Compiled by CHOW HOW BAN ,ARFA YUNUS and R.ARAVINTHAN
BRINGING together Malaysian and Singaporean artistes for a cultural collaboration has resulted in the release of a new single called Tera Tari.
This unique song blends Javanese and Sundanese elements, showcasing the rich cultural influences of both countries.
Bob Yusof, Diana Nazyra and Dhwan Abu said their first collaboration together was met with positive feedback, adding that the concept of the song was taken from the Jaipong Karawang dance, a cultural heritage that tells the journey of life through the art of dance.
They said the work, composed by Razzaq An’Arddzy and written by Diana Nazyra and Omar K, promise a fresh musical element.
Dhwan said he was stunned by the mesmerising melody and soulful lyrics of Tera Tari.
“When I first heard the demo of this song, I was intrigued by its melodic style, which is uncommon in today’s music.
“It brings a different side (to the music landscape) and I’m really excited to work together to make it happen,” Dhwan said, Harian Metro reported.
Bob Yusof, whose real name is Yusrizan Usop, 42, expressed his excitement about the unification of Javanese music elements, viewing it as a refreshing change in the world of traditional music.
“Diana and Dhwan, in my opinion, are an all-encompassing team. “They have good singing voices and fresh ideas. It is easy for us to work together because they are very disciplined.
“Although compatibility was successfully built in the production of this song, the main challenge was finding the appropriate language and musical arrangements so as not to run away from the elements that were composed to go along with the modern music combination,” he said.
Diana Nazyra and Bob admitted that the challenge they faced in combining traditional Javanese and Sundanese music with a touch of contemporary pop was not an easy one to surmount.
However, they said such a challenge also opened up opportunities and spaces for innovation, with the artistes hoping that the song would foster unity among the people of Malaysia and Singapore.
● The above article is compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with this ' >'sign, it denotes a separate news item.
