Bunkface

Bunkface is a Malaysian rock band formed in 2006. The band consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Sam (Shamsul Anuar), bass guitarist Youk (Farouk Jaafar), lead guitarist Paan (Ahmad Farhan), and drummer Biak (Alif Sufian). The name Bunkface was suggested by Biak which was influenced from the Sum 41 song, titled "Crazy Amanda Bunkface". Popular songs by Bunkface include ''Silly Lily, Situasi, Revolusi, Prom Queen, Through My Window, Ekstravaganza, Panik, Rentak Laguku, Malam Ini Kita Punya, Darah Muda'' and ''Masih Di Sini''. Their fanbase are called "Bunkers".

Biography

Bunkface: A journey through their musical legacy

Bunkface began as a group of four friends from SMK Sri Andalas who enjoyed casual jam sessions in Klang, Selangor. The band's name, "Bunkface," was inspired by the Canadian band Sum 41 song "Crazy Amanda Bunkface," suggested by their drummer, Biak.

Their first major breakthrough came in 2006 when they won the Band Rakan Seni Budaya competition organized by Universiti Malaya. This achievement introduced them to Malaysia's underground music scene. During this time, they also connected with Demoplanet.tv, a platform that provided sponsorships and helped produce their first music video.

Early recognition (2006-2007)

In March 2006, Bunkface won first place at the Band Rakan Seni Budaya competition organized by Universiti Malaya, which marked their debut media feature in ROTTW music magazine. Later that year, they participated in the reality competition Blast Off, gaining broader recognition.

In December 2007, Bunkface released their debut EP Lesson of the Season, a collection of six English tracks blending pop-punk and alternative rock. The hit single “Silly Lily” dominated the hitz.fm Malaysian Top Ten chart for eight weeks and the Fly.fm Campur Chart for 10 weeks. Their first Malay-language single, “Situasi,” reached #1 on XFresh FM’s chart and #3 on Era FM’s chart for three consecutive weeks.

Breakthrough years (2008-2009)

The band reached new heights in 2009 by winning the Rockstar, Breakout, and The Ultimate Shout! awards at the inaugural Shout! Awards. These achievements earned them an invitation to perform at the One Movement For Music festival in Perth, Australia—their first international performance.

Rise to stardom (2010)

In March 2010, Bunkface released their first full-length album, Phobia Phoney, featuring a mix of Malay and English tracks, including hits like “Situasi,” “Revolusi,” “Prom Queen,” and “Soldier.” They also gained massive popularity with the TM campaign song “Through My Window.”

International recognition and side projects

Bunkface represented Malaysia at the MTV World Stage Live in Malaysia 2010, sharing the stage with global acts like Katy Perry and Tokio Hotel. Later, Sam, the band’s frontman, explored a side project called The Azenders.

Continued success and challenges (2011-2013)

Bunkface faced challenges when their single “Panik” was banned by Malaysian state broadcaster RTM due to the word "Reformasi" in its lyrics. Despite this, the band continued to gain popularity internationally, performing in Jakarta and competing at the Hong Kong Asian Music Festival (HKAMF).

Celebrating milestones (2014-2016)

Their third album, Malam Ini Kita Punya, was released in 2014 under Sony Music Entertainment. The band celebrated their 10th anniversary in 2016 with a major concert, Bunkface X Live in Kuala Lumpur, at Chin Woo Stadium, where they also launched a compilation album of their greatest hits.

National pride (2018-2019)

In 2018, Bunkface composed the official theme song for Malaysia’s National Day, Kita Punya Malaysia. The following year, they released their fourth album, POP, and performed at prestigious music festivals in Indonesia (Road to Soundrenaline Indonesia and Big Bang Jakarta Music Festival).

Recent years (2022-2024)

In 2022, Bunkface celebrated their 15th anniversary with a two-night concert, 15 Years of Korang, drawing over 10,000 fans. In 2023, they delighted fans in Borneo with their Rock In Borneo solo concert in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

In 2024, Bunkface returned to Dewan Filharmonik Petronas (DFP) for a solo concert featuring 20 of their greatest hits, captivating over 1,000 attendees and solidifying their legacy as one of Malaysia’s iconic bands.

Legacy and impact

Over nearly two decades, Bunkface has solidified its place as one of Malaysia's most influential bands. Their ability to seamlessly blend punk-rock energy with relatable lyrics in both Malay and English has earned them a loyal fanbase across generations. From their humble beginnings in Klang to performing on international stages, Bunkface continues to inspire and resonate with fans through their music and unwavering passion for the art.

Musical style and influences

Bunkface considers their music as Pop Punk, and they have cited Sum 41, Green Day, Blink 182, Fall Out Boy, The Offspring, Simple Plan, Good Charlotte, Yellowcard and Nofx as their main influences.

Music videos

*Our Way
*Hyper Killer (2007)
*Silly Lilly (2007)
*Bunk Anthem (2008)
*Prom Queen (2009)
*Through My Window (2009)
*Ekstravaganza (2010)
*Revolusi (2010)
*Dunia (2011)
*Situasi (2011)
*Panik (2012)
*Anugerah Syawal (2013)
*Anugerah Syawal (Media Prima ft Idola Kecil Ultra) (2014)
*Rentak Laguku (2014)
*Malam Ini Kita Punya (2014)
*Darah Muda (2015)
*Huawei Best Wei (2015)
*Masih Di Sini (2016)
*Warnai Dunia (2016)
*Shopping is Forever (Bunkface & Kaka Azraff) (2017)
*Dunia Baru (2017)
*Orang Kita (ft Amir Jahari) (Lyric Video) (2017)
*Kembalii (2017)
*Apa Pun Tak Boleh ft Datuk Jeffrydin & Caprice (2018)
*Kita Punya Malaysia (2018) – Malaysia National Day Official Song
*Shiver (2018)
*Setiap Malam Aku Bersamamu (Lyric Video) (2019)
*Suara (2019)
*Akhir Zaman (Lyric Video) (2020)
*Tolong (2020)
*Yang Benar, Aku (2020)
*Sentiasa Bersamamu (2021)
*Korang (2022)
*I Miss You (2022)
*REMP-IT (2022)
*Toxicated (2023)
*Malaysia Madani (2023)
*HILANG (2024)
*Memberontak (2024)
*Hitch a Ride (Announced and sang in “15 Years of Korang” concert)
*We’re Gonna Be Alright (announced)
*Aku Amy (TikTok Announcement)
*Untitled (announced)

Band members

Current members

* Sam – lead vocal, rhythm guitar
* Youk – backing vocal, bass
* Paan – lead guitar
* Biak - Drummer

Former members

* Jabariah – bass ( 2005–2006)

Touring and session members

* Ejam Coda – Drums, percussion (2008–2012)
* Gjie 6ixth Sense (band) 6ixth Sense – keyboards, synthesizers (2009–2011)
* Wawa – Keyboards, synthesizers (2010–2012)
* Wan 6ixth Sense – drums and percussion (Bunk Not Dead Tour 2013–2015)
* Ainol – drums and percussion ( 2015–2022 )
* Ajam – Keyboards, synthesizers (2013–present)

Bunkids members

* Maleeq
* Umar
* Safiya
* Idris
* Maryam

Discography

EP

* '' Lesson of the Season'' (2007)

Album

*'' Phobia Phoney '' (2010)
*'' Bunk Not Dead '' (2012)
*'' Malam Ini Kita Punya ''(2014)
*'' Bunkface X ''(2016)
*'' POP ''(2019)
*'' unnamed punk rock album ''(announced to be released in 2020, delayed)

Awards and nominations

* 2009 Shout! Awards: Rockstar Awards, Break Out Award, as well as The Ultimate Shout! Award.
* 2009 Anugerah Juara Lagu: Finalist (for the song ''Situasi'')
* 2009 AVIMA Awards : Best College Act
* 2010 Anugerah Bintang Popular 2009 : Most Popular Duo / Group
* 2010 Anugerah Industri Muzik: Kembara Award & Best Rock Song (for the song ''Situasi'')
* 2010 Shout! Awards : Rockstar Award and Best music video (for the song "Prom Queen")
* 2010 Anugerah Juara Lagu 25 : Finalist (for the song "Ekstravaganza")
* 2011 Shout! Awards : Rockstar Awards
*2011 HK Asia Music Festival : 3rd place
* 2011 Komposer Muda Berbakat MACP : Sam (Young Composer under 25 years old)
* 2012 Shout! Awards : Rockstar Award
* 2013 Shout! Awards : Rockstar Award
* 2014 Shout! Awards : Rockstar Award
* 2014 Anugerah Industri Muzik : Best Rock Song (Rentak Laguku ft Amy Search)
* 2014 Anugerah Juara Lagu : Finalist (Rentak Laguku ft Amy Search)
* 2015 Anugerah Juara Lagu : Finalist (Malam Ini Kita Punya)
* MTV EMA 2016: Bunkface was nominated for Best SEA Artist at the MTV EMA 2016

2011 Hong Kong Asia Music Festival

''Finalist: 3rd Place''

2011 Komposer Muda Berbakat MACP

won: Sam (young composer)

2016 MTV Europe Music Awards

Bunkface nominated in Best SEA Artist at the MTV EMA 2016

Anugerah Industri Muzik

Anugerah Juara Lagu (AJL) (Song of the Year)

* Kumpulan Exist and Bunkface are the music groups that have most frequently reached the finals of Juara Lagu, with 4 participations each.

:Bunkface in Anugerah Juara Lagu:
:# Anugerah Juara Lagu 2009 - "Situasi"
:# Anugerah Juara Lagu 2010 - "Ekstravaganza"
:# Anugerah Juara Lagu 2014 - "Rentak Laguku"
:# Anugerah Juara Lagu 2015 - "Malam Ini Kita Punya"
At the 2016 Anugerah Juara Lagu, Bunkface withdrew from the competition with their song Darah Muda.

Anugerah Bintang Popular Berita Harian

Anugerah SHOUT!

MTV World Stage Live in Malaysia 2010

Bunkface was the sole representative from Malaysia to perform at the MTV World Stage Live in Malaysia 2010. The event took place on July 31, 2010, at Sunway Lagoon Surf Beach, Selangor. Bunkface shared the stage with international artists such as Katy Perry, Wonder Girls, and Tokio Hotels.

Their energetic performance with popular songs like "Situasi" and "Through My Window" received an enthusiastic response from the audience, highlighting their appeal both locally and internationally. This moment marked a significant achievement in Bunkface's career and strengthened their position in the Malaysian music industry.

Bunkface at the biggest music festival in Japan

Bunkface made history as one of the representatives from Malaysia to perform at the international music festival Summer Sonic 2015 in Japan. Their participation in Summer Sonic was a major achievement in Bunkface's career, showcasing their talent abroad and elevating Malaysia's name in the global music arena. Previous editions of Summer Sonic featured performances by Guns N' Roses, Taylor Swift, Avenged Sevenfold, Green Day, My Chemical Romance, Paramore, John Legend, and Linkin Park.

In addition to Bunkface, many other famous artists and bands also performed at the Summersonic Festival 2015. Some of the main artists who helped liven up the festival include Ariana Grande, Pharrell Williams, Imagine Dragons, The Script, Carly Rae Jepsen, Clean Bandit, All Time Low, Babymetal, and many more.

Siaran JOOX Malaysia 2017

"In 12 years of Bunkface's career, they have won 15 awards and received 30 nominations (both local and international), proving that Bunkface is one of the most successful local bands of this era."

Bunkface created the theme song for Malaysia's 2018 National Day.

''Minister of Communications and Multimedia, Gobind Singh Deo, was reported saying that Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad chose the pop song from several tracks submitted for selection. The pop-punk band Bunkface, known for their music, created the 2018 National Day theme song titled "Kita Punya Malaysia", composed by their vocalist, Sam.''

Controversies

In 2020, Bunkface stirred controversy over homophobic lyrics in their song ''Akhir Zaman'' ("The End of Times"). The lyrics urge the LGBT community to "go and die". Following the release of the song, there was an uproar in Malaysia's LGBT community. The band issued a statement on Instagram on March 6, 2020, where they referred to the Quran to defend their anti-LGBT lyrics.

In 2025, Bunkface was dropped as the opening act for American rock band, Green Day, in a concert in Kuala Lumpur. Their cancellation was purportedly due to 'logistical' issues, but some local Green Day fans rejoiced.

References

External links

Official website

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Musical trios
Malaysian punk rock groups
Malaysian pop punk groups
Malaysian alternative rock groups
Malaysian pop rock music groups
Musical groups established in 2005