LIKE any youth, music has always been a part of Khair Zulkefli’s life. It came at him almost 24/7 through TV, movies and Internet, inspiring him to sing.
But he never really expected his pay grade to rise above bathroom singing
Khair, 25, began performing when he was in elementary school, discovered more music during his high school days and developed his talent in college.
As a working professional during the pandemic, his talent has begun to attract attention.
How did your relationship with music begin?
My start in music began in elementary school with nasyid. We had a music teacher who was a composer for Senario. He was forming a nasyid group.
He was looking for boys to join so when it came to my turn to audition, I sang the chorus. Almost immediately, he made me the lead singer. We performed at competitions up to the Majlis Tilawah Al-Quran.
It was the first time that my singing received recognition. I sang nasyid for two years.
How did things change as you got older?
In high school, there were no music teachers. The nasyid activities were student-driven.
At the same time, I came of age and I did not think my singing was as good as it was. Still, singing gave me joy and I never stopped, although all of my performances were limited to the bathroom.
This was also the period when I started discovering different types of music. There was a lot to explore and I started to refine the types of music that jives with me.
When did you start singing and performing again?
When I was taking my degree.
I am a graduate of the Mara Technology University, Shah Alam campus. I have a major in Applied Language Studies (Hons) in English for Professional Communication. I also minored in business.
I fell back into music through extracurricular activities. There was a sub-club under the applied English club called the exactones.
It was started by a friend of mine, Nadirah. The group focuses on musical performances for the faculty and the university whenever an opportunity arises.
In most cases, we performed as a group. It began with only singers but soon, we had other musicians who play instruments.
Have ever tried joining singing competitions or reality shows?
I did join a talent competition organised by a private university in Shah Alam. The event was done in this open space at a mall. There were so many good talents like beatboxers and musicians.
I was happy to win the second runner up spot. It encouraged me to continue singing and performing.
Did you continue to perform?
After my degree, work kept me busy and preoccupied. So I continued to have free concerts in my bathroom.
Although I did not perform on stage, my colleague Lisa Kamal introduced me to Nada Music MY, a weekly open mic event.
At the first show that I attended, after all the registered performers had performed, Az Samad, one of the hosts, welcomed anyone in attendance to perform.
I was so moved that I put up my hand. I performed a cappella. Until today, I could not fathom the reaction. Next thing I know, I was invited to another performance the week after.
Have you ever written any songs?
In 2019, my friend Aishah, who is a poet, encouraged me to write a song. I had these melodies that I came up with when I took my degree. I have saved them ever since. Before that, I randomly came up with the lyrics.
However, when my friend encouraged me to commit it to paper, it became a song. Very few people know about it, and know that I write songs. That is until my second performance at Nada Music MY. For some reason, I confessed that I do and asked to perform my original song, After the Pain. The reaction was priceless.
