boyband.
"Everything happens for a reason," he said, adding that he has no regrets being with The Wanted.
He recalled the moment that the band made the decision to take a break. He was at home, speaking to the other members via conference call.
The decision took him by surprise, as the band had been making great inroads in the international music scene.
Sykes consulted with his mother, and she asked him what he wanted to do.
"I said I wanted to make music." It was then that he realised that he had "unfinished business with my music, as an artiste, as a person".
"It was the first thing I thought of," he said. From then on, Sykes' musical direction was set.
His Malaysian fans got the opportunity to see him showcase his talents twice, first on Monday at SEGi College Subang Jaya, and then on Tuesday night, at a special dinner showcase where he shared the stage with local diva Ning Baizura.
The dinner showcase drew two types of audience members.
Ning, who performed a set of seven songs, pointed at a table full of young people and declared that they were here for Sykes.
"I know the older crowd is here for me," she said with a laugh.
Ning was in fine form, singing covers such as Can't Take My Eyes off You, At Last, Fight Song, All I Ask and Symphony.
She also sang her new Hari Raya-themed song Syawal, and a medley of her past hits (Kau Dan Aku, Pasti, and Curiga).
Sykes only took to the stage at 9.30pm, dressed very casually and holding a white cup from which he kept sipping.
He greeted the audience by saying cheerily: "How smart you all look. I am sorry I am late. For the first time, it was not my fault."
Sykes sang nine songs, including tracks from Unfinished Business (Kiss Me Quick, More Than You'll Ever Know, Give It Up, There's Only One of You, Over and Over Again, and Famous).
He also sang covers (Charlie Puth and Meghan Trainor's Marvin Gaye, John Legend's All of Me, and Ed Sheeran's Thinkin' Out Loud), in which he gave these songs his own soulful touch.
Accompanied by a guitarist for most of the show, Sykes also played the piano on some numbers.
Like Ning, Sykes was skilled with the crowd. He even spoke about the cup he was holding.
"It is honey and hot water. They say it is good for your vocal chords," he said, before adding: "in case you are suspicious."
Any lingering doubts that fans had on whether he would be able to make it as a solo artiste were dispelled that night, as Sykes demonstrated his vocal prowess.
Hopefully, the future will hold bigger and better things for this young man.