Kuala Lumpur still knows how to throw a party
It’s not every day that you get to perform in front of 10,000 people,” says Yuna. A few years ago the 27-year-old swapped her native Kuala Lumpur for Los Angeles, eager to expand upon the buzz of her eponymous 2012 debut album and its Pharrell Williams-crafted breakthrough single Live Your Life.
The risk, it seems, has paid off. Cited by the BBC as “the first Malaysian artist to win over the American market,” Yuna has played high-profile sets at Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza, and appeared on Late Night With Conan O’Brien and Jimmy Kimmel Live!. The 11 tracks on her sophomore effort “Nocturnal,” recorded in California, reflect this extraordinary trajectory. “I’m really happy with where I am right now,” she told NPR. “I’m a Muslim. I don’t try to hide it. I’m also a girl who loves music. And I don’t try to hide that as well.”
CUSP OF GLOBAL STARDOM
Yuna, who spends her free time attending to her terrariums and her women’s clothing boutique, is wary of the trappings of success. “I try to remember why I first started to make music seven or eight years ago, when I was a 20-year-old law student writing music for herself.”
That evening at MTV World Stage Malaysia 2014, the Muslim singer-songwriter carried herself with the poise of a young Sade — had she been in a metallic turban — and charmed fans “who have been there since Day 1.” By living as an expat musician in L.A., Yuna appears to have fulfilled her desire “to come up with music that the whole world could relate to.” A backdrop of cascading pyrotechnics made Falling, her opening song, brought to life by Danish producer Robin Hannibal of indie music favorites Quadron and Rhye, even more glorious. The soulful Mountains and Lights and Camera, a jam about staying true to one’s self, were polished to a magnificent sheen.
But it was Yuna’s Malay hits that turned Sunway Lagoon’s massive Surf Beach into an intimate living room. I spotted two young girls in traditional headscarves singing and swaying – eyes closed – to Dan Sebanarya and Terukir Di Bintang, proud that one of their own has maintained Muslim values in an increasingly globalized world. When I discovered Yuna’s music in the early months of 2012, through the Santa Monica, California, radio station KCRW, I was intrigued by its honesty and effortless allure. I wish her nothing but the best now that she is on the cusp of global stardom.
SOFT POWER
MTV World Stage Malaysia is hotly anticipated by young music fans across the region for good reason: The annual event features new and exciting talent from an array of genres, all on a single platform.
Boys Republic is but the latest K-pop idol group to take part in the showcase. While the five members only made their professional debut in 2013, it was evident that Onejunn, Sunwoo, Sungjun, Minsu, and Suwoong have a growing following.
On stage, aided by a dazzling light display and choreography as precise as their grooming, Boys Republic were larger than life. As the guys glided in unison to Video Game, ardent followers were invited to post 15-second mobile phone clips on Instagram. One lucky fan was ushered in during Dress Up, winning a makeover by the group’s stylist and walking away with a new outfit. The enjoyable Party Rock closed the segment.
South Korea may be tiny, but soft power has allowed it to punch above its weight, boosting the nation’s cultural influence in Asia and beyond. The country churns out pop stars faster than I can keep track of them, and I recognize that as long as there are teenage girls, there will be K-Pop boy bands.
HIP-HOP LOVERS
MTV World Stage Malaysia, too, had something for lovers of rap and hip-hop. This year’s edition, its sixth and going strong, welcomed the Thai-American group Thaitanium. The five sons of Siam – Khan, Way, Day, Big Calo and Tony B — set the mood for the night with tracks such as Do What I Say, Bong Tong and Put Your Hands Up. “We keep it local, we talk about a lot of things that are going on in Thailand so a lot of kids can feel what we’re talking about.”
After being on the road and recording albums all over the planet, B.o.B returns to Malaysia delivering a 16-track medley comprised of singles from “B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray” and “Underground Luxury”. The Atlanta native, toned and upbeat, demonstrated that he was a master at thrilling his followers. At the start of Magic, his feel-good track featuring Weezer’s Rivers Cuomo, he rushed to the edge of the stage for a few high-fives. In true 21st century fashion, concertgoers then waved their phones to Both of Us, featuring Taylor Swift.
In light of recent aviation tragedies, he dedicated the hit Airplanes, featuring Hayley Williams of Paramore, to those who had lost loved ones. Earlier, MTV VJs Alan Wong and Hanli Hoefer also led the throng in remembering those who perished in Malaysia Airlines flight MH17.
ENDING ON A HIGH NOTE
Of course the party had to end on a high note. Much to everyone’s surprise, B.o.B dove into the crowd before his finale Still In This. While I had expected the six-time Grammy nominee to cap the night with Nothing On You, still his most recognizable song to date, his answer a few hours before should’ve provided enough of a clue. On whether it was an advantage or not for an artist to be associated with a particularly successful composition, B.o.B. said that it was “both a blessing and a curse.”
Over 1,000 multi-colored LED balloons signaled the end of his set, and the conclusion of yet another MTV World Stage. It was buoyant, a reminder that despite having gone through a rough patch, Malaysia has not forgotten how to let loose and throw a stellar celebration.
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MTV World Stage Malaysia 2014 premieres in the Philippines on Friday, August 29 at 10pm.
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Special thanks to Adeline Ong, Loh Bi Feng and Joanna Sim.
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