KUALA LUMPUR, September 29 — The 25th edition of Anugerah Industri Muzik (AIM) proved to be a momentous one for singer-songwriter Mimifly following her five-award haul.

Her single Temberang won Best Music Video and Best Electronic/Pop Dance, while Serumpun earned her Best Festive Song and Song with the Most User-Generated Video on TikTok. Nara, meanwhile, won Best Musical Arrangement in a Song.

Speaking to local media following her landslide win, Mimifly (real name Shamimi Amalina Norhisham) said she was thankful for the recognition, but her conviction to create art remained unchanged by achievements or failures.

“I don’t want to stop creating just because of achievements or failures. I want to keep creating just for the sake of it.

“So it doesn’t really matter if I win or lose because I still have a lot of pieces (of work) to assemble,” she said.

The hiatus

Before going solo, Mimifly was part of local hip hop group One Nation Emcees, where she was the sole female member and was heavily involved in composing and writing for the group.

The now 39-year-old began transitioning into a solo artist around 2016 through singles such as Goyang Fly and Super Fly, and officially left the group in 2020, the same year she went on hiatus.

“I made my comeback in late 2024 after a four-year hiatus during which I put out no music — and I was honestly miserable during that time.

“I felt completely lost when I wasn’t working. Coming back with Angkat, which won at AIM 24, and now following it up with Temberang, I’m deeply grateful for how everything has unfolded.

“As an anak seni (artist), this is the path I’ve chosen, and I’m determined to keep going,” she said.

Reflecting on her lowest point, Mimi said she not only struggled to find her footing as an independent artist, but also experienced countless failures and faced snarky comments from people in the industry.

“For many years, whenever I worked on something, people just wouldn’t believe in me. They said I was too old to still be in the industry, they said my prime time was over, and even when I gave them one song after another, they just wouldn’t believe in my work.

“Old and irrelevant — I would almost always hear people say that about me, and I ended up doing everything on my own. God has given me the chance to eventually succeed and to show everyone the power of not giving up,” she said.

Apart from maintaining her self-belief, Mimi also credited her success to a solid support system, including her mother, other family members and her small team.

The comeback

Mimi was at the point of almost quitting music until she met producer Bo Amir Iqram, who inspired her to continue her journey.

“When I first met Bo Amir Iqram and heard his sound, I got goosebumps. I instantly felt that he was the right musical partner for me.

“At the time, I didn’t even have a management team — it was just the two of us making music together throughout 2024. We were in and out of the studio the entire year.

“Initially, I had no plans to release anything just yet, but once we recorded Angkat, everything clicked, and I knew it was time to put it out into the world,” she said, adding that Bo was among the first to believe in her, followed by her current manager, Shah.

Now back in the industry and enjoying renewed success, Mimi emphasised that her goal is not to be the best artist in the country, but rather to be completely irreplaceable — the “one and only”.

“It’s not about proving who among us artists is the best. I just want to be the only one doing what I do.

“I hope this opens the eyes of younger artists — if you truly believe in your artistic vision, you shouldn’t worry about what anyone else says,” she said.