RAP dance group Anonymous, started by three brothers D-Virus, Riyo and Small are releasing a new album entitled Hna Lone Thar Wi Nyin (Spirit Of The Heart) on CD and VCD in October. Anonymous are from Mandalay and though its taken some time for them to record an album, they’re finally ready to hit the mainstream.

Timeout: When did you start the group?

Anonymous: We started the group around eight years ago. At first we were only a dance group and had no plans to sing. At the time, the group was just me and my friend but when we came to Yangon to perform my friend got depressed and quit the group leaving just me. When I went back to Mandalay I started again with my two brothers.

Why did your friend become depressed and quit?

I think he was homesick. Whenever I practised dance he would always be asleep. It seemed like he missed someone a lot.

How successful have you been in the past eight years?

Only some fans know our name. When we go to places further afield and perform, audiences can sing along with us. We were involved in the T-Home album water festival album in 2007. We sang two songs “Ka Kya Soh” (Let’s Dance) and “Pyan Khe” (Come Back).

In the past eight years why have you only released songs on one compilation album?

We have had to prepare for a long time because I needed to teach my younger brothers how to dance. We have had to choose songs carefully and without much money it has taken us a long time to release an album. We have also had to learn dance steps by ourselves and while preparing and practising steps, other people would use the song that we chose causing further delay in releasing our album.

What kind of songs and dance do you do?

The genre of dance is popping and the song style is pop and rap.

Why did you choose this sort of dance?

When I watched Michael Jackson and the Back Street Boys dance I really liked it, so I learned it. It’s like a robot dance.

How do you learn dance?

I watch and learn from dance DVDs and practise very hard. I have watched most of the dance DVDs that have been released lately, such as Korean popping dance.

Do find it difficult to sing and dance at the same time?

It is very difficult. We have to hold and control the microphone so we can’t dance as much as we would like to. But I’m happy to do both.

What are your foreign influences?

There are a lot of danc-ers who have really influ-enced me. Most of them are Korean dance groups. I like Big Bang Super Junior and I also like Rain. Even though he has a big body he can dance really well.