By Norhidayyu Zainal
KUALA LUMPUR, July 31 (Bernama) -- After spending more than a decade building his music career in the United Kingdom, singer-songwriter Ariff AB is ready to seize every opportunity to introduce his latest song to his fans back home.
Ariff, whose full name is Ariff Abu Bakar, said he usually returns to Malaysia for three to four months each year for a holiday while also exploring opportunities to reconnect and collaborate with local industry players.
The 35-year-old musician, who performs alternative indie freak folk music and writes most of his songs in English, admitted it has been challenging to gain traction in Malaysia, where the market is largely driven by Malay-language songs and current musical trends.
“If an opportunity comes my way here, I’ll definitely take it. Right now, I’m waiting for a platform in Malaysia that is willing to introduce my new song,” he told Bernama.
Ariff, who is currently in Malaysia and will return to the UK in September, said his experience as an independent artiste in the UK has taught him that musicians cannot afford to wait for record labels or management companies to create opportunities. Instead, they must build their own community, consistently produce new music and actively introduce their work to new audiences.
“If artistes want to break beyond Malaysia, they have to take the initiative themselves and be prepared to invest time in building their careers. Don’t just wait.
“Start by performing, save up some money and give it a try. Over time, your career, social skills and confidence will grow, allowing you to adapt wherever you are,” he said.
Ariff believes Malaysia has no shortage of talented artistes, but many are still hesitant to step outside their comfort zones and venture into international markets.
He acknowledged that pursuing a career abroad requires sacrifice as artistes must adapt to the local culture, build networks and compete with local musicians.
He also encouraged Malaysian artistes performing overseas to broaden their audience beyond fellow Malaysians, saying they should actively engage listeners from diverse backgrounds to expand the global reach of their music.
Ariff also said that he is putting the finishing touches on his third album,’We Are Wolves’, featuring 12 self-composed tracks. The album is expected to be released at the end of the year, with its lead single ‘Rise Again’ set for release in October.
To promote the album, Ariff and his team are scheduled to embark on a tour beginning Oct 9, with performances in London, Bristol, Leeds, Norwich and Brighton. His new single will also receive exposure in the UK through the BBC Music Introducing programme.
Having previously collaborated with Norwegian singer-songwriter Aurora Aksnes and British artiste Charlotte OC, Ariff said he hopes to work with Malaysian music legends Datuk Amy Search and Datuk M. Nasir on a project that blends the creative styles of two generations.
Looking further ahead, Ariff aims to win at least one major award in the UK music industry before setting his sights on breaking into the United States market within the next two years.
“My dream is to become one of the Malaysian male artistes recognised internationally. The UK is not my final destination. Once I achieve my goals there, I want to take on New York or Los Angeles,” he said.
He said his experience in music has taught him how to market and promote a product.
“As a singer-songwriter, you have to wear many hats and make the most of every opportunity available,” said Ariff, who admires the late Malaysian entertainer Datuk Sudirman Arshad.
-- BERNAMA