James Baum

James Baum was drawn to music from a young age. Dancing was an interest of his during primary school that persisted right through to high school in Penang Island. He started learning how to play the guitar at the age of 15. His father reluctantly taught Baum the basics as well as how to identify chords by honing in unto the baseline by ear. Prior to this Baum’s most used item used to be the field hockey stick which Baum continued to play and participated in tournaments till the end of his High School years. Prior to moving to Kuala Lumpur Baum played in a Band (Azrael) formed with 2 of his childhood friends. Azrael only performed once during a DMD (Drama Music and Dance) club event for KDU Penang, Baum was on rhythm guitars and lead vocals.

Upon moving to Kuala Lumpur Baum discovered the underground Hip Hop scene in Bangsar. An active movement during the years of 1997-2002. Here Baum sporting long hair, baggy clothes and an assortment of silver accessories developed a keen interest in Hip Hop Music, Rhymes and Beats. Baum started performing at underground Hip Hop gigs as a member of duo group called Destructive Artillery. Baum began songwriting over instrumental cd’s, which was commonly practiced by underground gig performers at the time. Baum’s first underground song “Thug Love” was written over Keith Sweat’s “Twisted” instrumental which was commonly performed at gigs, which quickly set the duo apart from the more Harder Gangster Rap Hip Hop Underground Acts in comparison to their more commercial appeal of combining R&B & Hip Hop.

It was during one of the underground gigs that Baum made a chance acquaintance with Local Hip Hop Group Poetic Ammo, whom were regarded as Pioneers for Asian Hip Hop in Malaysia at the time. Not long after this acquaintance Poetic Ammo paired Baum up with Moots (Before Pop Shuvit was formed) to form D’Alliance.

D’Alliance were featured in Poetic Ammo’s 2nd Studio Album titled “The World Is Yours” and performed alongside Poetic Ammo for a period of time (Between the years 1999-2002).

D’Alliance were also featured on Reefa’s Song titled “Weekender” which bagged an MACP Award.

D’Alliance took part in a Talent Search “Levi’s Search 2000” in the year 2000. Performing Baum’s composition “Thug Love” which took D’Alliance to the Finals, finishing as the Runner Up. D’Alliance went on to be the faces of “Levi’s New Millennium Wear” that year.

Baum spent a lot of time with the group Poetic Ammo in the early years as a green horn in the Music Industry. So it was no surprise he was invited in to be a member of Poetic Ammo when they were working on their 3rd Studio Album titled “Return Of tha’ Boombox”. This arrangement did not persevere to the culmination of the Album release.

Baum then got together with AIM Award Winning Producer Damian Mikhail Seet better known as Damian Shorty Soul and formed an experimental R&B group named Candy Brown. The group eventually disbanded they had worked on many tracks which were never released.

Baum continued to work with Damian Shorty Soul and contributed as a songwriter on selected projects.

It was not until 2004 that Baum completed and released his Debut Single titled “Skirts” feat. Damian Shorty Soul that provided Baum a break into the Music Scene as a Solo Artist. “Skirts” gained heavy rotation on Hitz.fm which was greatly owed to Jake Abdullah whom was heading Astro AMP at the time. “Skirts” was a personal effort with a modest sum of funding from Baum’s mother to produce the Single. The cd face was designed and printed out on A4 Paper by Baum’s cousin who is a qualified graphic designer, cut out and pasted unto the cd with adhesive spray. “Skirts” may have not seen the light of day if it did not find it’s way unto Jake Abdullah’s desk. Only 4 copies of the cd was manually produced. Baum’s collabo with Dayang Nurfaizah Titled “Need a break” was coincidentally rotating on the Hitz.fm Met 10 during the same period.

“Skirts” attracted Baum a fair amount of media attention and coverage. Shortly after “Skirts” received rotation on Hit.fm, Baum was invited to participate as a Cleo Bachelor. Baum’s solo music career began and the rest was history.

Baum started up JMB Productions and was dabbling in songwriting and production for a while before being approached by Independent Label @19 Records and signed unto the Label sometime late in the year 2005.

More on Baum’s collaborations during this period in the Discography Tab.

During Baum’s contractual term with @19 Records a few songs were in production with the intention of releasing Baum’s debut album. There were the occasional differences and changes regarding the direction of Baum’s music and the business direction of the Label. This eventually led to Baum having to leave the Label which motivated the birth of Red Room Studio.

Eventually Baum released a debut E.P titled “James Baum – the e.p” through Red Room Studio and started getting more involved with Music Production .This led to Baum being introduced to Syamsul Yusof when he was filming and directing his first film “Evolusi KL Drift”. Red Room Studio and Baum went on to produce the Theme Song and various other Theme Songs and Music for both Datuk Yusof Haslam and son Syamsul Yusof of Skop Productions for about another 5 years.More on Theme Songs Here

Baum now being more capable at Producing from all the hands on experience, produced and worked with many young musicians and talents as a Producer and Artist through Red Room Studio and continues to do so…

Involvement : Vocal Melody / Lyrics / *Featured Artist (Vocal Performance)

Involvement : Melody Composition / Lyrics / * Featured Artist (Vocal Performance)

Involvement : Vocal Melody / Lyrics / *Featured Artist (Vocal Performance)

Involvement : Production / Music Arrangement / Lyrics / *Featured Artist (Vocal Performance)

Involvement : Melody Composition / Lyrics / *Featured Artist (Vocal Performance)

Involvement : *Featured Artist (Vocal Performance)

Involvement : *Featured Artist (Vocal Performance) / Music Video Appearance

Involvement : *Featured Artist (Vocal Performance) / Music Video Appearance