Latest news with #Purnama
The Star
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
This one for Nusantara music lovers, Indonesian Bilal Ahmad brings his unique style to Panggung Purnama Concert on Sept 28
Imagine a quiet night, coloured by the dim moonlight … that's the mood that "Panggung Purnama" is aiming for the highly anticipated Nusantara music festival of the year, is trying to evoke. But this is not just any ordinary concert at Zepp Kuala Lumpur on Sept 28. This is a clash of flavours, sounds and South-East Asian cultures, bringing together selected artistes who have the power of art and stories that pierce the soul. And to open the curtain on the first phase, who else would be more deserving than Bilal Indrajaya—an alternative music icon full of mystery, yet so close to regional fans. Indonesia star Bilal Ahmad is one of the lead stars for the music festival organised by UdaraLaskhar. For the record, Bilal Ahmad Indrajaya (full name) is an Indonesian singer-songwriter from South Tangerang. Bilal began his professional music career by releasing a song titled "Biar" in 2018. He was nominated for the Best Alternative Collaboration at the 2021 Indonesian Music Awards with Reality Club for the song "I Wish I Was Your Joke" and also has released a mini album titled Purnama in 2019. His appearances at festivals such as the BNI Java Jazz Festival 2024, and collaborations with Malaysian artists such as Malsysian Noh Salleh in "Niscaya", prove that Bilal is not only respected in his country, but also has a special place in the hearts of Malaysian fans. Organisers UdaraLaskhar said that having Bilal Ahmad in the concert is a big pull and described his entry as the perfect choice for local fans who want to meet and enjoy the work of the Jakarta-born artist. "We are so excited to bring Bilal Indrajaya as one of the star entertainers for Panggung Purnama at Zepp KL (On Sept 28). "We believe in Bilal's magnetism from his appearance to his work which has made many fans addicted and continue to want to enjoy his songs live. "And we are realising the dreams and requests of fans through Bilal's first appearance at Panggung Purnama on 28 September 2025 at Zepp Kuala Lumpur," said John Labu the representattive of UdaraLaskhar. "We except this concert to be an unforgettable expeience for all Nusantara music lovers." Tickets for the concert are priced at: Bintang (RM189, Langit (RM229), Awan (RM249), Bumi (RM259) dan Purnama (RM479) and can be bought at
New Straits Times
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Tay's 'River' flows with jazz and nostalgia
A PHOTO of a river prompted jazz composer Tay Cher Siang to compose an album themed on life as an unceasing, flowing river. "The idea for the album took a while. I can't say I'm a very organised or goal-oriented composer, pianist or creative person. "The whole process — from completing the last album, 'Purnama' (which sparked thoughts of what's next) to finishing this one — took four years. "But the making of the album took two months," said the 47-year-old Melaka-born musician. 'River', out on April 21, is WVC Jazz Ensemble's eighth album and has 14 tracks — nine instrumental and five vocal. The album cover features a photo by S.C. Shekar of the central forest spine of Peninsular Malaysia. "Stupendous shot," says Tay, adding that the album photos were taken by Shekar, Wong Horngyih, Jason Tiu and himself. Tay adds that Gareth Richards wrote a reflective essay on the album's motifs and song notes. The album features Tay, bassist A.J. Popshuvit and drummer Adriel Wong. Guest artistes include Farid Izwan on soprano sax for 'Mustard Flower', while 'Ganges' has Yi Munn Lam on guzheng, Alex Rocksta' on liu qin and Vicky Ramakrishnan on tabla. Singers are Alwagera, Junji Delfino and Izen about personal inspiration, Tay says 'Ganges' was written during a one-month working trip to India with friends. "The memories of Varanasi and floating on the Ganges, and the experience and lessons learnt during that journey through northern India, are still strongly felt. "For instance, Jon Teo, the owner of Jao Tim, said that after the trip, he changed his mind about architecture and opened a jazz bar instead. "As for me, I have this song and other compositions, to show for it. "The reverberations from that journey are still being felt till this day. "Tay adds that some compositions were written during the lockdown. "A friend posted one poem every night that year to cheer the world up. "One of them was Malaysian poet Edwin Vathamani's concise and sparse poem called 'Solitude', and it took me not more than 10 minutes to finish the melody. "I also came across a Chinese-language translation of the beautiful Japanese poem 'Alive' written by Tanikawa Shuntaro. It was in one of my children's books. "The illustrations in the book were so well done that I sat down and read through the volume. "I was moved by the simple profundity and suggestive imagery of what really matters in acknowledging the state of being alive. "During the pandemic years, this poem begged to be set to music and now the poet's words have a melody to be remembered." Tay has included an ode to Sungai Melaka, which he felt sounded nostalgic and a little melancholic. He says rivers have always played a role in his life. For one, he had to pass it to go to school from young. "It's about a kilometre or two from home to school. I still like the section of the Hang Tuah Bridge. "The ancient Sungai Melaka flows steadily under the bridge. Going to school, a cool breeze blew and refreshed me every time I passed the river. "It was a feeling of being alive."After dinner, when my mother and I went to collect bills from the hotel run by my father, we always walked through the river in Kampung Morten. "Malay stilt houses lined the riverbank. As we passed, we could smell food cooking and observe life in every form. "The winding Sungai Melaka would occasionally burst its banks and flood the area where we lived. "Sometimes the water level was waist-high, which was a serious time. "Even if it was only flooded to the ankles, it caused a lot of inconvenience, and my mother kept complaining while washing the floor. "However, the leaves floating on the water, along with lizards or slippers washed away by someone, were enough for us children to stare at. "That river is so familiar to me, with mudskippers sliding on the mud under a hot sky. "The scene of old sampans tied to wooden poles, sitting patiently. These are my memories of Sungai Melaka. "It is a symbol of how, in the long flow of time, composers, musicians, artistes and all those who have worked hard, struggled and uplifted others, are part of the river of time." The album also includes the P. Ramlee classic 'Dendang Perantau', evoking images of people leaving home for distant lands, sometimes travelling by river. WVC Jazz Ensemble will perform at Dewan Filharmonik Petronas tonight in 'All That Jazz with WVC Jazz Ensemble & The Shang Sisters'. "We'll perform WVC originals and our fusion/Nanyang jazz songs with The Shang Sisters. Izen Kong and Junji Delfino will join for several numbers, including 'Solitude' and 'Alive' from 'River'. "And the album will be on sale then."
