KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 8 — Just about a week before her one-night-only show at the Plenary Hall at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Yunalis Mat Zara'ai, aka Yuna, is abuzz with excitement.

“I’m excited to see fans and hope everyone enjoys the show. I love performing, especially back home in Malaysia,” said the chirpy lass who spoke to us from Los Angeles.

“There’s a different vibe going on because I’m not performing for a new crowd curious on what I’m going to sound like.”

Her concert early this year was a secret show, with fewer than 200 people.

This time around, over 3,000 fans are expected at theOct 16 show, where she will perform songs from her new album as well as older hits. Noh Salleh of popular indie alternative rock band Hujan will serve as opening act to the show.

“It’s going to be around an hour and a half and I’m working on a surprise — I want people to come and have fun,” said the 28-year-old.

Although performing in her native country is nothing short of a homecoming, the Subang resident admits to extra nerves.

“There’s always expectations, especially if someone has been overseas for so long.”

“When you are back home, people expect something different and special from you. I’m sure people are like, ‘let’s see what she’s got!’,” she said with a laugh.

But the singer-songwriter is not letting the pressure get to her.

“It’s always fun to perform. I’m a little nervous but I’ll be fine.”

Fans will be delighted to hear snippets from her upcoming album to be released early next year.

Known for her folky style and soulful R&B vibe, Yuna described her new body of work as “a little darker” than her previous albums. Her United States debut experimented with different sounds whereas her sophomore album, Nocturnal, was injected with a heavy dose of empowering theme with positive messages.

“I want to inspire people to travel, to be themselves and to be at peace with one another,” she said of Nocturnal.

Commenting on her yet-to-be-named third US album, Yuna elaborated on her most personal album yet: “All songs I wrote for this album are about love and a little darker. I think it’s kind of like an introduction to an older, wiser Yuna.

“I’m a woman now and sometimes people forget that,” she said, adding it was important for her to speak her mind and embrace her womanhood.

With talented producers at the helm of her latest musical endeavour, Yuna said the album is more urban with the kind of music she wants to pursue.

“I’m slowly unwrapping that part of me because I didn’t know it existed.”

In terms of her music’s evolution, the lanky songbird said she is definitely more polished and has grown tremendously as an artiste.

“Some people don’t like it but I don’t see anything wrong with it because with experience through time, you grow into someone you’re supposed to become — someone from the past is meant to be in the past,” said Yuna.

“It’s still me but it’s a side of me I’ve never really shown. I’m excited to let it all out and share it — hopefully people will like it.”

Having lived in Los Angeles for a long time, Yuna shared that there were stark cultural differences.

“People in LA are receptive and get excited when they listen to my music. If it’s good, people accept it,” she said.

“In Malaysia, people are supportive but they’re also a little sceptical. Because of our culture, we tend to be a little more timid and more reserved,” observed the seasoned singer who started performing when she was 19.

She said a Malaysian audience tends to follow the crowd but remains hopeful that it will change.

“Hopefully I can inspire kids back home to have their own mindset and be confident of themselves. Overall, my fans are supportive of me.”

Following her anticipated performance next week, Yuna’s schedule will be busier than ever, with an album launch in early January and a tour after that.