Music
6 Malaysian Stars Who Made It Big On Their Own
These artistes had little help on their journey to international success, but they killed it anyhow!
There are many Malaysian artistes that have made it to the international stage but some of them have had to work hard on their own and earn that success through sheer determination. No government sponsorships, no help from friends in high places. Just constantly plugging away without giving up while being powered by their obvious talent. Here, we’ve listed 6 artistes that have had international success by the merit of their own grit and toil, which in turn makes us feel even prouder that they carry the birth flag of our country.
Tan Bee Keow
You would most definitely do a double turn if you saw the name ‘Tan Bee Keow’ attached to a picture or video of her. That’s because she’s not what you expect after hearing that name. She’s not Chinese, but Indian! Her story is an interesting one. She was adopted and raised by Chinese parents, hence the name. Her unique upbringing has also blessed her with the ability to speak fluent Hokkien and Mandarin, giving her a unique pathway to international success. She rose to fame when she made top 12 of the popular Taiwanese singing competition, One Million Star, earning plaudits for being able to sing in Mandarin fluently.
Hot fact: Tan got her start by singing and performing at temples and on the Malaysian getal circuit ever since she graduated from high school.
Zee Avi
Izyan Alirahman, also know as, Zee Avi, was born on the shores of Miri, Sarawak. An irrepressible music enthusiast since she was a child, she struck big on her 22nd birthday when YouTube spotlighted her video for the song ‘No Christmas For Me’, leading to Patrick Keeler of The Raconteurs passing the link to the manager of The White Stripes, who then passed it on to Brushfire Records (the label partly owned by singer/songwriter Jack Johnson) who signed her. She has played on some of the biggest stages in the world, from SXSW to Bonnaroo, releasing three albums to date.
Hot fact: Besides music, Zee Avi is also an avid art fan. Some of her own artwork is featured on the sleeve of her second album Ghostbird. She also produces artwork for charity projects.
Shila Amzah
If you turned the radio on and heard one of Shila Amzah’s Mandarin songs, you would never have even an inkling that she is of Malay descent. Daughter of 80s pop sensation ND Lala, the KL-born lass rose to fame when she won Asian Wave, a China singing competition, in 2012. She has performed and released singles extensively in both China and Hong Kong. While she made a name singing Chinese songs, she only released her debut Chinese album last year in My Journey.
Hot fact: She was also nominated for the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards for Favorite Asian Act in 2013 along with Korean global superstar PSY.
Fish Leong
Malaysian born Fish Leong broke through the Taiwanese market back in 1997. She has released a staggering 12 albums since and has established herself as a mainstay in the Mando-pop scene in Taiwan. She has had multiple successful tours across the regions of Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and even back here in Malaysia.
Hot fact: Fish’s real name is Jasmine Leong. She only adopted the moniker Fish when she inked her first record deal. Why ‘Fish’? Cause the last character of her Chinese name sounds like ‘fish’ in Cantonese.
Dasha Logan
Dasha Logan has music pedigree in her blood. Daughter of the late Loganathan Arumugam, vocalist and founding member of Alleycats, Dasha has followed in her father’s footsteps by aiming for musical stardom. She’s gone for a different route though, trading in her father’s panache for love ballads for a more soulful take on music. Her first single ‘Cleverly’ unexpectedly made the UK Soul charts in 2014.
Hot fact: Dasha is signed to Area Boy Music, a UK based record label that is co-owned by Dean Ricketts and Digger Elias, who have signed and worked with stars like Terence Trent D’Arby and Jamiroquai, when they were in Sony Music.
Salammusik
Salammusik’s delectable mish mash of traditional influence and contemporary zing has been a hit not only with local crowds, but also abroad as well. Formed in 2006, the band bagged a Best Album award at the Anugerah Industri Muzik in 2012 for their self-titled album. Their meteoric popularity allowed the band to export their sound to Europe, playing in major music festivals across the continent, from Zwarte Cross in Netherlands to a five date tour in Belgium in 2015.
Hot fact: Their most impressive European show was a slot in the festival Zomer van Antwerpen which drew a massive 280,000 revellers for various art forms such as theatre and of course, music.
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