Mal Webb
Encyclopedia
Mal Webb is a multi-instrumentalist
and has performed in various groups in the Australian music scene. Webb is known for an eclectic range of musical styles, techniques and his vocal talents, which include sideways yodeling
, a variety of overtone singing
styles, extensive use of falsetto
and beatboxing
. When performing live he employs a loop pedal that allows him to record a loop live and then sing and play over the top of the loop. This allows him a lot more depth of sound. He plays guitar
, trombone
, slide trumpet
, chromatic harmonica
and the mbira
. He has been a member of many bands over the years and is a founding member of the Oxo Cubans, Sock and Totally Gourdgeous and has played with The Cat Empire
, Ross Wilson on John Safran
's Music Jamboree
and Kaya
on X Factor. He was musical director of Wogs Out of Work and he wrote, played and recorded the music for The Adventures of Lano and Woodley
TV show, as well as collaborating on Lano and Woodley
's album, Sing Songs. He has released 3 solo CDs: Trainer Wheels, 3 Cheers for Peace & Quiet, and Dodgy, alongside many CDs recorded with various other bands with whom he has been affiliated. And he has a live/instructional DVD called "Live and Instructional".
Mal appeared on the "Look What They Did to My Song" segment on Spicks and Specks on 4 October 2006.
Multi-instrumentalist
A multi-instrumentalist is a musician who plays a number of different instruments.The Bachelor of Music degree usually requires a second instrument to be learned , but people who double on another instrument are not usually seen as multi-instrumentalists.-Classical music:Music written for Symphony...
and has performed in various groups in the Australian music scene. Webb is known for an eclectic range of musical styles, techniques and his vocal talents, which include sideways yodeling
Yodeling
Yodeling is a form of singing that involves singing an extended note which rapidly and repeatedly changes in pitch from the vocal or chest register to the falsetto/head register; making a high-low-high-low sound.The English word yodel is derived from a German word jodeln meaning "to...
, a variety of overtone singing
Overtone singing
Overtone singing, also known as overtone chanting, or harmonic singing, is a type of singing in which the singer manipulates the resonances created as air travels from the lungs, past the vocal folds, and out the lips to produce a melody.The partials of a sound wave made by the human voice can be...
styles, extensive use of falsetto
Falsetto
Falsetto is the vocal register occupying the frequency range just above the modal voice register and overlapping with it by approximately one octave. It is produced by the vibration of the ligamentous edges of the vocal folds, in whole or in part...
and beatboxing
Beatboxing
Beatboxing is a form of vocal percussion primarily involving the art of producing drum beats, rhythm, and musical sounds using one's mouth, lips, tongue, and voice. It may also involve singing, vocal imitation of turntablism, and the simulation of horns, strings, and other musical instruments...
. When performing live he employs a loop pedal that allows him to record a loop live and then sing and play over the top of the loop. This allows him a lot more depth of sound. He plays guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, trombone
Trombone
The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
, slide trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
, chromatic harmonica
Harmonica
The harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
and the mbira
Mbira
In African music, the mbira is a musical instrument that consists of a wooden board to which staggered metal keys have been attached. It is often fitted into a resonator...
. He has been a member of many bands over the years and is a founding member of the Oxo Cubans, Sock and Totally Gourdgeous and has played with The Cat Empire
The Cat Empire
The Cat Empire are an Australian ska and jazz band formed in 1999. Core members are Harry James Angus , Will Hull-Brown , Jamshid "Jumps" Khadiwhala , Ollie McGill , Ryan Monro and Felix Riebl...
, Ross Wilson on John Safran
John Safran
John Safran is an Australian documentary maker and radio broadcaster, known for combining humour with explorations into religion and other issues...
's Music Jamboree
John Safran's Music Jamboree
John Safran's Music Jamboree was a light-hearted Australian music documentary television series, hosted by John Safran for SBS television...
and Kaya
The X Factor (Australian TV series)
The X Factor is an Australian television reality music competition, adapted from the original UK series to find new singing talent. The first season began in 2005 and was originally broadcast on Network Ten, until the show got cancelled due to poor ratings...
on X Factor. He was musical director of Wogs Out of Work and he wrote, played and recorded the music for The Adventures of Lano and Woodley
The Adventures of Lano and Woodley
The Adventures of Lano and Woodley is an Australian comedy television show starring the comedic duo of Lano and Woodley , consisting of two series which aired on ABC TV from 1997 to 1999...
TV show, as well as collaborating on Lano and Woodley
Lano and Woodley
Lano and Woodley were one of Australia's most successful Australian comedy duos of the 1990s and 2000s. They are perhaps most famous for their stand-up comedy and slapstick theatre, as well as their television show The Adventures of Lano and Woodley, which aired on the ABC network in 1997 and...
's album, Sing Songs. He has released 3 solo CDs: Trainer Wheels, 3 Cheers for Peace & Quiet, and Dodgy, alongside many CDs recorded with various other bands with whom he has been affiliated. And he has a live/instructional DVD called "Live and Instructional".
Mal appeared on the "Look What They Did to My Song" segment on Spicks and Specks on 4 October 2006.
Discography
solo- Trainer Wheels (2000)
- 3 Cheers for Peace & Quiet (2006)
- Dodgy (2009)