{{Short description|Malaysian electric violinist, pianist, songwriter and producer}} {{COI|date=January 2026}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2024}} {{Infobox person | name = Dennis Lau | image = Dennis Lau.png | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1985|9|9|df=y}} | birth_place = Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia | occupation = {{hlist|Violinist|pianist|composer|producer}} | years_active = 2006–present | website = {{URL|https://dennislau.thechosen.io/}} }}
'''Dennis Lau''' (born 9 September 1985) is a Malaysian electric violinist, pianist, songwriter and producer based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He released his debut album ''DiversiFy'' in 2009.
== Early life == Dennis Lau was born on 9 September 1985 in Teluk Intan, Ipoh, Perak. His father, Lau Chee Chun, worked in the corporate sector, and his mother, Chuah Chai Eng, was a pianist. Lau began playing the piano at age three and started violin lessons at age eight.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-10-21 |title=From Fire and Ashes, Dennis Lau Rises |url=https://www.augustman.com/my/entertainment/music/from-fire-and-ashes-dennis-lau-rises/ |access-date=2024-03-14 |website=AugustMan Malaysia |language=en-US}}</ref>
Lau holds several qualifications in classical piano, including the ATCL (Associate of Trinity College London), AMusA (Associate Diploma in Music, Australia), ABRSM (Associate Board of the Royal Schools of Music) and LGSM (Licentiate of the Guildhall of Music).<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |title=Seasoned violinist to appear on Asia Uncut |url=https://www.ucsiuniversity.edu.my/sites/default/files/13mar2010newstraitstimes.pdf |work=New Straits Times}}</ref>
== Education == Lau attended UCSI University in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He graduated in 2006 with a Bachelor of Music under the Newcastle Australian Music Degree Program,<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Dennis Lau |url=https://www.blackburninternational.com/artists/dennis-lau/ |access-date=2024-03-14 |website=Global Cruise Entertainment {{!}} Blackburn International Entertainment Agency |language=en-US}}</ref> majoring in violin at the School of Music. The release of his album ''DiversiFy'' (Limited Edition) in 2010 included a short film screened at the university.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |date=2019-01-28 |title=NON-STOP CREATIVITY! FORMER UCSI UNIVERSITY STUDENT RE-LAUNCHES MUSIC ALBUM WITH NEW TRACKS, FILM |url=https://www.ucsiuniversity.edu.my/non-stop-creativity-former-ucsi-university-student-re-launches-music-album-new-tracks-film |access-date=2024-03-14 |website=UCSI University |language=en}}</ref>
During his studies, Lau performed as a soloist with the Universiti Malaya Symphony Orchestra (UMSO) for Sultan Azlan Shah. He also worked as a regular session musician with the RTM Orchestra and National Symphony Orchestra, and held the position of first violinist for the Malaysian Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (MPYO).<ref name=":3" />
In 2006, Lau collaborated with David Tao during Tao's "Love Can" concert.<ref name=":6" />
== Career == Lau performed with the jazz band James Boyle and the Ragged Tigers at the Penang Island Jazz Festival and the Genting International Jazz Festival.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Yumpu.com |title=Front Page - Dennis Lau |url=https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/7448907/front-page-dennis-lau |access-date=2024-03-15 |website=yumpu.com |language=en}}</ref>
In 2007, he founded Mosaic Music Entertainment and Mosaic Movie Productions.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=2012-08-24 |title=Dennis Lau's "Gotcha Style" Creates Waves - Hype MY |url=https://hype.my/2012/5632/dennis-laus-gotcha-style-creates-waves/ |access-date=2024-03-14 |language=en-US}}</ref>
Lau released his first album, ''DiversiFy'', in November 2009. The album featured classical music fused with jazz, hip-hop, and R&B styles.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news |last=Teh |first=Jo |date=6 December 2009 |title=Nimble fingers at work |url=https://ch.ucsiuniversity.edu.my/sites/default/files/06dec2009thestar.pdf |work=The Star}}</ref> It was distributed by Sony Music Entertainment Malaysia. ''DiversiFy'' received the Best Producer award at the Voice Independent Music Awards (VIMA) 2009.<ref name=":6" />
A limited edition of ''DiversiFy'' was released in November 2010. This version included trailers, behind-the-scenes footage, a soundtrack,<ref name=":8" /> and three bonus tracks. It featured collaborations with Altimet on "Syukur" and saxophonist Jimmy Sax on "Reflection". Lau produced a short film, "Prelude in F Minor", directed by Adrian Lai and starring Daphne Iking and Steve Yap. The film was sponsored by UCSI University and launched at Zouk KL.<ref name=":20">{{Cite news |last=Chua |first=D |date=3 October 2010 |title=From violin prodigy to filmmaker |url=https://ch.ucsiuniversity.edu.my/sites/default/files/03oct2010nst.pdf |work=New Sunday Times |pages=24}}</ref>
In 2010, Lau collaborated with beatboxer Shawn Lee on the project "Unity of Arts".<ref name=":21">{{Cite web |title=Shawn Lee – MALAYSIA WORLD HERITAGE TRAVEL SITE |url=https://www.worldheritage.com.my/blog/tag/shawn-lee/ |access-date=2024-03-18 |language=en-US}}</ref>
In August 2012, Lau released the single "Gotcha Style", featuring Moots of Pop Shuvit, Thanuja Ananthan, and Bernard Chandran.<ref name=":6" /> Distributed by Sony Music Entertainment, the single debuted on the HITZ.FM English Chart.<ref name=":5" />
In 2014, Lau worked with the National Department for Culture and Arts (JKKN) to publish ''A Malaysian Journey'', an album of classic Malay songs featuring artists such as Amy Search, Siti Nurhaliza, Ning Baizura, and David Arumugam.<ref>{{Cite web |last=CDP |title=A MALAYSIAN JOURNEY DENNIS LAU |url=https://portal.jkkn.gov.my/ms/katalog/penerbitan-cd-dvd-vcd/168-a-malaysian-journey-dennis-lau |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=portal.jkkn.gov.my |language=ms-my}}</ref> An international version, titled ''The Journey'', was released the following year.<ref name=":10">{{Cite web |title=Dennis Lau |url=https://www.deezer.com/en/artist/312005 |access-date=2024-03-15 |website=Deezer |language=en-GB}}</ref> The album took five years to complete and included collaborations with Jojo Struys, Abigail Chew, Michael Leaner, Soo Wincci, Edmond Chong, Yuri Wong, Moots,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ting |first=Loong Wai |date=2015-12-09 |title=Violinist extraordinaire Dennis Lau returns with The Journey [VIDEO] {{!}} New Straits Times |url=https://www.nst.com.my/news/2015/12/116468/violinist-extraordinaire-dennis-lau-returns-journey-video |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=NST Online |language=en}}</ref> and Tat Tong.
Lau held a concert titled "Dennis Lau & Friends: The Phoenix Rising" in Kuala Lumpur in October 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-08-29 |title=Dennis Lau to hold large scale concert with all-star talents |url=https://sg.style.yahoo.com/dennis-lau-hold-large-scale-070400708.html |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=sg.style.yahoo.com |language=en-SG}}</ref>
In 2018, he collaborated with Singaporean musician Hanjin Tan on the tracks "Lafite", "Da Call", and "You Are The Most Beautiful".<ref>{{Cite web |last=CHEANG |first=MICHAEL |title=Dennis Lau and Hanjin Tan's musical collaboration began in a Hong Kong canteen |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/entertainment/2017/09/29/dennis-lau-hanjin-tans-collaboration |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=The Star |date=29 September 2017 |language=en}}</ref> A music video for their earlier composition "Marry Me" was filmed in Donegal, Ireland, in 2016.<ref name=":12">{{Cite web |date=2017-12-19 |title=Phoenix violin features in new collaboration - Emerald Guitars |url=https://emeraldguitars.com/phoenix-violin-new-video/ |access-date=2024-03-27 |language=en-US}}</ref>
In June 2019, Lau held the concert "Dennis Lau & Friends: The Chosen".<ref name=":15">{{Cite web |last=zpharamond |date=2019-05-01 |title=Restless Heart: Dennis Lau Takes On Another Mega Concert |url=https://robbreport.com.my/2019/05/01/restless-heart-dennis-lau-takes-another-mega-concert/ |access-date=2024-03-28 |website=Robb Report Malaysia |language=en-GB}}</ref>
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Lau founded "My Chicken King", a poultry supply business.<ref name=":16">{{Cite web |last=Tindall |first=Monica |date=2020-11-28 |title=Dennis Lau, Ah Lau Food King, Kampung Chicken Delivery |url=https://www.theyumlist.net/2020/11/dennis-lau-kampung-chicken-delivery.html |access-date=2024-03-28 |website=The Yum List |language=en-GB}}</ref> The business later expanded to include other food products under the name "Ah Lau Food King".<ref name=":17">{{Cite news |last=Chua |first=Dennis |date=22 July 2023 |title=#Showbiz: Violin maestro's chicken mission |url=https://www.nst.com.my/lifestyle/groove/2023/07/933548/showbiz-violin-maestros-chicken-mission |work=New Straits Times}}</ref>
== Discography ==
=== Albums === * ''DiversiFy'' (2009) * ''DiversiFy Limited Edition'' (2010) * ''A Malaysian Journey'' (2014) * ''The Journey'' (2015)
=== Singles === * "Abadi Kita" featuring Aisyah Aziz (2017) * "Esok" featuring Aisyah Aziz, Chyme, Dania Hidayah, Dash, Dewi Seriestha, Fara Dolhadi, Jade, Jeryl Lee, Lee Elaine, Natalie, Nursyasya Batrisyia, Razin, Stacy Jean, and Varsha (2017) * "I Wanna Be Free" featuring Jeryl Lee (2017) * "The Good Fight" (2017) * "The Chosen" featuring Adam Izzy (2018) * "ESOK" featuring Fara Dolhadi (2020) * "GLORY" (2023) * "I Won't Go" featuring Amir Masdi (2023)
== Filmography == * ''Nasi Lemak 2.0'' – as Lan Qiao (2011) * ''Hantu Gangster'' – as Ah Hua (2012) * ''The Borneo Incident'' – as a local guide (2013) * ''Nasi Lemak 1.0'' – as Lan Qiao (2022)
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{official website|https://dennislau.thechosen.io/}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lau, Dennis}} Category:1985 births Category:Living people Category:Malaysian people of Chinese descent Category:Malaysian Christians Category:People from Ipoh Category:People from Perak Category:Malaysian violinists Category:Malaysian pianists Category:Malaysian composers Category:Malaysian songwriters Category:Electric violinists Category:Malaysian film actors Category:21st-century Malaysian musicians Category:Malaysian businesspeople