By Atira Khalisha Nor Adnan
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 22 (Bernama) -- The winner of the recent Anugerah Juara Lagu 40 (AJL40), hip-hop group K.O.I, is determined to continue incorporating poetic language and rich Malay vocabulary into their future compositions, despite acknowledging the challenges of maintaining the approach amid contemporary music trends.
Achoi, a member of K.O.I and composer of the AJL40 winning song ‘Tiwikarma’, said the approach was not merely about creating lyrics that sound beautiful, but was also part of the group’s effort to celebrate the beauty of the Malay language through music.
“Bahasa Melayu is actually very beautiful. We have gurindam, syair, poetry and so much more. If we revisit the Malay language and its rich vocabulary, and use them in songwriting, the arrangement of the lyrics and music can become very poetic and meaningful.
“When we incorporate figurative language, sometimes people may wonder why a particular line is written that way. In reality, figurative language and metaphors allow a message to be conveyed in a more interesting way,” he told Bernama.
Besides Achoi, K.O.I, which has been active since 2024, comprises Mya Nana, Tuan Nicky, Khaza Raflex and Hemo Globin. The group’s compositions include ‘Meta Dergama’, ‘Niskala Suaka’, ‘Air Seni’, ‘IOK’ and ‘Laraga Muntaha’, which similarly feature a poetic approach to language.
Achoi said K.O.I. also drew inspiration from the way language was used by earlier artistes, while reinterpreting it through a more contemporary musical approach.
“Artistes of the past, whom we regard as legends, were pioneers. In this new era, we take the concept of the language they used back then and combine it with a slightly different musical approach. We modernise it a bit while retaining traditional elements, but present them in a contemporary form,” he said.
According to Mya Nana, the group welcomes different interpretations of its works as it is part of the experience of appreciating art. It also aligns with K.O.I’s intention to incorporate values, lessons and contemporary issues into its songs without conveying them in an overly literal manner.
“We like listeners out there to make their own interpretations. What you understand and what we are trying to convey may turn out to be the same thing. Perhaps you can relate the song to your own lives because that is exactly the purpose,” she said.
K.O.I’s AJL40 winning song ‘Tiwikarma’ combines musical elements, figurative language and a message centred on humanitarian issues.
For Tuan Nicky, performing on the prestigious stage was not merely about competing but about creating an experience that would leave a lasting impression on the audience.
Among the elements featured in the performance was the release of some 200,000 pieces of paper from above the stage, carrying messages that read: “This world today does not need more winners, but more people who humanise one another” and “Some prayers are raised with tears, while some hopes are born from an outstretched hand.”
“This was K.O.I’s first time stepping onto the AJL stage and we saw it as a golden opportunity to establish a strong name for K.O.I. So, when we were thinking about the performance concept, we thought of having pieces of paper scattered from above,” he said.
-- BERNAMA