#SHOWBIZ: Sunset Jam offered something special

New Straits Times

12-07-2025

THE Sunset Jam music event packed a full house as crowds gathered at Heritage Valley in Kuala Lumpur recently for a laid-back showcase hosted by Fly FM and Hot FM, featuring Jakeman, Arif and Alya Kamaluddin, and the anticipated deejay debut of Khairy Jamaluddin, spinning under the name CAGE.
The venue buzzed with anticipation well before sunset, offering ample space to dance, chill and grab coffee from the pop-up vendor.
People of all stripes streamed in, from regular party-goers to curious onlookers who've never seen a former politician work the turntables.
Everyone came for one thing, and it was to see if KJ could actually DJ or if they'd witness an epic fail.
The evening kicked off with Arif and Alya, who proved they belonged on the lineup.
Arif bounced through rhythm-heavy sets peppered with playful samples that had the early crowd nodding along, while Alya's layered electronic beats with smooth transitions that showcased real skill behind the decks.
Both drew the early arrivals in and kept the feet moving, laying the foundation for what was to come.
When CAGE finally stepped into the booth for his first-ever DJ set, the energy shifted.
Here was a man who'd spent years navigating political stages now facing his biggest test yet: making a room full of strangers dance to his beat.
KJ then took the crowd on a nostalgic journey through his personal greatest hits, a curated blend of timeless anthems from "This Is How We Do It" to "Islands in the Stream," seamlessly mixed with recent chart-toppers like "Espresso".
The setlist felt like flipping through the pages of a beloved mixtape with each transition sparking cheers of recognition.
Were there stumbles? Absolutely. Transitions fell flat at first, beats missed their cue, and some drops dragged longer than necessary.
But considering he'd trained for just two weeks under the guidance of DJ Julian Fernandez from DJs Playground, CAGE did rather well.
"I wanted something familiar, to play stuff that people know," KJ explained about his track selection, and it showed because it felt like this was all about creating a shared experience.
People weren't just nodding along, they were singing full choruses with hands up, turning the place into a living-room dancefloor.
For someone with zero professional DJ experience, CAGE demonstrated something you can't teach: the ability to read a room and keep people engaged.
Years of public speaking had clearly prepared him for this different kind of performance.
Jakeman wrapped the evening with a closing set that reminded everyone what professional DJing sounds like.
He brought out the classics, which included smoothly sliding in Datuk Sheila Majid's iconic hit "Sinaran" and delivered the kind of flawless performance that gave the evening its perfect sendoff.
By the end, Sunset Jam proved that you can throw a massive, well-produced party without losing the connection that makes these events special.
The crowd hadn't just come to be impressed, but they'd come to move, connect, and be part of something fun.
As for CAGE, he may be new behind the decks, but judging by the cheers and the genuine smiles among the audience, this probably won't be his last set.
There was something refreshing about watching someone embrace being a beginner again, especially when they do it with such enthusiasm.
With Sunset Jam 2.0 already on everyone's mind and social media buzzing with videos of the event's highlights, this might be the start of something special.