1. “Dennis”
Much has changed for
Malaysia’s celebrated
musician, composer,
producer, sometimes
actor, and entrepreneur
Dennis Lau. For the
better, naturally.
Words : Lim Teck Choon
Just
Call Him
Cover Celebration
Dennis Lau
October 2015•HEALTHTODAY 67
MHTSOCT15_pg67-70_cover celebration.indd 67 9/25/15 10:10 AM

2. W
hen Dennis Lau last
graced the cover of
HealthToday, it was 2008.
It was the year when the
reformed Spice Girls closed their world
tour in Toronto, the last we would see
of them in a while; when Leona Lewis’s
Bleeding Love was a big hit all over
the world, putting her and the show
The X-Factor UK on everyone’s radar;
and Michael Jackson’s Thriller album
turned 25 and was certified as the
world’s best-selling album for all time.
I had not joined the staff of
HealthToday then and when I read
the article as part of my research on
Dennis, I saw a clean-cut handsome
young man who was beginning to
make his mark in the local music
scene. His accomplishments at that
time included performances for
Dato’ Khalid and Dato’ Siti Nurhaliza
in celebration of their first wedding
anniversary and in festivals including
the Penang Island Jazz Festival and
Europa Awards Orchestra.
Fast forward to August 27, 2015.
Dennis has just finished performing
a snippet of his most recent
composition, The Journey, for the
launch of a new Gillette razor at 1
Utama Shopping Centre, and is getting
ready for a well-deserved meal at a
nearby deli. His manager Daphne Tan
takes his request – a quarter roast
chicken and lemonade – and kindly
orders a lemonade for little old me
as well.
Nodding my thanks, I can only marvel
at how different Dennis Lau looks
compared to that younger gentleman
on the cover of HealthToday back in
2008. I have brought a copy of that
magazine; his eyes light up when he
sees it, and Dennis shows it to Daphne
and several ladies nearby, “See, this
was me! Back in those days!” They can
only laugh at his exuberance.
Dennis now sports a fauxhawk, a
neatly trimmed moustache and
goatee. In suit and tie, he is the
picture of elegance, albeit a little tired,
although I have seen photos of him in
more casual ensembles – tank top,
pants – letting things rip on stage
with his electric violin. Like his music,
Dennis can be quite eclectic. Pop
music, easy listening, R&B, electronic
dance music (EDM) – he has done it
all, dressed the part and, of course,
lived the music.
D, for Dennis
Talking to Dennis is a bit of a
revelation – he is very easy to talk to,
without any pretensions or ego despite
his impressive career milestones. He
and Daphne share a rapport more
akin to that of friends rather than a
boss and his employee. Furthermore,
he graciously poses for selfies despite
looking slightly tired.
He insists on being called Dennis.
“Please, call me Dennis.” He thanks
me when I tell him that I enjoy
watching his YouTube videos and will
love to get my hands on his album
DiversiFy. For someone who has
played for luminaries such as Tun Dr
Mahathir, Prince William and his wife
Kate Middleton, such a display of
down-to-earth humility is unexpected,
but welcomed.
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Dennis Lau
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3. D, for deliberation
Dennis’s eclectic taste and style
are all sincere and innate, as he
was raised in a home where music
was cherished. His mother was a
piano teacher, and Dennis’s earliest
childhood memories include the
deliberate piano practice sessions
under his mother’s strict supervision.
“It wasn’t entirely a wonderful time
back then,” he says with a laugh. As
a child, he wanted to rebel against
his mother’s strict regime, but he is
now glad that his mother saw the
potential in him and pushed him to
achieve that potential. “She taught me
the importance of discipline and hard
work,” he muses. His current work
ethics are based on the lessons she
taught him, and they have helped him
reach the place where he is today. He
will not change any moment of
his childhood.
The piano has been a part of Dennis’s
life since age three, and he reached
Grade 8 at just 11, one of the
youngest Malaysians to do this. On
top of a Bachelors of Music degree
under the Newcastle Australian Music
Degree Program, he also has several
diplomas in classical piano, including
the ATCL, A.M.U.S.A, Dip ABRSM and
LGSM (hons).
Therefore, it can strike one as unusual
that, these days, he is more often
seen and heard performing on his
electric violin, an instrument he first
took up when he was eight. Why
the violin?
“It is the closest instrument to a voice,
I feel,” he reflects. “The violin allows
me a flexibility and versatility on stage
that I can’t find with the piano.” Of
course, he still loves the piano, but it
is with the electric violin that he struck
out and made his mark on both the
local and international musical scene.
D, for diversity
How does one describe Dennis’s
music?
“R&B, electronic, pop – these are
all just labels,” he says when I ask
him the question. “Actually, music
sometimes transcends labelling.
It is more important for both the
performer and listener to be moved
by the emotions, the sincerity and the
passion in the performance.”
Still, his heart has a special place for
R&B music. The late Michael Jackson
is one of his inspirations, as evident
from his playful tribute to the legend
in a video on his YouTube channel.
Dennis also has a soft spot for various
artists from many genres, although his
more recent inspirations come from
various collaborations with people who
may not necessarily be from the
music business.
Dennis tells me that these people
bring fresh perspective and a
repertoire of ideas that can invigorate
a muse that may have become
complacent or cynical from being too
immersed in the music industry.
D, for developer
Dennis’s opportunities to work
with people from both inside and
outside the music industry have
increased over the recent years,
after he established Mosaic Music
Entertainment, a musical boutique
company that offers a platform for
diverse, innovative musicians to
both find an audience and perfect
their craft as well as entertainment
packages for those interested in
experiencing some of the best live
performances in town.
For Dennis, Mosaic is not just a
business – it is his way of giving back
to the music industry. Furthermore,
he seems to have found his newest
calling in life by mentoring promising
young talents such as the crooner
Michael Leaner and the young talent
Abigail Chew.
D, for destiny
So, what is next for Dennis?
He tells me he will be releasing
another album by the end of this year,
although the distribution of physical
copies is still being worked on. For
people who prefer digital music, he
also intends to put the album on
iTunes. Also later this year, he plans
to go on tour. “It will be something
like the David Foster and Friends
tour,” he tells me, referring to the
legendary American composer’s
recent international tour. Given that
Dennis has worked with artists such
as Sheila Majid, Francissca Peter and
Dato’ Siti Nurhaliza, the line-up should
be interesting.
Is there anyone he would like to
work with? “Usher,” he says without
hesitation. Given that the American
R&B vocalist had recently provided
vocals for big hits by EDM producers
Martin Garrix and David Guetta, and
given Dennis’s own EDM involvement,
who knows, maybe that dream is not
as far-fetched as it seems! HT
Cover Celebration
Dennis Lau
October 2015•HEALTHTODAY 69
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4. 5 IMPRESSIVE THINGS ABOUT DENNIS LAU
He has won many awards. Just some recent ones:
E Global Music Entrepreneur Icon of the Year Award (Masterclass Category) from McMillan Woods
Global Awards.
E Icon in Contemporary Instrumental Music 2015 from McMillan Woods Global Awards.
E The Brand Laureate Grand Master Brand Icon Leadership Award 2014.
E ASEAN Leading Violinist Performer 2014 from the ASEAN Retail Chains & Franchise Federation (ARFF).
E Rising Star Awards Outstanding Performance Artiste of the Year 2013 from McMillan Woods Global Awards.
Aside from creating dazzling interpretations of famous hits, Dennis has released several albums.
E DiversiFy (2009) – winner of the Best Producer award at the VIMA 2009.
E The Malaysian Journey – a collaboration with Jabatan Kementerian Kesenian Negara (JKKN) and various
local artists.
E Good news: he will release another album later this year!
He has appeared in movies too, such as Nasi Lemak 2.0 and Hantu Gangster. Also, Mosaic has a movie
production arm, with some impressive productions to its name.
He has a really cool YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/dennislautv – a great place to get a sampling of
his music (and you should, especially if you are a fan of Sam Tsui, Lindsay Sterling and the like).
He also has a cool website at www.dennislau.com.my, with links to his many social media accounts as well as
recent news and updates.
70 HEALTHTODAY•October 2015
Cover Celebration
Dennis Lau
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