OAG (band)

OAG
OAG performing at KL IndieFest.
Background information
Origin	Kuching and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Genres	Alternative rock, Indie rock
Years active	1992–present
Members	Muhammad Radhi Razali – vocals Nizam – guitar Nazrin Zabidi – bass guitar Izmer Khasbullah – keyboard Qi Razali – drums

OAG, also spelled O@G, also known as Old Automatic Garbage or Orang Asia Genius (English: Genius Asians), is a Malaysian pop and alternative rock band. The band, formed in 1992, was one of the first English language alternative rock bands in Malaysia to get huge attention from mainstream music listeners. The current line-up of the band are Muhammad Radhi Razali (vocals), Qi Razali (drums), Muhamad Nizam (guitar), Nazrin Zabidi (bass guitar), and Izmer Khasbullah (keyboard).

The band is well known for breaking the mainstream mold of Malay rock and pop at that time, pushing the alternative genre and underground spirit into commercial media such as radio and television. The 60's TV videoclip was a landmark success in a new direction of music video for the country, and becomes one of the most recognisable songs ever in indie/underground circuits (next to Butterfingers' Nicotine and Vio-Pipe).

The original line-up of the band were Radhi, Qi(drums), Mohd Azrie Hadi aka Ayie( guitar), Ivan (lead guitar) and Lam (bass guitar). Ivan and Lam however returned to their studies in 1996, with them being replaced ter by Edmund Boey (bass guitar) and Adin (lead guitar) in 1996. Radhi, Qi, Edmund and Adin have been arguably dubbed 'the Classic OAG line-up' by many. Their big break came when Paul Moss, the producer from Positive Tone at that time heard their music and wanted them to send a new demo. OAG quickly recorded their demos within a few weeks (some say within a week) to submit it to Paul. Paul was impressed with the tape and signed the band up under Positive Tone. Gradually the band picked up a respectable number of fans in the country. They went on to win the Best New Artist category in the Anugerah Industri Muzik in 1996 and their first videoclip, directed by Brad Hogarth, 60's TV, was also nominated for the Best Video Clip category. They released an EP titled 67 which contained six songs.

When Positive Tone released OAG's Old Automatic Garbage album in December 1994, no one was expecting that the group of four teenage boys who describe their music as "60s Crunchy Pop Fuzz" would open a new chapter in local English music. The 11-song album backed by the national hit '60s TV' not only became the biggest ever English hit, it opened the doors for more appreciation towards home-made English music that would otherwise still be considered as "underground" if not second class. Old Automatic Garbage went triple-platinum and helped spark off the commercialisation of alternative music into mainstream Malaysia.