Good Vibes Festival 2023: 3 Malaysian musicians we can't wait to see

With more than 10.5 million followers on TikTok, Jovynn has become one of the most sought-after acts in Asia and around the world. “Before the pandemic started, I learned how to DJ. It became a new form of therapy for me. I posted some TikToks when I was bored during the pandemic; people liked it so I just made it my thing,” she says. 

She is known for her genre-fluid approach to music, incorporating everything from tech house and hip hop to iconic pop tunes. “I love mixing with a little bit of comedy sometimes too,” she adds. 

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@itsjovynn Replying to @🪳 a highly requested one 🤍 #ashleylookatme #dj #trend ♬ original sound - jovynn

The 20-year-old has been to every Good Vibes Festival since 2017. “That was my first ever festival experience; Dua Lipa was in the line-up and I was a huge fan,” she recalls. In a full circle moment, she will be one of the stage acts this year. She teases her upcoming performance: “You can expect a lot of my favourite Jersey club and tech house tunes; maybe I’ll sneak in some unreleased tracks of mine.”

“At 14, I was looking for a place for me to express whatever I’m feeling and music gave me that opportunity. Back then, I would only do rap songs, but now I just make whatever feels right to me. My style of music is always changing; it’s a pot full of colours, tastes, and feelings,” says Alif Aolani, the hip hop and R&B artiste better known by his stage name Airliftz.

His latest single, Princess Bubblegum, is a revelation. A unique take on pop tropes, it features lyrics in both English and Bahasa Melayu, reflecting his belief that language should not be a barrier to enjoying good music, something that is reflected in the widespread success of K-pop and Latin tracks.

Read more: Airliftz on carving his own path in music

“You can see a lot more artistes in Southeast Asia getting the recognition they deserve—and it’s about time! It has been the coolest experience seeing that happen, especially when it’s your own friend who you’ve performed with on smaller stages,” he comments, encouraging fans in Malaysia to show local musicians love by "playing and sharing their songs" as well as "showing up to their shows", when they can. 

He adds a special message for fellow musician: "Lunadira, I'm proud of you."

It has been a big year for Lunadira, as the first Malaysian artiste featured on ColorsxStudios, where she performed a stunning rendition of her new single, GO SLOW. 

The singer-songwriter remembers her first GVF performance in 2018, where she sang her debut single, Forever’s Not Our Thing, and earlier songs: “It was a surreal experience—you could feel the nice, chilly air of the mountains at night and there was a beautiful energy from the crowd.” 

Reflecting on her journey in music, she says, "I’ve always been interested in performing at a very young age, being involved in school choirs and talent shows and ultimately, trying my hand at songwriting through the encouragement of my friends. It wasn’t until my current manager Jin reached out to me with an opportunity to platform my music to a wider audience through his independent label, did I consider it a career."

Her upcoming show at GVF this year is a fitting homecoming, where she will be performing her long-awaited debut album live for the first time. 

See also: How Alena Murang is using music to inspire today's youths

Lunadira also shares the acts that she is most excited to see as a festivalgoer: "I can't wait to see my favourite Tumblr band The 1975 again, seeing The Strokes for the first time and also being able to witness my friends putting on a good show!"

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