'Sayangku': theatre company set to release 'Sepet The Musical' soundtrack

British-Malaysian theatre company Liver & Lung is set to release the soundtrack to its musical adaptation of the late Malaysian filmmaker Yasmin Ahmad’s iconic movie Sepet on July 9.

It is a heartfelt tribute to mark her 12th death anniversary on July 25.

Liver & Lung’s Sepet The Musical soundtrack will be available on Spotify and other digital platforms. The production of the soundtrack was made possible after the KL-based theatre company was selected for the Independent Music Funding Programme, facilitated by Cultural Economy Development Agency (Cendana).

The Sepet The Musical soundtrack is a 13-song indie folk pop album, telling the story of two teenagers in Ipoh – Jason and Orked. Jason is a 19-year-old Chinese VCD seller, while the bright Malay school girl Orked loves John Woo films and everything about Takeshi Kaneshiro. As romantic sparks fly between them, social and racial pressures slowly surface and come in their way.

“The (theatre adaptation) show sold out in 2019 and it sold out again in 2020 in between lockdowns. We know that Malaysians are eager to relive Jason and Orked’s story again and again. Now, audiences can experience the musical forever, in the comfort of their own living rooms, ” says Shafeeq Shajahan, founder of Liver & Lung and director/co-composer of the musical.

Liver & Lung streamed Sepet: The Musical for free last May during the first national lockdown, and chose to revive the musical on stage last August when it played to a live audience in Kuala Lumpur.

“The songs we have created are a beautiful homage to Yasmin Ahmad’s film. We hope it takes you back to a simpler time and that you love it, ” adds Badrish Isdin, who also contributed as co-composer.

The soundtrack features songs like Breathe, Jauh, Sayangku, Another Careless Day and Char Siu, all performed by theatre actors Badrika Baluch and Joshua Anthony Gui, who played the roles of Jason and Orked in the musical. Irena Taib of indie pop outfit The Impatient Sisters helped with the album’s folk pop sound and production.

Last December, Liver & Lung also released the soundtrack to its early musical production Mahsuri (& Other Peculiar Tales).