Singer-songwriter Firdhaus is one of Malaysia's most promising talents in China. Photos: Handout
When local singer-songwriter Firdhaus Farmizi first enrolled in a Chinese primary school, it wasn’t by his choice but a decision made by his parents.
Little did he know, that unexpected path would become the cornerstone of his rise as one of Malaysia’s most promising talents in China.
“My parents believed it was the right move for my future.
“My cousin was also sent to a Chinese school, so they felt the need to send me because, you know... Asian parents don’t want to lose,” the 25-year-old quipped during an exclusive interview with StarLifestyle last week.
The Johor-born artiste says singing Chinese songs was more of a 'natural path' rather than a deliberate choice.
Raised in a traditional Malay household, one might assume Firdhaus struggled with the Chinese language.
But not only did he master it, the Johor-born also earned a spot at the prestigious Foon Yew High School, where he consistently ranked at the top of his class.
“Sometimes, I feel like I’m a genius because I can speak Chinese very, very well. I’m guessing it’s because I started from kindergarten, so I have the basics,” he said, adding that his teachers also pushed him hard.
“I still remember how they would get angry and throw my books on the floor when I was seven years old!” he exclaimed.
Reflecting on his school days, Firdhaus recounted being the only Malay student in his classes, though he had Indian classmates too.
Surrounded by mostly Chinese friends, the singer naturally embraced their culture – from joining the Chinese yoyo club to competing in Chinese calligraphy contests, where he once represented Johor.
He would also play lanterns with his peers during the Mid-Autumn Festival and celebrate Chinese New Year by visiting friends’ homes to collect ang pow.
Growing up, Firdhaus always had a passion for music and would sing in the car with his mum.
“Whenever my favourite song played on the radio, I’d try to pick up the lyrics. I also had a small notebook which I used to write down the lyrics as I listened to the song,” he said.
However, the idea of pursuing music full-time never crossed his mind. That is, until his Chinese friends introduced him to Mandopop superstar Jay Chou.
“That was my first time listening to a Chinese song. I was 12 at the time and thought it’s really cool that a singer could write their own songs, so I began writing my own,” he said.
Making waves overseas
Firdhaus didn’t stop at songwriting.
He also picked up the guitar, sang at restaurants and shared Chinese covers and original songs on his social media accounts.
“If I experienced a heartbreak and still had things I wanted to share, I’d use songwriting as a tool to express myself,” he shared.
When asked why he chose to sing in Chinese instead of his native language or English, Firdhaus explained that it wasn’t a deliberate choice but a “natural path”.
“It didn’t feel like I was making a decision. This is because most of my friends were Chinese, so writing and singing Chinese songs was the natural way to go,” he said.
After finishing his pre-university studies, Firdhaus chose to skip university, feeling it was unnecessary for his ambitions.
The singer told StarLifestyle in a 2021 interview that his true passions lay in connecting with people, doing business, and making music – skills he believed didn’t require a degree.
And so, Firdhaus dived into the real world – selling vegetables at a market and working at a tech shop to sharpen his sales abilities, all while perfecting his musicality.
The 25-year-old made waves in China with his song, 'Gulf Of Alaska'.In March 2020, Firdhaus released his self-penned Mandarin ballad, Gulf Of Alaska, on Instagram, though it flew under the radar back then.
“I knew it was a good song and was a favourite of mine for a while, but it didn’t get the traction I had hoped for. I had no connections in the music industry too back then,” he said in our recent interview.
A glimmer of hope appeared to Firdhaus in mid 2020 when his track caught the attention of local singer Yise Loo, who offered him a contract with her entertainment company Loolala Music.
Backed by the agency, Firdhaus released his debut EP, A Letter, which included Gulf Of Alaska, in November that year.
A month later, he received news that Gulf Of Alaska had become a hit in China, chalking up over 840 million views at press time on Douyin, the Chinese counterpart of TikTok.
“I wasn’t really familiar with the platform then, so it caught me by surprise.
“I had the opportunity to explore the market in China because of this song. Everything happened organically. I was very, very lucky,” he said.
With the door to the Chinese music scene wide open, Firdhaus seized the opportunity to amplify his presence on the mainland stage.
Over the years, he has proven he isn’t a one-hit wonder with songs such as Eternal Friendship, Up & Down and Divorce In Ghana making waves too.
The latter track, which he sung with local artiste Diorlying, clocked over 22 million views on YouTube and topped the Douyin Hot Songs chart, with over a million likes on the platform.
“My career has been filled with lots of joy, and I’m very, very grateful.
“To even think about the idea of so many people listening to my songs and willingly buying tickets to see me is very humbling,” he said of his success.
Earlier this month, Firdhaus was featured on Apple Music’s Here’s To The Dreamers campaign, which spotlights South-East Asian talents who have navigated challenges and turned their dreams into reality.
A warm welcome home
On Aug 4, Firdhaus kickstarted his Hello Again Asia Tour in Guangzhou, China.
He will be coming back home to perform at Arena of Stars in Genting Highlands this weekend.
Tickets for his first show on Merdeka Day sold out in just 30 minutes, prompting an additional show on Sept 1 due to overwhelming demand.
These tickets, priced between RM69 and RM569, were snapped up in 20 minutes!
While deeply moved by the support, Firdhaus is especially excited about a personal milestone: His mother will be in the audience for the very first time.
“She has never watched me perform live, so I’m excited for that. This is going to be one of my proudest moments in my career,” he told StarLifestyle.
For his upcoming gig, Firdhaus will be singing around 20 songs – including a cover he recently performed on the sixth season of the China music programme, Our Song.
Firdhaus performs on the sixth season of the Chinese music programme, 'Our Song'.While he’s excited about performing on such a huge stage in Malaysia for the first time, the scale of the venue and crowd also weighed a pressure on him.
“I’ve been feeling stressed out for the past few weeks, but I think stress can be good sometimes.
“Not being in a comfortable situation makes you grow, so I try to look at it in a positive way and tell myself that feeling uncomfortable is a sign that I’m growing,” he said.
To manage the pressure, Firdhaus uses his free time to unwind on his own.
Outside of work, he is just like any other 25-year-old.
“I would be at home sitting on my sofa and playing video games on my PS5. I also like walking on my own while listening to music.
“I like to sleep. If not (sleeping), I would just sit in a dark room on my own and listen to songs,” he said.
Having me-time is something Firdhaus appreciates.
In fact, he likes “being alone” and often keeps his worries to himself, rarely sharing them with his family or anyone for that matter.
“I prefer sitting on my own and figuring out the answers myself. I would talk about it with my friends, but only once I feel better,” he said.
Picture perfect
Beyond music, Firdhaus’ passion extends to photography and videography – a hobby he picked up six years ago.
It all started when he and a graphic designer friend were “broke” and had loads of free time.
“We bought a cheap camera and went around taking photos of each other, the landscapes, buildings and everything,” he said.
As he spent more time behind the lens, Firdhaus found himself increasingly captivated by the creative process, eventually learning how to edit and colour grade videos.
“It’s really one of my passions outside of music. I just love creating stuff and being creative,” he said.
What some may not know is that Firdhaus runs a second Instagram account, @byfirdhaus, which he launched in 2017 to share his photography.
His last update on Aug 12, 2023, was a picture of the skyline in Nara, Japan.
Though he plans on reviving the account, Firdhaus admitted that it may take some time due to his busy schedule.
“If I’m able to travel to places, I think I might do it,” he said.
Presently, Firdhaus is arranging additional stops for his Hello Again Asia Tour, which will conclude in January.
He is also working on a new song and an album, which will be released in October.
Although Firdhaus is focusing on Chinese songs for now, he doesn’t mind releasing more English and Malay songs in the future.
He has an English tune titled Table For Two and a Malay song with Aziz Harun called Ceria Hari Raya.
“I have done English songs but the views were very low, so I want to wait for the right time.
“I also want to collaborate with more Malay artistes... maybe like Yuna, Aizat Amdan, Faizal Tahir and Aziz Harun since they are also singer-songwriters,” he said.
When asked what he hopes to achieve as a singer, Firdhaus frankly replied that he didn’t really have any goals for now as he has everything he could ever dream of.
For him, to be where he’s at today and to have songs that millions of people listen to has already exceeded his imagination.
“If you had told me five years ago that I would have songs people love and that I’d be known overseas, I wouldn’t have believed you.
“Everything that I’m doing now is all like a gift from God. So for now, I just want to enjoy the journey.”
Firdhaus will be performing at Arena of Stars, Resorts World Genting tomorrow (Aug 31) and on Sept 1.
