Cover Photo: RaizthePhotographer/Wina Alistar
Photo: RaizthePhotographer/Wina Alistar
1 / 1
In this Tatler exclusive, Royston John Kulleh and Opah Azhfar of Nading Rhapsody discuss their long-awaited comeback and their excitement for the band's next chapter in music
Nading Rhapsody, a Malaysian ethnic music band, is set to make a grand return to the live stage for the highly anticipated Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) 2023, after an eight-year hiatus from live performances. Taking place from June 23 to June 25 at the Sarawak Cultural Village in Kuching, this year's line-up sees a total of 199 musicians from 12 countries, featuring a diverse range of music genres.
For Nading Rhapsody, whose sound is a skilfully blend of modern and traditional elements, they are known for their captivating melodies and heartfelt lyrics as they narrate the stories of their homeland, offering a glimpse into the rich cultural heritage of Borneo.
With their last appearance dating back to 2014, band members Opah Azhfar and Royston “Roy” John Kulleh, better known as Kulleh Grasi, are eager to showcase Nading Rhapsody's evolved sound. As they gear up for their fourth performance at RWMF, Opah and Royston sat down for an exclusive one-on-one interview with Tatler. In this candid conversation, the band members delve into their musical journey, the significance of world music, and how they skilfully balance preserving their heritage with connecting to contemporary audiences.
Read also: How Alena Murang is using music to inspire today's youths
What is your favourite Nading Rhapsody track of all time?
Opah: My favourite would have to be “Sabak Pulai.” It's an adaptation of a poem of lamentation, usually recited during a funeral. It's a sad song, but it's definitely my favorite from our 2022 album.
Kulleh: I don't have a specific favourite, but if I had to choose, I'd say "Umbas" because it introduced the band to our present-day listeners, and it was the song that grew our audience. It was our first breakthrough song, even though we had other songs recorded before our debut.
Can you tell us more about your music?
Kulleh: It's a little difficult to describe. Our music falls under the “world music” genre, which may not be everyone's cup of tea, either because of the language barrier or the lack of understanding towards the context of our music. However, our songs carry a significant message representing the indigenous people of Borneo and serve as a way to preserve our beliefs and culture passed down by our forefathers. It's cultural music, and what I’d like to describe as a “pemberontakan yang cantik” (which is Malay for “a beautiful rebellious movement”), where our sound isn't confined to a rigid structure, but an organic one that is at the same time an ode to the past.
So how do you balance the traditional and modern elements in your music to appeal to modern audiences then?
Kulleh: It's a challenging process to balance the traditional and modern aspects, but we approach it organically. We start with the story and message we want to convey to our listeners, and then we assess the sound to ensure it's not too modern or overly pop. The key is finding relevance and a connection between our songs and the audience's experiences.
Opah: Our approach to putting together the songs in our album is hard to explain, but we aim to make our music accessible and relevant to the people who live everyday lives like us. We all share similar joys and struggles, and it's through these shared moments that our listeners find relevance in our music. While the language barrier does play a part in why people aren’t familiar with our music, the energy of which we bring to these performances and the different backgrounds of which our band members come from allows us to be more adaptable to the current needs in our music industry.
See also: Shaq Koyok gives voice to Malaysia's marginalised orang asli communities through art
Above A clip that previews Nading Rhapsody's debut at the “Libretto of Ensera 2017”
You mentioned taking a break before reuniting. What was that journey like for you since your debut?
Kulleh: It was a period of self-discovery and reflection. We were young and didn't have a clear direction or understanding of ourselves. We questioned who we were and what we wanted to convey through our music. Over the years, we grew both personally and musically, learning from trial and error and gaining a deeper understanding of our own stories and the weight they carry.
Opah: Our music and message have evolved as we gained life experiences and maturity. Our songs now reflect personal moments of hardship, loss, and joy, which everyone can relate to. We've embraced a deeper understanding of our own culture and traditions, and that has influenced the sound of our music.
Is there any track you would like to revisit from your past music?
Kulleh and Opah: We sometimes listen to our old music and have moments of reflection. Those experiences were necessary for our growth and led us to meet other industry professionals and exchange opinions. We value the journey we've been on and appreciate how it shaped us as artists. To answer your question, no—because those tracks were catalysts for our growth.
See more: Croatian pianist Maksim Mrvica on classical music's endurance and the impact of crossover
Above Photo: RaizthePhotographer/Wina Alistar
Photo: RaizthePhotographer/Wina Alistar
1 / 1
Do you feel that people in Borneo and Malaysia know enough about West Malaysia and its people today?
Kulleh: Unfortunately, no. This is due to the lack of local documentation detailing Borneo's rich cultural history, and it doesn't help that the narratives about Borneo today are based off of external sources that aren't our own, which has led to some indigenous people becoming indifferent to their own culture and heritage in their quest for acceptance.
Opah: Having said that... we hope that acceptance towards differences has increased, allowing us to embrace our uniqueness and cultural sound. However, acceptance levels vary, and it's challenging to find widespread appreciation for our own cultures and traditions. Our concern is that by the time people actively seek to understand our music, there may not be living references for contemporary traditional music representation.
Kulleh: Back then, we were among the younger pioneers of our generation who were making ethnic music, and it was really hard for us to step into the industry because no music label would take us. We weren’t commercial-friendly and it was hard for us to get onto the market. But over the years, once we became independent as a band, it was freeing and exhilarating.
Opah: Now, more up-and-coming bands are actually making world music. Which is a positive in our books.
Kulleh: At the same time, however, my worry is that as our culture becomes marketable, there will be cultural capitalists who will sell it just for value’s sake, but have no idea what they’re selling. Which is why I urge people who wish to join this space to really start creating their work from the ground-up and learn everything from scratch. Because if they don't realise the struggles that we face as minorities, and just monetise the elements that make us unique, then the work they create won’t actually represent us as a people.
Read also: History Unravelled—Textile artist Marcos Kueh explores what it means to be Sarawakian
Above Photo: RaizthePhotographer/Wina Alistar
Photo: RaizthePhotographer/Wina Alistar
1 / 1
So how do you find inspiration for your songs?
Opah: Each of us has our own thing. For me, it’s the spur of the moment kind of thing; I record my ideas on my phone straightaway. It helps our process because whenever we run into mental blockages, we get to go to our archives and dig up something that we hadn’t used in our music.
Kulleh: In Iban culture, travellers were said to choose to sleep in places they believe can give them easier access to their dreams. So, for me, I believe that dreams have power. So, even though the dream has nothing to do with my work, I get something out of it still. It can be a word, a colour, or even a mood that affects the whole song. So, whether it’s the melody, the lyrics, the visual arts and my writing, I include my dreams in them.
So! The Rainforest World Music Festival is coming this June 23 to 25! Are you guys excited? Nervous?
Kulleh & Opah: Definitely! It’s our fourth time performing at the RWMF. Last year the festival was held online, so this year is definitely going to be a different vibe altogether. We miss live performances. It’s been nine years since we performed onstage in 2014. So, we’re definitely nervous, but we’re also super excited. The past three years during the pandemic had definitely dampened spirits, but now that 2023 is in full-swing, it will be a whole new experience for us at this year's RWMF, and hopefully, for our listeners too. We’re excited for them to see how we look like now, and what we sound like today.
Read also: Arts and culture events happening in June 2023
NOW READ
6 thought-provoking AI fiction books that blur the divide between machine and man
Usually found at home and one with her couch, Koy Yi would either crack open a good book or game in her spare time to wind down after a long day. She also loves to scour art conventions and book fairs alike when she's able, collecting art books of all regions to gain inspiration for her own illustrations. With a keen interest in people and the stories they tell, she enjoys a good talk and a good laugh (preferably over food). Follow her on her Instagram @peiyi57.
