IPOH: What began as a simple singing contest has grown into a meaningful platform for six parents and their children, who now use music to promote family bonding and celebrate unity across cultures.
Calling themselves The Twlve, the group comprising six parent-child pairs recently released a festive Kongsi Raya song that blends Chinese New Year and Hari Raya elements.
Group spokesperson Jessie Loh, 45, said the idea for the group was born after they participated in a family singing competition last year.
“During the contest, we were grouped under the same teacher and through the process, we realised how much it helped us bond with our children.
“The competition featured parent-child duos, allowing families to perform together on stage.
“For many of us it was not about winning, but spending time together and understanding our children better,” said Loh, a financial planner.
The other participants in the group are Loh’s daughter Katy Lee, 11; Kenny Loo, 47, and his daughter Xiao An, 11; Rachel Cheah, 43, and her daughter Brittany Tang, 13; Clarance Boo, 43, and her daughter Giselle Teo, 10; Chung Kai Shuang, 41, and her son Tan Wei Cheng, 10; and Yang Wai Keat, 43 and his son Preston Yang, 13.
The group members hail from Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh and Johor. While most of the children have some singing experience, not all of the parents are trained.
Inspired by the singing competition, the six families decided to continue singing together.
Loh said the first project was a Chinese New Year song released in February, complete with a music video.
“Encouraged by the positive response, we went on to produce a song titled Kongsi Raya Biu Biu Biu, sung both in Mandarin and Malay, which was launched on March 21.
“The song’s title includes the word ‘biu’, a playful expression which evokes the sounds of festive celebrations, like fireworks.
“Behind the music is one of the fathers in the group, Loo, who is an IT engineer by profession and a part-time composer.
“Loo collaborated with our teacher Ruiye Ang, an experienced lyricist, to produce original songs for the group,” Loh explained.
She said the idea for a Kongsi Raya song came from the observation that Chinese New Year and Hari Raya celebrations will fall close to each other over the next few years.
“We wanted to start early and create something that people can remember and sing along to over time. It’s not about being perfect, it is about doing something together,” she said.
