MUSIC VIDEO: NAUNGAN'S 'MALAYSIA'
Date and time: Unlimited
Naungan, a newly-formed multicultural group of local musicians, has picked the right season to release its first recording, an instrumental version of Malaysia (a song by Faizal Tahir).
The traditional-meets-classical group, which includes Yi Mann (a gu zheng player), Anderson Kalang (a sape player), Abisheg M (a sitar player), Asri Sharizan (keromong), Vick Ramakrishnan (tabla), Amir Percussion (rebana asli), Alex Rocksta’ (ukelele), and Toro Cheng (keyboard), has clicked into creative gear quickly.
The Malaysia video - wholeheartedly endorsed by singer Faizal - shows this cultural melting pot of a collaboration coming together with ease in a video shot at the Shah Alam Stadium. The song was produced by Rockstars Production.
“When a group of musicians come together to play, there is no distinction between skin colour, religion, and culture; there is just music. In this video, we are translating our love for our country into music with our rendition of the song Malaysia.
“Instruments across all cultures in Malaysia meld together in a song dedicated to all Malaysians, transcending boundaries and uniting hearts through arts. This Hari Kebangsaan and Hari Malaysia, we hope this song will bring joy and love to our Malaysian brothers and sisters,” outlines a media statement from the production team.
More info here.
A screen shot of 'Okong Tales', which is an action story game featuring Sabahan folklore.
VIRTUAL GAME: 48-HOUR FOLKLORE GAME JAM
Date and time: Unlimited
The National Academy of Arts, Culture, and Heritage's (Aswara) Faculty of Animation and Multimedia recently hosted a 48-hour Folklore Game Jam, with participants bringing to life the many female folk heroes of Malaysia and the Nusantara region.
From ancient Inderapura's Puteri Walinong Sari to the Sabahan legend of Okong Srikandi Sungai, these games covered a wide range of folk tales and genres. Participants were encouraged to keep their video game narratives localised, with no Western-centric references.
Check out each entry of the 48-Hour Folklore Game Jam here.
VIRTUAL ART: SIRI PENGABSAHAN ZAPIN JOHOR - ZAPIN DINJAT / GINJAT
Date and time: Unlimited
This virtual series by the Nusantara Performing Arts Research Center is an initiative to popularise various styles of zapin from Johor districts in a bid to ensure that it is preserved and continues to be practised.
This episode - in Bahasa Malaysia - focuses on zapin dinjat or ginjat. This zapin has faster and more aggressive movements. Men dance in pairs, with quick tip-toe steps and strong, slightly aggressive Marwas (small double-sided, high-pitched hand drum) beats. The video will also include a moderated discussion with Salimi Mohd Shah and Mohd Iskandar Shah Abdullah, both students of the late Suhairi Adam, a zapin dinjat Adiguru from a village near Sarang Buaya in Johor.
WEBINAR: BWM TALK SERIES
Date and time: Unlimited
The Art Deco style, which first appeared in France in 1925, is known for its sleek and anti-traditional design, which symbolised wealth and sophistication.
In this two-part webinar series by Badan Warisan Malaysia, the moderators delve into Art Deco styles in Mumbai, India and Kuala Lumpur.
Architect and Badan Warisan Malaysia’s council member Anand Krishnan moderated the Of Eyebrows and Flagpoles: Art Deco in Malaysia session. It featured architect Yvonne Leong and senior lecturer Simon Soon. Explore Art Deco in 1930s Kuala Lumpur architecture through a series of buildings that were designed by Arthur Oakley Coltman of Booty, Edwards & Partners.
The talk aims to identify some of Art Deco’s distinctively playful stylistic features in the capital city. Atul Kumar, Founder Trustee, Art Deco Mumbai Trust, on the other hand, will take you on a virtual tour of select Art Deco buildings and contextualise this modern architectural development in Mumbai. The city boasts the world’s second-largest collection of Art Deco buildings.
More info here.
'Red Velvet' written by Penang-born playwright Yusof Bakar. Photo: Handout
VIRTUAL THEATRE: RED VELVET
Date and Time: Until Aug 28, 8.30pm
Penang-based playwright Yusof Bakar’s Red Velvet is a dark comedy that tackles hard-hitting themes such as paedophilia, hidden predators, mental breakdown and the consequences of the lack of sex education.
Directed by Azizi Nazril, this Bahasa Malaysia play centres on Ain who suffers from Stockholm Syndrome when kidnapped by Amar and Aaron. She becomes attached to her captors and continues to have a relationship with them. At the same time, Ain has an affair with Ai Ling. Several years later, her parents find out about her illicit activities. They confront her and she is forced to choose between Amar, Aaron and Ai Ling. She reveals her choice at her 17th birthday party. The play stars Natashalanz, Villmett Thanakody, Fohcuys and Daphne Fang. You can also catch Red Velvet on-site at Revolution Stage Studio.
Red Velvet, ticketed, can be streamed via Revolution Stage’s website.
More info here.
