Jai Al-Attas
Encyclopedia
Jai Al-Attas is the co-founder and co-owner of Australian independent label Below Par Records
and the writer and director of the 2009 documentary film
One Nine Nine Four
.
(sometimes typeset BelowPARrecords) alongside Mark Catanzariti and Steven Chalker, in 2000. All three were only 16 and still in high school. The label concentrated on signing Australian indie bands, catering for rock
artists and more specifically punk
and its sub genres.
In 2002, the label won the Nescafé Big Break award, which was a Nescafé
innitative, where the company gives away cash grants to people aged between 16 and 24, who have a dream or idea and need some financial support to make it a reality. The label was granted A$20,000. Below Par became a part of Australian Independent Records Labels Association (AIR) — similar to the Australian Recording Industry Association
(ARIA), except independent-based — and then went on to sign Australian bands Something with Numbers
and the now defunct For Amusement Only and Last Year’s Hero. They established a relationship with national independent distributor Inertia Music, which stocked their releases in both independent and chain retailers.
In January 2003, Below Par travelled to Los Angeles
and New York City
to meet of labels, artists, managers and agencies. They signed, toured and released an EP
(Wake the Silent Day) for the American band In the Grey, and then signed Brand New
. In October 2003, they signed unknown Melbourne band Kisschasy
and soon after announced a deal with Eleven: A Music Company
.
Below Par has since worked with Jim Ward
of Sparta
, American rap rock
artist MC Lars
and pop punk
band Yellowcard
.
, it was titled Kisschasy: The Movie
. The film was nominated for an ARIA Award
for Best Music DVD and made Rolling Stone
's Top Music DVDs for 2006 list. In 2007, Al-Attas started a film production company called Robot Academy Films with producer Matt Wardle.
The company's first project is a feature-length documentary on the explosion of punk rock in the 90s, titled One Nine Nine Four
, which he is writing and directing. The documentary is narrated by skateboarder Tony Hawk
and features interviews and footage of various bands and figures in the punk scene including Billie Joe Armstrong
of Green Day
, Dexter Holland
from The Offspring
, Tim Armstrong
from Rancid
and Fat Mike
from NOFX
. Mark Hoppus
and Tom DeLonge
from Blink-182
also appear in the film.
Below Par Records
Below Par Records is an Australian independent record label established in 2000 by three sixteen year old Sydney high school students, Jai Al-Attas, Mark Catanzariti and Steven Chalker.In 2001, Matt Hawkes replaced Steven Chalker as the third partner...
and the writer and director of the 2009 documentary film
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
One Nine Nine Four
One Nine Nine Four
One Nine Nine Four is a documentary film written and directed by Jai Al-Attas, "exploring the birth, growth and eventual tipping point of punk rock during the 90's" and produced by the independent Australian company Robot Academy Films...
.
Below Par Records
Al-Attas co-founded Below Par RecordsBelow Par Records
Below Par Records is an Australian independent record label established in 2000 by three sixteen year old Sydney high school students, Jai Al-Attas, Mark Catanzariti and Steven Chalker.In 2001, Matt Hawkes replaced Steven Chalker as the third partner...
(sometimes typeset BelowPARrecords) alongside Mark Catanzariti and Steven Chalker, in 2000. All three were only 16 and still in high school. The label concentrated on signing Australian indie bands, catering for rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
artists and more specifically punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
and its sub genres.
In 2002, the label won the Nescafé Big Break award, which was a Nescafé
Nescafé
Nescafé is a brand of instant coffee made by Nestlé. It comes in the form of many different products. The name is a portmanteau of the words "Nestlé" and "café". Nestlé's flagship powdered coffee product was introduced in Switzerland on April 1, 1938 after being developed for seven or eight years...
innitative, where the company gives away cash grants to people aged between 16 and 24, who have a dream or idea and need some financial support to make it a reality. The label was granted A$20,000. Below Par became a part of Australian Independent Records Labels Association (AIR) — similar to the Australian Recording Industry Association
Australian Recording Industry Association
The Australian Recording Industry Association is a trade group representing the Australian recording industry which was established in 1983 by six major record companies, EMI, Festival, CBS, RCA, WEA and Universal replacing the Association of Australian Record Manufacturers which was formed in 1956...
(ARIA), except independent-based — and then went on to sign Australian bands Something with Numbers
Something with Numbers
Something with Numbers is a rock band based in Australia. The band was formed on the New South Wales Central Coast, in Australia, in 2001. They have released an EP and three studio albums in their 7 year career...
and the now defunct For Amusement Only and Last Year’s Hero. They established a relationship with national independent distributor Inertia Music, which stocked their releases in both independent and chain retailers.
In January 2003, Below Par travelled to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to meet of labels, artists, managers and agencies. They signed, toured and released an EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
(Wake the Silent Day) for the American band In the Grey, and then signed Brand New
Brand New
Brand New is an American rock band from Long Island, New York. Formed in 2000, the band currently consists of vocalist/guitarist/lyricist Jesse Lacey, guitarist/vocalist/lyricist Vincent Accardi, bassist Garrett Tierney, drummer Brian Lane, and guitarist/keyboardist Derrick Sherman.In the late...
. In October 2003, they signed unknown Melbourne band Kisschasy
Kisschasy
Kisschasy are an Australian rock band formed in Victoria, Australia, in 2002. Since forming, their line-up has consisted of lead vocalist Darren Cordeux, bassist Joel Vanderuit, guitarist Sean Thomas and drummer Karl Ammitzboll....
and soon after announced a deal with Eleven: A Music Company
Eleven: A Music Company
Eleven: A Music Company is an Australian record label known for its small but successful roster, including Silverchair and Missy Higgins. The company was founded on 11 November 2000 by leading artist manager John Watson.-History:...
.
Below Par has since worked with Jim Ward
Jim Ward (musician)
James David Ward is an American musician. A self-taught guitarist and pianist, he was the lead singer and rhythm guitarist for the band Sparta; he was also the co-founder of the seminal post-hardcore band At the Drive-In.-At the Drive-In:While in At the Drive-In, Ward played rhythm guitar and...
of Sparta
Sparta (band)
Sparta is an American band from El Paso, Texas, formed in 2001. Founding members Jim Ward and Tony Hajjar are former members of post-hardcore group At the Drive-In...
, American rap rock
Rap rock
Rap rock is a cross-genre fusing vocal and instrumental elements of hip hop with various forms of rock. Rap rock is often confused with rap metal and rapcore, subgenres that include heavy metal-oriented and hardcore punk-oriented bands, respectively....
artist MC Lars
MC Lars
Andrew Robert MacFarlane Nielsen is an American rapper, known by his stage name MC Lars. He is the self-proclaimed originator of "post-punk laptop rap". He was one of the first underground rappers to sample and reference post-punk and emo bands...
and pop punk
Pop punk
Pop punk is a fusion music genre that combines elements of punk rock with pop music, to varying degrees. Allmusic describes the genre as a strand of alternative rock, which typically merges pop melodies with speedy punk tempos, chord changes and loud guitars...
band Yellowcard
Yellowcard
Yellowcard is an American pop punk/alternative rock band formed in Jacksonville, Florida in 1997, and based in Los Angeles, California since 2000. Their music features the use of a violin, unusual for the genre...
.
Filmmaking
In 2006, Jai made his first film, a tour documentary for the Melbourne band KisschasyKisschasy
Kisschasy are an Australian rock band formed in Victoria, Australia, in 2002. Since forming, their line-up has consisted of lead vocalist Darren Cordeux, bassist Joel Vanderuit, guitarist Sean Thomas and drummer Karl Ammitzboll....
, it was titled Kisschasy: The Movie
Kisschasy: The Movie
Kisschasy: The Movie is Kisschasy's first ever official DVD release. Kisschasy: The Movie follows Aussie band Kisschasy as they hit the road for their largest and longest tour to date. This tour covered 37 shows in only six weeks...
. The film was nominated for an ARIA Award
ARIA Music Awards
The Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards is an annual series of awards nights celebrating the Australian music industry, put on by the Australian Recording Industry Association...
for Best Music DVD and made Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
's Top Music DVDs for 2006 list. In 2007, Al-Attas started a film production company called Robot Academy Films with producer Matt Wardle.
The company's first project is a feature-length documentary on the explosion of punk rock in the 90s, titled One Nine Nine Four
One Nine Nine Four
One Nine Nine Four is a documentary film written and directed by Jai Al-Attas, "exploring the birth, growth and eventual tipping point of punk rock during the 90's" and produced by the independent Australian company Robot Academy Films...
, which he is writing and directing. The documentary is narrated by skateboarder Tony Hawk
Tony Hawk
Anthony Frank "Tony" Hawk , nicknamed "The Birdman" is an American retired professional skateboarder and actor. Hawk gained significant fame for completing the first 900 as well as his licensed video game titles distributed by Activision...
and features interviews and footage of various bands and figures in the punk scene including Billie Joe Armstrong
Billie Joe Armstrong
Billie Joe Armstrong is an American rock musician and occasional actor, best known as the lead vocalist, main songwriter and lead guitarist for the American punk rock band Green Day...
of Green Day
Green Day
Green Day is an American punk rock band formed in 1987. The band consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist and backing vocalist Mike Dirnt, and drummer Tre Cool...
, Dexter Holland
Dexter Holland
Bryan Keith "Dexter" Holland is the singer and rhythm guitarist for the California punk rock band The Offspring...
from The Offspring
The Offspring
The Offspring is an American punk rock band from Huntington Beach, California, formed in 1984. Known as Manic Subsidal until 1986, the band consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Dexter Holland, lead guitarist Kevin "Noodles" Wasserman, bassist Greg K. and drummer Pete Parada...
, Tim Armstrong
Tim Armstrong
Timothy Lockwood Armstrong is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer, best known for his work with punk rock bands Rancid, Operation Ivy, Downfall, and the Transplants. He is also the owner and operator of Hellcat Records.-Personal life:Armstrong was born November 25, 1965 and was...
from Rancid
Rancid (band)
Rancid is an American punk rock band formed in Berkeley, California in 1991. Founded by Tim Armstrong and Matt Freeman, both of whom previously played in the ska punk band Operation Ivy, Rancid is credited—along with Green Day and The Offspring—for reviving mainstream interest in punk rock in the...
and Fat Mike
Mike Burkett
Michael John Burkett , better known as Fat Mike is an American musician, producer, lead vocalist, and bassist for the punk rock band NOFX, as well as bassist for the punk rock supergroup cover band Me First and the Gimme Gimmes.-Musical career:The moniker "Fat Mike" was given to Mike by friends...
from NOFX
NOFX
NOFX is an American punk rock band from Los Angeles, California .The band was formed in 1983 by vocalist/bassist Fat Mike and guitarist Eric Melvin. Drummer Erik Sandin joined NOFX shortly after. In 1991 El Hefe joined to play lead guitar and trumpet, rounding out the current line-up...
. Mark Hoppus
Mark Hoppus
Mark Allan Hoppus is an American musician, record producer, and television host. He is the bass guitarist and one of the two lead vocalists of the pop punk band Blink-182, as well as the bass guitarist and lead vocalist of the alternative rock band +44. He is a co-founder of both bands...
and Tom DeLonge
Tom DeLonge
Thomas Matthew "Tom" DeLonge, Jr. is an American rock musician. He is the guitarist and one of the two lead vocalists for the American pop punk band Blink-182 as well as the guitarist and lead vocalist for the alternative band Angels & Airwaves...
from Blink-182
Blink-182
Blink-182 is an American rock band consisting of vocalist and bass guitarist Mark Hoppus, vocalist and guitarist Tom DeLonge, and drummer Travis Barker. They have sold over 27 million albums worldwide since forming in Poway, California in 1992...
also appear in the film.
External links
- onenineninefour.com Official Website for One Nine Nine Four
- Belowpar.org Below Par Records