Myo Kyawt Myaing

Myo Kyawt Myaing (; ; born 29 April 1971) is a Burmese singer, record producer and audio engineer. He was one of the most successful Burmese singers in the 1990s and 2000s, and is considered one of the most influential recording artists for having introduced rap music to Myanmar.

Early life Myo Kyawt Myaing was born on 29 April 1971 in Yangon to May May Tin, a teacher, and Kyawt Myaing, a pilot with the Union of Burma Airways. The youngest of four siblings, he has two elder sisters and an elder brother. From his father's side, Myaing has Mon ancestry, and hails from a long line of British colonial era senior civil servants and Konbaung period nobility. He grew up in the affluent Seven-Mile Junction neighborhood, and attended the elite TTC School.

Career

1989–2000 It was during this hiatus that his music career began in earnest. He had been dabbling in songwriting since 1986, and in 1989 founded a band called Virus 3. He came to decide that he would continue his education in a field related to music, and he enrolled at the SAE Institute, Singapore in 1990. After graduating from the school with a degree in audio and music production in 1992, The album consisted of mostly Eurodance-influenced tracks such as "Einmet Met De" and more conventional pop songs like "A-Chit Mya Zwa A-Twet" but also contained a remixed rap version of J Maung Maung's classic "Kyanaw Ma Kaung Bu". He followed up with his 1994 album Virus 3, whose title track "Rap N Roll" was essentially Eurodance-themed rap. Both albums were well received, and were to leave a lasting influence on the local music scene. He came to be recognized as the "godfather of Burmese rap" and someone who "introduced rap to Burmese listeners."

2000–06 Despite his notoriety as a rap pioneer, Myaing had always considered himself more than a rapper. His musical sensibilities lay more with remixing Eurodance and American rap hits and with creating more soulful, if heavily synthesized, love songs. His third album 2000 Remix (2000) showcased not only his remixing skills but also his songwriting skills. To be sure, his songwriting, like that of most Burmese pop songwriters of the day, consisted mainly of sampling or covering foreign songs and inserting Burmese lyrics in them. The artists he has sampled/covered range from the likes of Dr. Dre, Eminem, Snoop Dogg, NWA He has also remixed and covered several Burmese hits of previous eras, ranging from older covers of Western songs like Gangawdaw Myo Aung's "Moe Baw Hma Nay Gyin De" to older original-tune hits like Mar Mar Aye's "Sinza Ya Ohn Me". A few of his songs are influenced by A-ha, one of his favorite music bands.

The 2000s saw his music increasingly charting its own course. The Burmese rap/hip-hop scene was turning more hardcore, with the success of Acid's debut album Sa-Tin Chein (2000). To be sure, he never completely abandoned his rap roots or bravado. His 2004 "My Name is Myo Kyawt Myaing" announces that: His latest album Pyissoppan, featuring Alex and Yan Yan Chan, was released in 2013.

Myaing has devoted part of his time to teaching audio engineering since 2013 when he began working as a lecturer at the Myanmar Media Development Center. He married Jan Jann on 1 May 2013. The marriage ended in divorce in 2016. Remarried with Thin Thant Thant Thu in 2022.

Discography

Albums Moe Dway Ywa Nay Chein Khana (1992) Virus 3 (1994) 2000 Remix (2000) A-Haung-Zon Tay Mya (1998) Thadi Ya Yin Pi Da Be (2000) with Kabya Bwe Hmu A-Kaung-Zon Tay Mya (2004) – Greatest Hits My Name is Myo Kyawt Myaing (2001) Myo Kyawt Myaing.Com(2002) Lu Phyit Ya De Dokkha (2004) Da-Ge Ma Chit Phe Ne (2009) with Htun Aeindra Bo Gaba Gyi A-Pyin-Bet (1993) Pyissoppan (2013) with Alex, Yan Yan Chan

Compilation albums According to the Burmese music site, Myanmar MP3, Myo Kyawt Myaing has participated in at least 34 compilation albums.

TV show He was involved as a Judge in Myanmar Idol season 3 (2018).