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Free Malaysia Today
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Free Malaysia Today
Velvet Aduk's Dusun album ‘Ogingol' is a love letter to her culture
Velvet Aduk's 'Ogingol' is her first album fully in Dusun. (Velvet Aduk pic) PENAMPANG : Sabahan singer-songwriter Velvet Aduk had a frightening realisation – her four children weren't all that interested in speaking Dusun. And they weren't alone. Many young Dusun speakers across Sabah seemed to be drifting away from the language too. 'I told them, 'When you grow up, you're going to regret not learning this language,'' Aduk, 37, shared with FMT Lifestyle. Determined to do something about it, she set to work in her home studio. Fourteen months of creative effort later, she released her first-ever fully Dusun album, 'Ogingol'. 'This album is a reminder to my children to appreciate and learn their mother tongue… and really, it's for all young people,' she said about the nine-track album she co-produced and co-arranged with longtime collaborators Brandon Laurie and Andy O'Mail. Aduk took 14 months to create the album together with her frequent collaborators Andy O'Mail (left) and Brandon Laurie. (Velvet Aduk pic) She said the album, her third, is also her way of preserving the specific Dusun dialect spoken in her hometown of Kampung Inobong. 'You don't hear many people speaking it anymore. I think it's going to go extinct soon, which is really sad.' Even the album's title, 'Ogingol' – which means beautiful – uses a word found only in Kampung Inobong, making the project all the more personal for Aduk, a former Akademi Fantasia contestant. 'I don't actually speak Kadazan or Dusun fluently,' admitted Aduk, naming Sabahan singers Hain Jasli, Francis Landong, and Masnie Sumiran as her inspirations. 'My knowledge of the language is super limited, so writing lyrics felt like going round in circles with the same words. It took me quite a while to actually finish all the songs. It was frustrating but at the same time, it was fun because writing is my escapism.' Aduk hopes her album will spark an interest in the younger generation to get reacquainted with their culture. (Velvet Aduk pic) With no big studio backing her, Aduk recorded the entire album at home using GarageBand, later teaming up with her 'boys' to polish things up. 'It was all DIY – vocals at home, jam sessions in the studio. And I've never gone to music school, never had vocal lessons, so this is all done just through my own experience.' The album's nine tracks are a mix of genres – pop, soul, even a bit of funk – but all sung in Dusun. 'I didn't want it to sound like a typical Kadazan Dusun album, with the sound of gongs or other traditional elements. Normally, they have this same sound or vibe to them,' Aduk revealed. 'I wanted to make a Dusun album that doesn't sound like a Dusun album. Something unconventional. One that even non-Dusun people would be able to jive to.' Despite the playful beats, the creative process was deeply emotional. 'There were times I almost cried while singing,' Velvet confessed. 'Like the song 'Mintogod'. It's an expression of anger, of wanting something that you cannot have, and having something that you no longer have within you. At one point I was telling a friend that I feel so drained because I've put everything into the album.' Aduk shared the stage with sape player Alena Murang (left) and Sabahan singer-actress Marsha Milan Londoh (right) last year for the 'Sounds Of Borneo' concert at Dewan Filharmonik Petronas. (Velvet Aduk pic) Perhaps the most personal song of all is 'Kopiruba Wagu Insan Tadau', which she wrote for her late father. 'My dad was ill for ten years before he passed. My mum took care of him every day. That song is about letting go of someone you love… even though your heart doesn't want to,' she said, her voice softening. 'It's saying goodbye, but also 'see you again soon'.' Another track that's close to Aduk's heart is Kaandaman, written by Laurie in Kadazan. The song is all about memories. Thinking back to her childhood, Aduk recalled staying at her grandparents' house, listening to old Kadazan songs on the radio, and picking up cassette tapes at the market. 'I wish I could go back to those days, growing up in the kampung. Back then, everyone spoke in Dusun.' More than anything, Aduk wants her new album to spark pride, curiosity, and love for culture, especially among younger Sabahans who may feel far from their roots. 'I hope this album acts as a reminder, especially for the younger generation, to really hold the culture dear to their heart, even though they are far away.' 'Ogingol' is now available on all major streaming platforms. Follow Velvet Aduk on Facebook and Instagram.
Daily Express
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Express
Velvet hopes to spark renewed interest in Dusun with new album
Published on: Wednesday, May 14, 2025 Published on: Wed, May 14, 2025 Text Size: Velvet's ambition is to encourage a new generation to embrace their mother tongues, using music as a medium for cultural revival and pride. Kota Kinabalu: Sabahan singer-songwriter Velvet Aduk hopes to spark renewed interest in indigenous languages with the release of her long-awaited Dusun-language album, Ogingol, which dropped on May 10 across all major streaming platforms. The nine-track album is a deeply personal tribute to her Dusun and Kadazan roots, blending contemporary musical styles with ancestral dialects to produce something fresh and meaningful. Titled after its lead track, Ogingol, which translates to 'beautiful', the album features original songs that explore themes of identity, belonging, and cultural pride. Other tracks include Nokosuai, Bolintuongon, Mintogod, Miang-Miang Keladi, Kaandaman, Nouyan (a duet with Arddley Nicholas), Kopiruba Wagu Insan Tadau, and Koupusan Ginawo Ku. Most of the songs were written and composed by Velvet herself, and the album was co-produced and co-arranged by longtime collaborator Brandon Laurie, with Andy O'Mail on lead guitar. Notably, Kaandaman, written in Kadazan, marks Brandon's debut as a songwriter, expanding the creative team's contribution to preserving native expression. 'This album is my way of promoting and preserving my culture, just as we do every year during Kaamatan,' Velvet said. 'It is not just music – it is my way of learning, remembering, and giving back,' she added, describing the process as both educational and emotionally grounding. Raised in Kampung Inobong, Penampang, Velvet grew up immersed in the language of her ancestors, a connection that profoundly shaped her songwriting. Through her lyrics, she captures the richness of Dusun and Kadazan dialects as spoken across Sabah, weaving linguistic diversity into the fabric of her melodies. Far from a traditional folk collection, Ogingol pushes the boundaries of Dusun music, delivering polished arrangements that range from introspective ballads to radio-ready pop. 'I want Dusun songs to sound elegant and classy,' she explained, highlighting her desire to balance artistic authenticity with listener accessibility. Each track blends Velvet's distinctive vocal style with modern instrumentation, setting a new benchmark for contemporary indigenous music. The duet Nouyan features Arddley Nicholas, the Anugerah Industri Muzik (AIM) 23 Best Male Vocal award winner, further boosting the album's musical intensity. Velvet's ambition is to encourage a new generation to embrace their mother tongues, using music as a medium for cultural revival and pride. The album is now streaming globally on Spotify, iTunes, YouTube Music and other digital platforms, inviting listeners everywhere to discover the beauty of Sabah's native languages. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Borneo Post
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Borneo Post
Sabahan releases heritage-inspired Dusun album
Velvet KOTA KINABALU (May 13): Sabahan singer songwriter, Velvet Aduk, has released her long-anticipated Dusun language album, titled 'Ogingol', on 10 May 2025, now available on all major streaming platforms. Featuring nine original tracks, 'Ogingol' is a powerful and personal celebration of her heritage, deeply rooted in the diverse Dusun and Kadazan dialects of Sabah. Written and composed mostly by Velvet herself, the album is co-produced and co-arranged by longtime collaborator Brandon Laurie, with Andy O'Mail as the lead guitarist. The track 'Kaandaman,' written by Brandon in Kadazan, marks his debut as a songwriter as well. 'This album is my way of promoting and preserving my culture, just as we do every year during Kaamatan,' says Velvet. 'It's not just music, it's my way of learning, remembering, and giving back.' Velvet draws inspiration from her hometown of Kampung Inobong, Penampang, where she was raised speaking and listening to the language of her ancestors. Her lyrics reflect the rich linguistic variations of Dusun and Kadazan spoken across Sabah, making the album a heartfelt testament to the region's cultural identity. But this is no traditional folk album, Velvet blends contemporary styles and fresh arrangements to present Dusun music in a new light. From modern elegance to radio-friendly familiarity, each track showcases her unique musical identity. 'I want Dusun songs to sound elegant and classy,' Velvet shares. 'There's a mix of my personal style with what's easy for listeners to enjoy. This is not your typical Dusun sound.' The album also features a duet with fellow Sabahan artiste and Anugerah Industri Muzik (AIM) 23's Best Male Vocal award winner, Arddley Nicholas, on the track 'Nouyan.' With this release, Velvet hopes to spark renewed interest in indigenous languages and inspire more people to embrace their cultural roots. The full album is now streaming on all digital music platforms worldwide. Listen now on iTunes or stream directly on Spotify and YouTube Music!'
