Hailing from a musically inclined family in Johor, Mariam Saim – the youngest of five – recalls getting her earliest singing experience performing at weddings at just five years old.
Although her late father – whom she describes as an artistic man – had sent her siblings for music lessons, he never got around to enrolling Mariam.
Still, that didn’t stop her.
She began learning instruments in primary school through Yayasan Warisan Johor and later pursued music formally, earning both her diploma and degree from Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM).
She completed her thesis under the tutelage of esteemed vocal sifu Datuk Syafinaz Selamat and eventually stayed on at her alma mater as a vocal teacher.
Today, Mariam is the first recording artiste in her family.
“Whenever Aubrey Suwito is producing a record, he will call me to provide backup vocals,” shares the 29-year-old during our exclusive interview.
Mariam was also a regular on the concert circuit, often called upon by these artistes to perform as one of their backup singers.
Beyond that, she also performed at corporate shows, which she thoroughly enjoyed.
But over time, she felt something was missing, especially as her performances began to feel repetitive.
She began to question herself, yet never wavered – continuing her work as a backup vocalist, a role she believes is crucial but often undervalued.
“We may stand at the back, but we play a huge role in a performance,” Mariam says.
“But deep down, I still felt like it wasn’t enough. Watching the artistes I backed up – seeing their journey, how they prepare and handle their nerves before going on stage – really inspired me.
“When I watched Tokti (Siti) perform for big crowds, I thought, ‘I can sing too. I want to be at the front. I want to feel that satisfaction.’
“Being a backup vocalist taught me so much, but I realised I wanted more. I wanted to challenge myself and see if I could step out to the front.
“So when the reality singing competition One In A Million came back, I decided to go for it. I wanted to prove to myself that I could do more.”
(The show’s fourth season, returning after a 15-year hiatus, was aired on TV3 from Dec 22, 2024 to Feb 9, 2025).
Mariam emerged as one of the Top Five finalists, earning a record deal with Alternate Records & Talents.
Since then, the prolific singer has released the single Bulan, a duet titled Puaskah and another track, Cinta Gila – which she composed, wrote and produced.
Cinta Gila was also featured as a soundtrack to TV3’s drama Perempuan Tidak Ternikah.
At the time of our conversation, she was in the midst of selecting songs – from “the hundreds” she has written since she was young – for her debut EP.
1. It’s been a year since One In A Million ended. How have you changed since then?
I’ve changed a lot – in my singing and in my mentality.
After the competition, I realised I had to be more independent and really figure out who I am as an artiste.
I’m still new in this industry, so I knew I had to define my character – how I want people to see me, from the way I sing to the way I present myself.
When I was eliminated, I shut down for a day. I just slept.
But the next day, I asked myself: What do you want to be? What kind of songs suit you? What kind of image do you want to portray?
One In A Million was a competition, but more than that, it was an eye-opener. It prepared me for the real world.
I’m still discovering my identity, but the show helped me take that first step toward becoming the artiste I want to be.
2. Who are some of your musical inspirations, growing up and even today?
Growing up, my idol was always Siti Nurhaliza.
I’m Johorean and started out singing traditional songs and learning ghazal, so Tokti really influenced me.
She’s incredibly versatile – she can sing anything – and she remains my idol.
Today, the artistes I truly admire are Aina Abdul, Ernie Zakri and Sheila Majid.
If I could combine the best of all three, that’s who I’d want to become.
Sheila Majid has that timeless, classy image.
Aina Abdul has a very strong and well-prepared team behind her – I want to build something like that for myself.
And Ernie Zakri inspires me technically; she sings with such control and healthy technique, which is important to me because of my training.
I want to blend their professionalism, image and artistry into one.
3. You wrote and even produced Cinta Gila yourself. Can you tell us about creating the song and what it means?
To be honest, I didn’t expect to be able to do everything myself.
The whole recording process felt so smooth – it felt like rezeki (good fortune) was on my side.
Cinta Gila was inspired by what we see on social media – people posting about breakups or conflicts with partners, friends, even family, without really resolving their issues.
Sometimes these situations escalate to extreme actions, which they shouldn’t.
The song isn’t just about romantic heartbreak. It’s about the mix of anger and love we feel in toxic relationships – feeling hurt yet still caring, unsure how to navigate it.
Cinta Gila is meant to be a voice for people to stop relying on others for validation and start fighting for themselves.
It’s about standing up, leaving toxic situations and valuing your own feelings.
The lyrics tell a story of resilience: learning to survive, fight for yourself and practise self-love.
4. As a newcomer, how do you think the local music industry can grow?
I think it’s actually quite simple. If a singer is having a concert, go support them.
If someone releases a song, listen and show some love.
Even when I released Cinta Gila, I shared it with artistes I admire – from Aina Abdul to Ernie Zakri, and even (Indonesian musician) Ade Govinda – just to let them hear it and maybe give feedback.
It was really an eye-opener to see how supportive they were, and it reminded me how important it is to support each other too.
Even small gestures, like appreciating someone else’s work, can help the industry grow.
For us as the new generation, it’s good to learn from those who came before – see how they work, how they handle challenges – and not be afraid to ask questions.
At the same time, we can’t just wait for them to correct us; we have to seek out advice and learn from the experiences of the people around us.
That’s how we keep growing together.
5. How do you unwind?
I love taking my cats for walks. I have six at home and also look after three of my sister’s cats.
Sometimes you might see me walking them in the park, letting them explore while I stroll alongside.
I also enjoy practising piano. I grew up surrounded by instruments, so playing music has always been my way to relax.
Even now, if I don’t play at least one note a day, it feels strange.
That’s often where my songs are born, from letting my emotions flow through the piano.
