KOTA KINABALU: It's never easy making a return to the music scene, as singer Lotter P Edwin Edin can attest.
The Sabahan was first runner-up in 2006 during Season 4 of the reality TV show Akademi Fantasia.
Lotter, or more affectionately known as Dudu, went on to perform a number of gigs and shows before slowing down three years later.
In 2009, he tried his hand at being a radio presenter, working with a series of national and local radio stations until about 2018.
But his creative side could not be suppressed, always itching to create his own music and to perform.
On March 30, after a 15-year wait, Lotter signalled his comeback with the release of the single Kemarin Kecewakan Mu a song he composed and later recorded with his band The Divine Masters. The three other members of the band are his siblings.
They performed the song and screened the single's music video at an entertainment spot near here.
Lotter was joined by his friends such as Rich Gimbang, Velvet Aduk and Felix Agus – all previous Akademi Fantasia participants too – who were there to support his "return" to the music industry.
"It's tough to come back but it's special when your friends help you. It makes it a bit easier," he said.
Lotter and his friends performed to a packed club, with fans cheering their every song.
Rich, the frontman of the rock band Estranged, belted out a number of his songs including the hit Itu Kamu while his wife Velvet sang the catchy Sumandak Sabah.
"Besides the launch of our single, we hoped to have given the fans a treat as well – it's not easy to gather all these artistes together on one stage," said Lotter.
Meanwhile, Lotter said he had planned to record and launch the single as early as 2018.
"I actually composed the song Kemarin Kecewakan Mu 13 years ago in 2010 but I was unable to record and release it due to some unavoidable circumstances.
He said after his band The Divine Masters recorded their last album Easy To Understand in 2008, they were actively performing until around the end of 2009.
"We found ourselves shouldering a growing number of commitments, whether it was work or family, including my job as a radio presenter," he said.
The Covid-19 pandemic in 2019 further delayed the recording process.
"There were so many challenges to the release of the song and we are grateful to have finally done it.
"We would like to thank all the people who helped us make this comeback including our sponsors, family members, friends as well as the media for always supporting our work," Lotter said.
When asked what the single Kemarin Kecewakan Mu was about, he said it told of a story of a woman who had been left by her lover and could not move on from the heartbreak.
Other members of The Divine Masters – all Lotter's brothers – are Lister Petrus Edwin Edin on lead guitar, Luther Petrus Edwin Edin on drums and bassist Leill Petrus Edwin Edin.
Lotter is the main vocalist and plays the rhythm guitar.
