KUCHING, Sept 27 — Despite being at the pinnacle of her career and hailed as National Songstress, Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza Tarudin has made it clear she will never withdraw from competing in the Anugerah Industri Muzik (AIM).
She explained that her title and standing today are no reason to “rest” from the prestigious stage, which she sees as a way of honouring the individuals working behind the scenes.
“I am prepared to withdraw from other popular awards, as I have done for the Anugerah Juara Lagu or Anugerah Bintang Popular Berita Harian. But for AIM, I cannot put myself first because there are people I need to honour.
“The AIM stage is the best platform for us to nominate and recognise the efforts of those behind the scenes, from songwriters, lyricists and music arrangers to producers.
“There is truly no reason for me to withdraw,” she told reporters after clinching the Best Song trophy at the 25th AIM, Borneo Convention Centre Kuching last night.
Reflecting on Pesanan Buat Diri, which clinched Best Song at the ceremony, the country’s number one singer attributed its uniqueness to a blend of traditional elements woven into a modern arrangement, backed by powerful lyrics.
The song’s lyricist, Datuk Habsah Hassan, said the inspiration for the poetic verses of the track, composed by Aubrey Suwito, came after she listened to its melody repeatedly.
“Nothing in life is permanent. There are happy times, joyful times, and when sorrow comes, someone will inevitably go before us or be left behind. But in reality, we cannot grieve excessively. We must always be prepared to face it,” she said.
Habsah said the message was woven in to ensure that every individual is always ready to confront life’s trials, translating it into lyrics that resonate closely with the realities of the general public as well as the journey of a creative artist.
Meanwhile, Best Album winner Aisha Retno, for her album Rehab, said she was deeply grateful and had not expected the recognition, given the fierce competition from industry heavyweights such as Siti Nurhaliza, Faizal Tahir and Shila Amzah.
Aisha described the win as a personal revival and therapy after eight years in the local music industry.
“Honestly, this is completely beyond my expectations. This album was a ‘rehab’ process for the journey and tragedies I have gone through in my life.
“It now stands as a symbol of my revival to keep creating music,” she said.
Commenting on the album’s strengths, Aisha explained that its uniqueness lies in the diversity of genres offered, born from her musical experimentation to present something different for listeners across the board.
She said the win is also an encouragement for young music makers, as well as a tribute to her production team, who worked tirelessly. — Bernama
