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Hype Malaysia
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hype Malaysia
5 New Indie Tracks From Malaysia & Indonesia That Feel Real, Raw & Relatable
From heartfelt ballads to bold genre crossovers, this week's releases bring a little bit of everything. Whether you're in your feelings or just looking for something fresh to play on repeat, these new tracks from local and regional artists are worth checking out. Here's what's new and why you should give them a listen: LEV – 'Aku Bukan Bosan' Newcomer band LEV makes their official debut under Empayar Masdo with 'Aku Bukan Bosan,' a heartfelt single that explores long-distance love, miscommunication and the quiet sacrifices of men who leave home to provide for their families. Written by vocalist Leo Azman and produced by Andi from Indonesian band Fourtwnty, the track captures the emotional weight of unreturned calls and unread messages – not as signs of neglect, but of silent perseverance. With its honest lyrics and grounded storytelling, the song reflects real-life struggles that many Malaysians can relate to. LEV's sincere approach to songwriting marks a strong start for the trio, positioning them as one of the local music scene's most promising new acts. Listen on Spotify or other digital platforms. empty page – 'Menyesal' Alternative pop-rock trio empty page returns with their latest single 'menyesal,' a melancholic anthem about carrying the emotional weight of someone else's decisions. Written by frontman Zic and composed alongside Zac and drummer Alip, the song captures the frustration of living with trauma that wasn't self-inflicted. With introspective lyrics, nostalgic guitar lines and their signature 'sad, but not too sad' vibe, 'menyesal' is a cathartic release wrapped in catchy melodies. The single is a reflection of personal experience, asking why the one who gets hurt is the one left with regret. empty page. delivers the message with raw honesty and a sing-along quality that makes it easy to connect with. Listen on Spotify or watch the music video on YouTube. The Panturas – 'Knights of Jahannam & Soma Gospel' Indonesia's surf-rock rebels, The Panturas, return with a dual-track release that leans into chaos, introspection and gritty garage nostalgia. 'Knights of Jahannam' and 'Soma Gospel' feel like sonic odes to personal apocalypse and transformation, blending the spirit of 2000s indie sleaze with traces of their Sundanese musical roots. This release also marks the start of their Asia Tour, with stops in Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines and Japan's Fuji Rock Festival. With layered storytelling and wild instrumentation, The Panturas are pushing their sound into more spiritual and experimental territory – proving that surf rock can be as profound as it is electrifying. Both tracks are now available to stream on Spotify and other digital platforms. SAMSOL – 'BORAK' Sam from Bunkface steps into a new chapter as a solo artist under the name SAMSOL, debuting with 'BORAK,' a feel-good pop track that highlights the importance of open and honest communication in relationships. Centred on everyday conversations that keep love strong, the song offers a reminder that sometimes the simple things matter the most. While the rhythm is upbeat and the melody easy to love, there is emotional weight beneath the surface. 'BORAK' reveals a more personal side of SAMSOL, showing his growth as both a musician and a storyteller. This debut marks a fresh direction while still carrying the energy that fans have come to know him for. Listen to 'BORAK' on Spotify and other digital platforms. OLEVIA – 'Seandainya' OLEVIA, formerly known as VLL or Victoria's Love Letter, returns with a new name and a fresh artistic direction. Their debut single 'Seandainya' is a slow, emotional ballad that explores the painful feeling of not being good enough for someone you love. The song touches on insecurities and the quiet heartbreak that comes from feeling out of place in a relationship. With mellow instrumentals and delicate guitar work, the track carries a moody and intimate tone that matches the vulnerability in the lyrics. OLEVIA aims to bring alternative Malay voices to the forefront, and 'Seandainya' serves as a strong and honest introduction to their renewed journey. Stream 'Seandainya' now on Spotify and other digital platforms.
The Star
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Meet Malaysia's latest pop yeh-yeh group LEV, a group of three unleashes Malaysia's own-styled song in "Aku Bukan Bosan"
New music group, LEV, has released their debut single titled 'Aku Bukan Bosan', which is now available on all digital streaming platforms. The trio who got together in 2022 have aims following the footsteps of the Malaysian top pop yeh-yeh band Masdo. They are also singing under the Empayar Masdo label and are also now considered the group Masdo's top protege. Masdo are currently Malaysia's top pop yeh-yeh band since the heydays of the 60s and they made an excellent foray into Indonesia. Just like Masdo, LEV are presenting their music based on Malaysia's 60s pop genre and composed according to current tastes. LEV consists of three members: Leo Azman (vocalist, composer, and lyricist), Riz (guitarist) and Kecik (bass player,) and they are aiming to make a big impression in the Malaysian music industry. 'Aku Bukan Bosan' was entirely composed by Leo Azman, while production, mixing and mastering were completed by Andi, a member of the Indonesian band Fourtwnty. The recording process was carried out at Bijanfx Studio, involving five draft phases over two weeks before the final version was finalized. This song raises the theme of the sacrifices of men who are far from their families to earn a living. It touches on the issue of trust in long-distance relationships and the misunderstandings that often arise due to time and communication constraints. According to Andi, as the producer, this song brings a narrative that is close to the reality of society. 'We want this song to represent the voices of those who are rarely heard. Not everyone is good at expressing themselves, but music can speak for them,' he said. Before the official launch, LEV introduced this song to the public through several performances in conjunction with the 10-Year Journey to Masdo, which took place in several locations around Selangor & Kuala Lumpur. The performances served as an initial platform to introduce LEV's musical identity to a wider audience. The launch of 'Aku Bukan Bosan' also opens a new chapter for LEV as a newcomer group that presents works based on reality, without excessive dramatic elements. With a simple musical approach and lyrics based on real experiences, LEV is seen as one of the new names that deserves attention. AKU BUKAN BOSAN (quick notes - trivia) 1. "Aku Bukan Bosan" -- Composer & Lyricist: Leo Azman 2. This single is the debut work from LEV since their establishment on May 13, 2022. This song highlights the story of the sacrifice of a man who was forced to leave his family temporarily to find a livelihood to support his loved ones. It is an expression of the heart that asks for trust to be given, not doubt. Not because of looking for another love, but because of the determination to ensure that every family's dream can be fulfilled. The group's message for fans: "For the fighters out there, continue your struggle. Never give up. And for the wives, trust your husbands. If messages are not returned, if calls are not picked up — know that they are fighting, not bored." 3. The lyrics of this song are inspired by the reality of men who are forced to stay away from their families to find a livelihood, not because of boredom, but because of responsibility.
Herald Malaysia
22-04-2025
- General
- Herald Malaysia
Pope Francis: Death is not end of everything, but a new beginning
Vatican News publish the preface that the late Pope Francis wrote on February 7 for the book in Italian by Cardinal Angelo Scola, Archbishop Emeritus of Milan, titled 'Awaiting a New Beginning. Reflections on Old Age.' The volume, published by the Vatican Publishing House (LEV), will be available in bookstores starting Thursday, April 24. Apr 22, 2025 File photo of the late Pope Francis (ANSA) By Pope FrancisI read with emotion these pages born from the thought and affection of Angelo Scola, dear brother in the episcopate and a person who has held delicate roles in the Church, such as having been rector of the Pontifical Lateran University, later Patriarch of Venice, and Archbishop of Milan. First of all, I want to express my deep gratitude to him for this reflection that combines personal experience and cultural sensitivity in a way I have rarely encountered. One — experience — enlightens the other — culture; the second gives substance to the first. In this happy interweaving, life and culture blossom with beauty. Let not the short form of this book be deceptive: these are very dense pages, to read and reread. From Angelo Scola's reflections I gather some particularly resonant points with what my own experience has taught me. Angelo Scola speaks to us of old age — his old age — which he writes about with a disarmingly intimate touch: 'it came upon me with sudden acceleration and in many ways unexpectedly.' Already in his choice of the word with which he defines himself — 'old' — I find a resonance with the author. Yes, we must not be afraid of old age, we must not fear embracing becoming old, because life is life, and sugarcoating reality means betraying the truth of things. Restoring pride to a term too often considered unhealthy is a gesture for which we should be grateful to Cardinal Scola. Because to say 'old' does not mean 'to be discarded,' as a degraded culture of waste sometimes leads us to think. Saying 'old' instead means saying experience, wisdom, knowledge, discernment, thoughtfulness, listening, slowness… Values of which we are in great need! It is true, one becomes old, but this is not the problem: the problem is how one becomes old. If we live this time of life as a grace, and not with resentment; if we accept the time (even a long one) in which we experience diminished strength, the increasing fatigue of the body, the reflexes no longer what they were in our youth — with a sense of gratitude and thankfulness — well then, old age too becomes an age of life which, as Romano Guardini taught us, is truly fruitful and capable of radiating goodness. Angelo Scola highlights the human and social value of grandparents. I have often emphasized how the role of grandparents is of fundamental importance for the balanced development of the young, and ultimately for a more peaceful society. Because their example, their words, their wisdom can instill in the young a far-sighted vision, the memory of the past, and the anchoring in values that endure. Amid the frenzy of our societies, often devoted to the ephemeral and the unhealthy taste for appearances, the wisdom of grandparents becomes a shining beacon, shedding light on uncertainty and providing direction to grandchildren, who can draw from their experience something 'extra' for their daily lives. The words that Angelo Scola dedicates to the theme of suffering, which often takes hold in becoming old, and consequently to death, are precious gems of faith and hope. In the reflections of this brother bishop, I hear echoes of the theology of Hans Urs von Balthasar and Joseph Ratzinger — a theology 'done on one's knees,' steeped in prayer and in dialogue with the Lord. This is why I said earlier that these are pages born 'from the thought and the affection' of Cardinal Scola: not only from thought, but also from the emotional dimension, which is the one to which Christian faith points, since Christianity is not so much an intellectual act or a moral choice, but rather the affection for a person — that Christ who came to meet us and decided to call us friends. It is precisely the conclusion of these pages by Angelo Scola — a heartfelt confession of how he is preparing himself for the final encounter with Jesus — that gives us a consoling certainty: death is not the end of everything, but the beginning of something. It is a new beginning, as the title wisely highlights, because eternal life — which those who love already begin to experience on earth within the daily tasks of life — is beginning something that will never end. And it is precisely for this reason that it is a 'new' beginning, because we will live something we have never fully lived before: eternity. With these pages in hand, I would ideally like to repeat the same gesture I made just after donning the white robe of the papacy in the Sistine Chapel: to embrace with great esteem and affection my brother Angelo — now, both of us older than we were on that day in March 2013. But still united by the gratitude to this loving God who offers us life and hope at every age of our living. Vatican City, February 7, 2025 .--Vatican News
