Stars in their eyes

After eight years as an instrumental rock band based in musically challenged Singapore, the imaginatively titled four-piece I Am David Sparkle may have thought the chance of reaching western audiences had passed.

Then came an invitation to play the South by Southwest music festival in Texas, one of the biggest sonic gatherings in the US, last weekend. The post-rock quartet was selected after their record label submitted an application.

Of 10,000 hopefuls, only 1,800 were chosen. Just 400 of those came from outside the US. Kanye West played twice at the finale of the festival, during which mostly lesser known acts perform.

'It's the biggest show we've ever played,' says guitarist Amran Kamis. 'We've seen so many amazing acts that really push the boundaries of the music we all like to listen to.

'But most inspirational has been watching the whole city of Austin come alive to celebrate and demonstrate its love for music with so many musical festivities happening,' says Kamis, who will be joining his post-rock experimentalist band mates to play in Hong Kong next week. 'This could never happen in Asia.'

Formed in 2001, I Am David Sparkle took its moniker from a literal translation of the name of Malaysian disco singer M. Daud Kilau. Djohan Johari joins Kamis on guitar, along with Farizwan Fajari on bass and Zahir Sanosi on drums.