6 days ago
Cakra Khan wows KLCC, announces break
KUALA LUMPUR - The powerful and emotionally charged vocals of Indonesian star Cakra Khan captivated nearly 3,000 fans at his solo Divine Concert-Cakra Khan at the Plenary Hall, KLCC, here on Saturday.
Known for his uniquely raspy voice, Cakra - whose real name is Cakra Konta Paryaman, 33, - performed 26 heartfelt songs during the nearly three-hour concert organised by Shiraz Projects.
The concert opened at 8.45 pm with a medley of three popular songs: Setelah Kau Tiada, followed by Persinggahan and Mencari Cinta Sejati, before he greeted fans and admitted to being a little nervous about giving his best performance.
"Assalamualaikum WBT. How is everyone doing? Praise be to Allah SWT for giving me the opportunity to be here tonight with all of you, who are absolutely amazing. I had nasi lemak earlier, so I can speak a bit of KL Malay now (laughs). Being on this stage is nerve-wracking - I'm afraid I might forget the lyrics - but I'm lucky to have all of you here tonight. Thank you, everyone,' he quipped.
Backed by more than 10 musicians, including violin, cello, saxophone, keyboard, bass, guitar, trumpet, and drums, the performance continued with a string of hits from his second album such as Kau Memilih Dia, Salah Tapi Baik, Nanti, Tak Sejalan, Take The Pain, and Cahaya.
The powerful and emotionally charged vocals of Indonesian star Cakra Khan captivated nearly 3,000 fans at his solo Divine Concert-Cakra Khan at the Plenary Hall, KLCC on Saturday. - Photo by Bernama
Cakra didn't just perform solo - he also featured five guest singers: Trio XL, Titi DJ, Faisal Lubis, Marsha Milan, and Ade Govinda.
"I had the honour of being a judge for the One in a Million talent show. I felt lucky to witness so many amazing talents there. I invited Trio XL to join me in performing Rindu Tak Bersuara - they have a solid classical foundation. I've studied classical music for a long time myself, but honestly, I haven't reached that level yet,' said Cakra, who is a fan of Luciano Pavarotti's work.
One of the most touching moments came when Cakra dedicated the concert to his late father Hermana, his source of strength and inspiration since he entered the music industry in 2012. Hermana passed away due to a stroke in 2020.
"In my village, during wedding celebrations, even outsiders can attend. So my dad would take me on his motorcycle to any wedding that had musical performances, just so I could sing.
"Sadly, my late father didn't get the chance to attend my first concert here. Every performance I give today is dedicated to him and everyone who has supported me since the beginning,' said Cakra, who also sang Mencintaimu, originally performed by Kris Dayanti.
The atmosphere turned lively when Cakra stepped off the stage and interacted with fans, walking around the hall while singing Treasure, Never Felt So Good, and September.
The crowd erupted in cheers when the Pangandaran, West Java-born singer performed Bunyi Gitar, a classic by the legendary Tan Sri P. Ramlee.
"I love P. Ramlee's songs and truly idolise him. Hopefully in the future, I'll be able to sing more of his classics,' he said.
However, the mood turned solemn when Cakra announced he would be taking a break after this concert to focus on creating new material, following three consecutive years of performing in Malaysia.
"Thank you for the incredible support you've given me every time I perform here. Honestly, I've decided to take a break (from concerts) after this. It's been three straight years of concerts in Malaysia,' he said, visibly tearing up.
Cakra previously performed at the A Decade Cakra Khan Live In Kuala Lumpur concert in 2023 and returned with a similarly titled concert last year.
As a closing number and farewell to his fans, Cakra performed Harus Terpisah - the hit that propelled him to fame in Malaysia - followed by I Will Always Love You, originally by Whitney Houston, delivered with stunning vocals. - BERNAMA
