KUALA LUMPUR, December 8 — After six years since her sold-out solo concert at Stadium Negara, Malaysian songstress Datuk Sheila Majid is picking up the mic again for a big band concert.
Taking place on March 18, 2023, the Sheila Majid Big Band Live in Kuala Lumpur will have a swathe of 23 musicians including 13 horn players, seven band members and three backup singers invigorating Sheila's performance that night.
Fans can expect Sheila's all time greatest hits such as Sinaran, Antara Anyer dan Jakarta and Memori, although this time around, it will receive its own arrangements by renowned music director, Mac Chew.
The concert's direction will be led by music producer, Jennifer Thompson.
The concert will be held at the Dewan Merdeka, World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur — a historic location for Shiela as it’s where she had her first ever concert for her 1988 album Warna.
Making it more special and to keep the magic of the show, the jazz orchestra concert will be held exclusively for one night only.
Sheila said this was because the term ‘sold out’ should not be taken lightly while referencing her 2017’s concert where some fans thought the ‘sold out’ terms was a gimmick.
"Sometimes organisers would just use the ‘sold out’ term but in fact they still have tickets. So now, when we announce tickets have sold out, it is.
"And that’s why I won’t do a second night. Because I want to change the perception of people.
"That if it’s sold out, you’re too late. You just have to wait for the next one,” Sheila said to the media.
The Inikah Cinta singer has also called for more appreciation for and better treatment of local musicians .
She added that working on a concert requires teamwork and that includes the musicians at the back as well as production crews.
"We need to educate people that they are also top professionals that’s going on stage. They need good food and good rest, don’t just cast them aside.
"It starts from us to educate the public. To give a little bit more value to not only the frontline but to everyone involved in the making of that concert.
"Productions, musicians, technicians, everyone, because all of them have skills that others don't,” she said.
Aside from that, Sheila also shied away from the label of Malaysia's ‘jazz queen’ as she explained that her music leans towards pop.
The title was given to her and it was not her choice and Sheila shared that she had to give out a lot of explanation to Japanese music critics during her trip to Japan.
"People always refer to me as jazz, jazz, jazz but in fact, I'm a pop singer. I didn't know how that title came about.
"Maybe it was due to my music at that time, it’s a bit different from what we had at that time.
"So they categorised me as jazz but the jazz in my songs was more towards the chords, the music,” Sheila said.
Sheila's last studio album was Boneka in 2017. It came 13 years after the chart-topping album Cinta Kita in 2004.
Tickets for Sheila Majid Big Band Live in Kuala Lumpur are priced at RM288 (Bronze), RM488 (Silver), RM588 (Gold), RM688 (Platinum), RM888 (Diamond) and RM1,288 (VVIP).
For more information, please click here: https://www.jiobuddy.asia/eventdetail-sheila-majid.php
Ticket sales begin on December 12.
