Sabah guitarist rebuilds his life, one song and stage at a time.

The Star

5 days ago

WHEN the pandemic struck, everything stopped for self-taught guitarist Cristopher Aban – the gigs, the hotel crowds, the competitions, and eventually, even his ability to hold on to his prized instruments.
To keep his wife, daughter, and pet dog safe and fed, he made the heartbreaking decision to sell almost all his guitars – the very tools of his trade and passion.
'It was the darkest time of my life,' said Cristopher, 37. 'I didn't know if I would ever perform again. But I knew I had to survive. I had to protect my family.'
Slowly, he began to rebuild – picking up small gigs, borrowing instruments when he could, and finding his way back to the stage one performance at a time.
It wasn't just his career he had to restore – it was his confidence, too.
Today, Cristopher is back on stage – not just playing but now attempting something that once terrified him: writing original music.
'Songwriting is not my repertoire, but I'm challenging myself,' he said. 'My next goal is to release a single. Not just instrumentals – but something that tells a story.'
Born and raised in Sandakan, a coastal town in eastern Sabah about 300km northeast of Kota Kinabalu, Cristopher first picked up the guitar at the age of nine.
With no formal training, he taught himself through YouTube videos, trial and error, and the early guidance of his brother.
'I cried a lot when people laughed at me,' he recalled. 'My fingers were too short to play some chords, and I almost gave up. But my brother told me not to quit. So I just kept playing.'
That journey of frustration and persistence eventually blossomed into a lifelong pursuit of excellence.
Over the years, Cristopher developed his own unique fingerstyle jazz approach – taking him from his bedroom to national competitions and international stages.
His early breakthrough came in 2003 when he placed first runner-up at the Bunyi Guitar Festival at Dewan Istana Budaya in Kuala Lumpur.
He later clinched the title at the Tommy Emmanuel Get Inspired Fingerstyle Competition in 2010 and went on to win the Borneo International Guitar Festival in Kota Kinabalu in 2013.
He was a finalist on RTM2's Bakat TV, has performed on Astro's Muzik Ekstra, and appeared at major events such as the World Youth Jazz Festival in Putrajaya, KK Jazz Festival (2018), and Sepilok Jazz in Sandakan.
'Each performance taught me something new,' he said.
'About myself, the craft, and the audience.'
From 2013 to 2019, he was the resident performer at Four Points by Sheraton Sandakan, regularly entertaining hotel guests and at private events.
By 2020, Cristopher's calendar was packed with events and performances.
Then Covid-19 hit – and the silence that followed was deafening.
'All jobs were cancelled. There were no performances, no events. We didn't know when things would return.'
To make ends meet, Cristopher took on odd jobs and eventually had to part with his guitars – each one a piece of his identity.
'But my wife never gave up on me. She supported me emotionally, spiritually. My daughter gave me the strength to push on. I owe everything to them.'
Cristopher is now working on his first lyrical single – a new chapter after two instrumental albums, The Pedestrian and A Stage, A Guitar and a Song, co-produced with Japanese fingerstyle guitarist Yuta Tanaka between 2014 and 2015.
'These titles represent my journey,' he said. 'I'm a pedestrian. I take things one step at a time, one stage at a time.'
He continues to perform at local showcases and festivals, including Rhythm of Rimba in Sandakan, and is more focused than ever on telling stories through music.
Beyond the personal comeback, Cristopher has a bigger vision – not just for himself, but for his hometown's music scene.
'I hope to become more successful and to bring more colour to the music industry in Sandakan,' he said. 'I also hope more Sandakanians will appreciate acoustic fingerstyle guitar music.'
Having already checked off some dream stages like the World Youth Jazz Fest in Putrajaya (2014) and the KK Jazz Festival (2018), he now sets his sights even higher.
'One of my dreams is to be able to perform on a bigger stage,' he said. 'It's on my bucket list – and I believe it's possible.'
'I'm not chasing fame. I just want to tell my story, and maybe help someone else feel less alone,' he said.
'Music gave me everything – now I hope it can give something to others, too.'