In the gritty corners of Kuching’s underground music scene, The Outsider’s Edge (TOE) has carved out a reputation for raw honesty and unflinching storytelling. Formed in 2008 as a schoolyard project, the band has since evolved into a powerhouse of sound and emotion, blending alternative rock influences with deeply personal narratives. Known for turning pain into melody and resilience into rhythm, TOE stands as a voice for misfits, dreamers, and those wrestling with life’s darker chapters.
‘The Outsider’s Edge’ rocks mental health awareness
BUILT on struggles and resistance, local underground band ‘The Outsider’s Edge’ (TOE) reflects strongly on mental health and life’s storytelling through the music they play. As their latest music video ‘Hello’ was released, the song is a testimony of life’s challenges with mental health, a testament to seeking help in the shadows of the abyss.
To commemorate World Suicide Prevention Day, TOE emphasises a greater highlight for those with depression. According to the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2023, about 1,000,000 Malaysians aged 16 and above are suffering from depression, with half of them having thoughts of self-harm and suicide.
Additionally, the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) reports that the number of suicide cases has increased from 641 in 2020 to 1,068 in 2023. Thus, it is timely to address this, and for TOE, the focus on mental health is vital. Expressing through music, its founder, Dean Miguel Jackson, shared his hopes with ‘Hello’ as a song that could help others in those silent hours.
Inspired by his own journey as a suicide survivor, Dean’s attempt in 2020 came after struggling with the death of his mother for many years.
“It’s a song about grieving, battling with depression, and seeking help,” he added, noting that his mother had passed away when he was 17, and since then, he knew he wasn’t alright.
A song composed dear to his heart, alongside TOE band members, they produced the song and a music video, as they believe that, “there is always a second chance in life, and a light at the end of the tunnel”.
TOE got together in 2008, with extended members over the years. Today, it consists of five members with different characteristics that blend and become the sound of TOE.
About the band members
Dean Miguel Jackson (Founder, Singer, Guitarist, Composer):
Founded in 2008, the band began as a secondary school passion project that became a lifelong pursuit, growing from jam sessions into a defining part of their identity. In the beginning, the band was inspired by grunge giants from the ’90s such as Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Soundgarden, and Stone Temple Pilots. Today, Dean and the band have evolved into alternative rock and nu metal.
During his younger days, he was mostly behind the drums, but by Form Four, his interest shifted to the guitar, and he self-taught himself to play the instrument. Dean started off by playing Nirvana’s ‘Come as You Are’. In 2010, he began writing a song based on a journal he had written. It then progressed to writing two songs in a week.
Nevertheless, his jazz-singer late mother was sceptical of his interest in music, as she believed that being a musician could not bring much bread to the table.
Despite this, Dean, who is a suicide survivor, found that by expressing himself through words, he could create songs, each with its own personality and stories echoing the struggles and pain he feels.
His vision of wanting a band that could have different sounds, when merged together, aims to create a unique voice that speaks volumes. As the founder of TOE, he was influenced by the sounds of Foo Fighters, Incubus, and P.O.D.
Sharing the name The Outsider’s Edge, it relates to a wrestling move. With the concept of lifting up the opponent – here representing the struggles of life – the band’s name reflects the stories and sounds of each musician, each fighting the challenges in their journey.
Farouk Kamil (Main Guitarist):
A Kuching-based guitarist, producer, and session musician; Farouk’s playing lives somewhere between intricate riffs, soulful melodies, and a mix of influences that don’t always play by the rules. Picking up the guitar at 11, he was already hooked.
Farouk was shaped by the sounds of Incubus, Linkin Park, Jimi Hendrix, Tom Misch, Mansur Brown, and J-rock bands like Tricot and Number Girl. Outside the guitar world, he has always had a deep love for hip hop, jazz, and neo-soul, which quietly shape his approach to tone, rhythm, and melody.
Since 2016, he has been an active part of Kuching’s music scene, playing in bands, sessioning for local acts, and experimenting across genres. A lot of his growth has come from his work at his studio, AOK Records, where he produces, records, and arranges music for a wide range of artistes. That environment pushed him to explore sounds outside his comfort zone and taught him how to craft arrangements that feel both fresh and memorable.
His style leans on creating riffs and solos that blend jazz-influenced phrasing with heavier, guitar-driven energy. That’s what caught Dean’s attention, who reached out because they shared similar influences.
Without a second thought, Farouk joined, and he and Dean then wrote ‘Betrayal’, a track born from the emotions of Farouk’s recent breakup, turning something personal into music that speaks to others.
Brian Chan (Bassist):
With music being the essence of his life since childhood, Brian was very blessed to have the sounds of classical music alongside the ever-green hits of Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, Boney M, and others playing at home or on the cassette player in his dad’s second-generation Proton in the early to mid-90s.
His first delvings into playing music were in 1996, being introduced to two important albums: Nirvana and Alice in Chains’ MTV Unplugged albums. The sound and the message clicked within him. A part of him has always wanted to do it: to make that an extension of his otherwise stifled expression, as he was (and still is, kinda) an introvert and a nerd.
That changed a year or two down the road – Kurt Cobain mentioned the names of bands that influenced him in his bleak youth in Aberdeen, which started Brian’s deep dive into music. As cliched and utterly melodramatic as it may sound, it saved his life.
He met Dean while starting out in his other band, Epoch Vultures. Dean saw Brian’s first gig at Haus in 2018, but they didn’t meet until Alexander Ang (Epoch Vultures’ drummer) introduced them, as Dean needed artwork for what later became the song ‘Hello’.
While working on the project, Brian and Dean bonded over music, discovering they had admiration for bands like Nirvana and Deftones, delving into the storytelling aspect of songwriting. That struck him most about TOE’s music: how every dynamic laid by each part of the band plays a crucial role in telling a story, much like cast ensembles in a Martin Scorsese or Quentin Tarantino film, building into a finale. Clearly, this was a band with a grand vision.
A few months after doing the artwork for ‘Hello’, Dean offered Brian to join The Outsider’s Edge as their bass guitarist.
Muhammad Fattah (Guitarist):
Fattah’s introduction to indie music began at age nine with a track by The Times, ‘Ghost n Flower’. This early encounter sparked a lifelong passion for music, setting the stage for his journey into alternative sounds. During high school, he was introduced to Malaysian bands like Hujan, Bittersweet, Butterfingers, Muck, Damn Dirty Apes, and They Will Kill Us All. This broadened his musical horizons and led him to discover international bands such as Nirvana, The Strokes, Interpol, The Cribs, Slint, and New Order.
His exploration didn’t stop there. He continued to dive deeper into various genres, searching for his own identity. This journey eventually led him to form his first band, Sweet Old Bomb. He was heavily inspired by bands like My Bloody Valentine, Sonic Youth, Sebadoh, and Swervedriver, all influencing his guitar playing, particularly in creating riffs and melodies.
It was during this phase of his growth that he met Dean. He first saw TOE perform at a gig in Serian in 2013. Initially a bassist for TOE, he later contributed his own style on guitar.
Mark Jayson Ortega (Drummer):
Mark started a punk rock band in his hometown, The Philippines, in 2004 as a guitarist. They participated in a few ‘Battle of the Band’ competitions and various production gigs. In 2009, he began exploring other genres and started learning drums from YouTube. He went from mellow to rock until 2016.
In 2017, he moved to Manila to pursue his passion further, learning a new craft and gathering ideas about the entertainment and music industry for two years.
In 2020, Mark came to Kuching, Sarawak, for a broader experience. He realised there’s a lot more in this industry than he expected. To be part of the music scene and culture in Kuching was an honour. To him, it felt like a dream. Knowing Dean really changed the way he thinks about being an artiste.
Before TOE, he worked in a variety band at a club called The Cottage. After a few months, he was invited to join TOE. Though he is back in the Philippines now, the music and people, especially of TOE, still hold good memories. It was, all in all, the best experience for him.
Past Band Members
Hensly Callitus: TOE’s early bassist, contributed groovy basslines to make the original sound of the band. His contributions are apparent in previous songs such as ‘Mum Said’, ‘Gone by the Winds’ and ‘Noose’, adding his flavour of influences to each track. His understanding of TOE’s composition style was important, as their early style leaned more toward teen angst.
Brandon Jude Speldewinde: Lead guitarist, brought thrash metal and 90s grunge influences, adding a new sound to TOE. He contributed to songwriting, including the track ‘Borneo Sound’, incorporating sape playing and ending the chorus with a loud grungy tone. Brandon also changed the tuning from Standard/Drop D to Drop C, making the band sound even more powerful.
Ferdinand Alister Charles: Punk-style drummer, drove the refinement of TOE’s technical beats, making a once-basic rhythm into a heavy, technical sound. His contributions included teaching the band metronome use and playing in half-time signatures.
These past members recorded the band’s first self-titled 2014 EP, Borneo Sound Symphony, a six-track collection:
- Summer Time
- Mum Said
- Gone By The Winds
- Noose
- Borneo Sound
- Drunk People Never Lie
The EP was recorded at Ferdinand’s house, taking seven months of preparation and dedication. They spent hours late into the night finding the right tone and sound for each song. The EP is available on SoundCloud. All tracks were recorded, mixed, and mastered by Ferdinand.
