Bunkface

Bunkface originated in 2006 from Klang, Malaysia, formed by friends from SMK Sri Andalas. The band’s name was suggested by drummer Biak, referencing the Sum 41 song “Crazy Amanda Bunkface.” The initial lineup included Sam (Shamsul Anuar) on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Youk (Farouk Jaafar) on bass guitar, Paan (Ahmad Farhan) on lead guitar, and Biak (Alif Sufian) on drums. Their early career saw significant milestones, including winning the Band Rakan Seni Budaya competition in 2006, which introduced them to the Malaysian underground music scene. This period also led to collaboration with Demoplanet.tv, which provided sponsorship and support for their first music video. In December 2007, Bunkface released their debut EP, “Lesson of the Season,” featuring six English tracks that combined pop-punk and alternative rock. The EP included the hit single “Silly Lily,” which charted for eight weeks on hitz.fm’s Malaysian Top Ten and ten weeks on Fly.fm’s Campur Chart. Their first Malay-language single, “Situasi,” also achieved success, reaching number one on XFresh FM and number three on Era FM for three consecutive weeks, signifying their early impact on both English and Malay music markets within Malaysia.

From 2009 to 2010, Bunkface experienced a period of significant growth and recognition. In 2009, they secured multiple accolades at the inaugural Shout! Awards, winning Rockstar, Breakout, and The Ultimate Shout! awards. These achievements led to their first international performance at the One Movement For Music festival in Perth, Australia. The following year, in March 2010, the band released their first full-length album, “Phobia Phoney,” which featured a blend of Malay and English tracks, including popular songs like “Situasi,” “Revolusi,” “Prom Queen,” and “Soldier.” The album also included the widely recognized TM campaign song, “Through My Window,” further expanding their audience reach. This period culminated in Bunkface representing Malaysia at the MTV World Stage Live in Malaysia 2010 in July, where they performed alongside international artists such as Katy Perry, Tokio Hotel, and Wonder Girls at Sunway Lagoon, Selangor, solidifying their position in the regional music industry.

The band continued to achieve notable milestones and expand their presence in subsequent years. Following the release of their second studio album, “Bunk Not Dead,” which included 13 tracks, nine in English and four in Malay, Bunkface performed at the Hong Kong Asian Music Festival (HKAMF) in 2011. Representing Malaysia, they secured third place overall for stage presence and vocal performance after covering “We Are the Champions” by Queen. Their international touring extended to Indonesia, with performances at Jakarta Urbanfest 2011 and Hard Rock Cafe Jakarta. Sponsorships from AirAsia and Jamu Mak Dara supported their Indonesian tour, which also included an appearance on the popular Indonesian talk show “Bukan Empat Mata.” In 2014, their third album, “Malam Ini Kita Punya,” was released under Sony Music Entertainment. The band celebrated their 10th anniversary in 2016 with the “Bunkface X Live in Kuala Lumpur” concert and a greatest hits compilation. In 2018, they composed “Kita Punya Malaysia,” the official theme song for Malaysia’s National Day, and continued to perform at festivals such as Road to Soundrenaline Indonesia and Big Bang Jakarta Music Festival in 2019. More recently, in 2022, they celebrated their 15th anniversary with a two-night concert, “15 Years of Korang,” and performed their “Rock In Borneo” solo concert in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, in 2023. In 2024, Bunkface returned to Dewan Filharmonik Petronas (DFP) for a solo concert, performing 20 hits to over 1,000 attendees.