History in Brief - LOCK UP

Lock Up was formed in the year 1995. During that time, the demand for local Indian music was very fresh and there isn’t any album in the market that made significant impact to the music lovers in the country.

Compared to Malay and Chinese music industry, the Indian music industry had many fresh talents but the pathway for a good audio production was very much unknown to local musicians and groups. Production companies and music retailers preferred to sell cinema sound tracks, which at that time quite lucrative. Indian music entertainers and bands were only performing cinema soundtracks in stage shows, functions, entertainment outlets such as pub’s and clubs.

Even though there has been namely a few albums been produced locally, but it does not  carry the Malaysian taste or the kind of music attracts local listeners.Mr.Augustino Amaladass from Bagus Entertainment formed Lock Up group in the year 1995.

Realizing the fresh Indian market potential, he visualized a pop group that would break thebarrier of cinema-influenced music, thus high-lighting local talents.

Working closely and convincing Mani Osai Marketing Sdn.Bhd of this fresh market, he produced the 1st album titled Lock Up in 1996 with the collaboration  of Mani Osai Marketing S/B, who marketed and distributed the album nationwide.

It was an over whelming success. Lock Up sold 50,000 units (cassette’s and CD’s) nation wide.This fresh music was well accepted by local Indian music lovers.  Mani Osai Marketing Sdn.Bhd did create a new pathway for Indian musician and album makers in the country.

Following up with the success of the first album and with many good feed backs and response from fans,media and music listeners, Lock Up launched the 2nd album titled La La La in the year 1997. Indian Isai Productions Sdn Bhd ventured full force in promoting this album.

Once again the response was overwhelming from music lovers throughout the nation.   Unexpectedly, the sales for the album reached more than 63,000 unites, inevitable brokethe sales record of the 1st album.

Various concept were experimented in the 3rd album, which was released in 1998,  also produced by and marketed by Indian Isai Productions Sdn Bhd. Entitled Sha Na Na,the sales of the album was around 48,000 units. One song in this titled ” Maanidaa” won theBest Song of the year 1999 in Malaysian Indian Music Industry Award (MIMI) held in PWTC
in July 1999.

The 4th album titled Ole Ole was released in November 1999 by The Gramaphone Companyof India Limited (RPG) and marketed by Five Star AV (M) Sdn Bhd. Lock Up was the firstlocal Indian group to sign with this giant production company abroad.

The sales of Ole Ole reached 112,000 units in local and international market despite stiffcompetition among other local albums. It was the fastest sales record achieved in our localIndian music industry as the sales target was reached within 3 months. Ole Ole earnedLock Up 4 MIMI awards for the year 2000 under the category of Best Album of the year,Best Song of the year, Most Popular song of the year, Best Group of the year. The famoussporting goods label “Adidas” sponsored the outfit for Lock Up for the production of this album.It is the first time local Indian pop group ever to be sponsored by an international sporting attire.

With the success of Ole Ole and with the support of many event organizers and show promoters, Lock Up has sealed its rightful place in the hearts of Malaysian Indian music listeners. Lock Up’s album and its artistes are recognized everywhere. Listeners and fans of Malaysian Tamil songs abroad have written in expressing their support.

Due to the market response and demands we released our 5th production which is an albumconsists of video clips called Lock Up Life in Concert. Produced by Gramaphone Co. of India and distributed by Five Star AV S/B in the same year also. The sales was approximately 22,000 units as per the distributor’s audit report, which was the highest sales record of a video clip compilation at that moment.

The 6th album entitled Dappi Dappi was released on November 2000 by Gramaphone Co of India  and distributed by Five Star AV S/B. Just like Ole Ole, this album also received an overwhelming support from fans and ardent listeners of Lock Up. It reached the sales of 73,000 units locally and internationally as per the distributor’s audit report.We’ve been booked almost every weekend’s for concerts in almost all the states in the nation  as well as abroad namely Singapore and Medan, Indonesia. Our 7th production was a compilation of our previous albums titled Best of Lock Up been distributed and marketed also by the Five Star AV S/B which was produced by Gramaphone Co. of India Ltd.

Lock Up released the 8th album entitled Ranggi Ranggoli in July 2001 in conjunction withSt Anne Feast in Bukit Mertajam,Pulau Pinang. This album was marketed and distributed byDhanosh Productions Sdn Bhd. It managed to sell a significant units in the market.” Reebok”another popular sporting goods label sponsored the attire for Lock Up.

Due to the positive feed back from our fans, we released a VCD as our 9th production entitled Lock Up Live In Sentosa. It’s a live performance concert, which was held in Sentosa Island, Singapore.

Following Ranggi Rangoli we released our 10th album in April 2003 titled Ammaanggo.  This album was produced, marketed and distributed by Five Star AV Sdn Bhd. Lock Up has received good and positive sales response from listeners nationwide for this album  thus hitting the sales of above 42,000 units locally and internationally.

Following the success of Ammaanggo , the 11th album entitled Dhool Maame which was marketed and distributed by Onggara Osai (M) Sdn Bhd was been released in 2005.  Once again our fans and supporters gave us a good support. Our 12th production was a fully pop concept called “Diyan Diyan” in july 2006 by Five Star and Lotus AV s/b.

And now its time for our 13th album entitled ” 11 Years Lock Up”. After 11 years of existence in the arena, we are proud  to release this album which is solely produced by the Lock Up group under the banner of Lock Creations Sdn Bhd. Suara Networks, is the company in-charge of marketing and distribution.

The album is currently being distributed to the major cities nation wide. It took nearly 4 months to complete this album. With Lock Up Group’s live music concept our previous  albums has made good impact with the listeners nationwide thus we believe this album would follow the pace too.

The current music trend is in constant change thus we got to up keep our trend according to the listeners demand and taste. In this album we have successfully produced various blendand genre of music despite our  traditional concept the “Baila” and“Joget”. Hip-Hop, Rap , R&B added with some latest musical arrangements, catchy melodies, live in-studio performances with rhythm loops has carried this album to a different height thus introducing a very new feel in our Malaysian Indian music field.

The Lock Up group has opened new pathway by diversely sharing its musical arrangementswith bass, lead guitar and percussion, all playing individual parts and solos.

As for 14th Album Lock up released Special Deepavali 2007 edition Release 12th album entiiled” hip N pop ” with attach

4 songs of Music video
(clips ) marketing
by Suara Networks

Again MIMI( Malaysian Indian Music Industry ) awards 2007
won Best Group and

All Time Artiste
for the year 2007 held in Minnal Cafe,Federal Hotel,Kuala
Lumpur.

ACHIVEMENTS

-First Tamil local pop group with 12 albums to date.
-First Tamil pop group to appear in T.V. channel namely RTM 2, TV3, NTV7, Astro( Vaanavil) , Sun TV (India)& Raj TV (India) and first local indian artist backed up by RTM orchestra conducted by Datuk Mokzani
-First Tamil pop group to produce musical clip and live show in VCD and DVD.
-First Tamil pop album been approved by Kementerian Penerangan for Radio and TV air plays.
-First Tamil pop group ever to perform full live stadium concert without supporting artist.
-First Tamil pop group ever to receive all time artiste awards namely-
‘Best Song of the year 1999
‘Best Group of the year 1999 from Malaysian Indian MusicIndustry (MIMI)
‘ Finally we cherish the moment of being the first Tamilpop Malaysian Group to sign a three year recording contractwith an international company named ¡°Gramophone Company of India Limited¡± (RPG Music) based in Calcutta with chains of branches worldwide.
2. For the year 2000 ¡°LOCK UP¡± has received more
recognition by winning the Malaysian Indian Music Industry

(MIMI) award for the second time.
-Best album of the Year
-Best group of the Year
-Best song of the Year
-Best popular song of the Year

2001
Best group of the Year
Best popular song of the Year

7. First ever Tamil local pop group which has
been awarded a TV
programme for 2 hours.(ASTRO Vaanavil
Deepavali Specials 2001)

.
GROUP / SONGS CONCEPT

The concept majoring in Malaysian listeners taste such as:-
* Dance Baila
* R & B / Dance Hall
* Latin Mix
* Ballad
* Ragga / Alt Hip Hop
ARTIST

Name : XAVIER TANNINAYAGAM @ XAVIER
(Lead Vocalist)

Name : SASI SWITCH
(2nd Vocalist)

Name : MATHAN KANESAN
(percussion)

Name : GP GANESH
(Bass Guitarist)

Name : VICTOR ANTHONYSAMY @ VICTOR
(Lead Guitarist)

Name : ARUMAINATHAN MUNIANDY @ NATHAN
(Group Leader / Keyboardist/cum vocalist)