Siti Nurhaliza to debut new song at Singapore concert
Singaporean fans of Siti Nurhaliza are in for a treat, as the Malaysian pop queen will debut a new song at her Singapore Indoor Stadium concert on July 26.
'Singapore has always been special,' she tells The Straits Times in a Zoom interview conducted in Malay from her office in Kuala Lumpur on June 16.
'If you look back at my past concerts there, I've always had some exclusive performances. So, yes, I have a new song. It hasn't been released yet, and I plan to debut it exclusively at the concert.'
The 46-year-old declines to reveal its title, but teases it is a ballad.
The upcoming gig comes two decades after she last performed at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. She has staged concerts here multiple times, including two nights at The Star Theatre in June 2024, as well as a show with Canadian songwriter and producer David Foster, also at The Star Theatre, in 2023.
The Singapore Indoor Stadium, which can accommodate up to 12,000 people, is larger than her usual Singapore venues, so fans can expect 'a big sound', says the singer behind pop hits such as Aku Cinta Padamu, Purnama Merindu and Bukan Cinta Biasa.
'(The place) holds so many memories for me. It's a huge venue and that makes the responsibility even bigger. We're bringing a mini orchestra to deliver a more powerful sound.
'I'm thankful to return to Singapore for this concert. I promise fans a performance they will never forget. This time, I'll sing songs I rarely perform, and some that have never been performed live.'
One of Malaysia's most decorated musicians, the Pahang-born music star was awarded the Biduanita Negara accolade in November 2024. She is the third artiste to receive the title, after late Malay singing icons Saloma and Sharifah Aini. She also holds the title of Datuk Seri in Malaysia.
Siti made her debut after winning a national singing contest by television station Radio Televisyen Malaysia in 1995. The upcoming concert is part of a series of events, including an exhibition at shopping centre Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, that kicked off in March to celebrate her three decades in music.
She is still one of the top singers in Malaysia and was the most streamed local artiste among Spotify listeners in the country in 2024. In March, her 2018 song Anta Permana was included in a playlist of favourite songs by British monarch King Charles III, who described her as an 'outstanding Malaysian artiste'.
Her 20th full-length album, Sitism , was released in 2023. Her follow-up, she reveals, will focus on traditional Malay music, and she is in the process of gathering songs from both seasoned and new composers.
'What I'll never forget is the loyalty of my fans – that's something that can't be replaced,' she says of the highlight of her long entertainment career. 'After 30 years, if Gen Z recognises my name, that's the biggest honour for me.'
She is touched when a new generation of artistes cite her as a role model and influence, but insists she also learns from her younger counterparts.
Her Singapore show, for example, will feature guest singer Hael Husaini, the 37-year-old Malaysian known for pop and R&B hits such as Jampi.
'They give me fresh ideas. Experienced artistes shouldn't think we know everything, we need to collaborate.'
Besides her singing career, she is also a successful entrepreneur whose business empire spans cosmetics, clothes, and food and beverage.
She married businessman Khalid Mohamad Jiwa, better known as Datuk K, in 2006. The couple have a seven-year-old daughter, Siti Aafiyah, and four-year-old son, Muhammad Afwa.
Juggling motherhood and work is not easy, she admits.
'I've been trained since a young age to be disciplined. It's in my blood now,' she says on how she strikes a balance. 'But I still need rest and time with my children. I also take them to every concert – they are my motivation to give my best on stage.'
Show business is a tough industry, she acknowledges, which is why it is not something she would recommend for her kids. 'In my heart, I hope they don't follow the path of becoming singers, even if they have the talent.' – The Straits Times/Asia News Network
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Rakyat Post
23 minutes ago
- Rakyat Post
Malaysia's Queen Of Dangdut Passes Away At 68
Subscribe to our FREE Dangdut singer Siti Zaleha Abdul Hamid, who rose to fame in the 80s, succumbed to a lung infection and passed away at Sultan Aminah Hospital in Johor Bahru last night (19 June) at 8.30pm. Her eldest son, Ungku Chik Zafirulazman, said that his mother had been admitted in hospital for a week before her death, Sinar Harian She was buried at the Kassim Noor Muslim cemetary in Kampung Sungai Danga at 3pm today (20 June). Zaleha Hamid: Malaysia's beloved Queen of Dangdut If you grew up in Malaysia in the 80s or 90s, chances are you've heard her unmistakable voice on the radio, at weddings, or booming from pasar malam speakers. With a voice that could make you sway, cry, and dance all at once, Zaleha Hamid earned her crown as Malaysia's Queen of Dangdut – and held onto it for decades. Born on 31 August 1957 in Sungai Pinang, Penang, Zaleha was destined for the stage. With a mother who was a traditional theatre actress and a father who played the violin, her roots were steeped in the performing arts. She started singing at the tender age of five, performing in traditional theatre and ghazal shows, honing a voice that would eventually electrify dangdut lovers across the region. Making dangdut her kingdom Image: LadyBosz Although Zaleha began with Indian classical and Malay asli music, her shift into the world of dangdut in the 70s and 80s made her a household name. Leading ensembles like Orkes Zindegi, she bridged traditional and contemporary music with ease. Her solo career blossomed in the 80s with hit albums like Curahan Rasa (1982), Asmara (1986), and the unforgettable Dangdut Bang series in the 90s. The latter, while stirring controversy for its cheeky lyrics, also cemented her position as a bold and fearless performer who wasn't afraid to push boundaries. The songs we'll never forget Zaleha's voice is etched into Malaysian music history. With hits like 'Dangdut Reggae', 'Kerana Pengalaman', 'Nasib Janda', and 'Jagung Bakar', she captured the hearts of fans not just in Malaysia, but also in Singapore and Indonesia. Her ability to combine Malay, Indian, and Arabic musical influences made her music uniquely hers. Not without controversy – and that's what made her a legend Zaleha wasn't afraid to ruffle feathers. Her Dangdut Bang albums were Over her long and vibrant career, Zaleha was recognised with numerous accolades, including a Lifetime Dangdut Artist Award by PAPITA in 2006, and another by Life Records Singapore in 2007. Her song 'Teruna Idaman' even made it to the semi-finals of Muzik-Muzik 8 in 1992 – a testament to her enduring popularity. A dangdut legacy that lives on Zaleha Hamid wasn't just a singer – she was a trailblazer. She made dangdut cool before it was mainstream, gave it a Malaysian flavour, and showed that women could dominate the stage with both elegance and fire. Even in her final years, her name still drew admiration, and her songs still sparked joy. Today, as younger artists like Baby Shima and Wany Hasrita carry the dangdut torch forward, Zaleha's influence is unmistakable. Rest in peace, Zaleha Hamid. The Queen may have left the stage, but her music will keep us dancing and reminiscing for generations to come. Share your thoughts with us via TRP's . Get more stories like this to your inbox by signing up for our newsletter.
New Straits Times
2 hours ago
- New Straits Times
NSTP shines with 13 wins at MPI-Petronas Journalism Awards
KUALA LUMPUR: The New Straits Times Press (NSTP) group took home 13 accolades across various categories at the MPI-Petronas Malaysian Journalism Awards 2024 tonight. The wins were split among NSTP's titles, with four awards going to the New Straits Times (NST), six to Harian Metro (HM), and three to Berita Harian (BH). Harian Metro was the night's highlight, clinching the country's most coveted journalism honour, the Kajai Award. NST's Leslie Andres secured silver in the Best Column Writing category for pieces including 'UN veto power is main obstacle to world peace', 'Mindset shift must accompany any rule change', and 'Western singers skipping Malaysia due to those kicking up a fuss'. In the Best Investigative Journalism category, Aliza Shah from NST won the silver award for her impactful report titled 'Children forced into local pornographic content'. In video journalism, NST received bronze in both the Best Video Documentary and Best Video Talk Show categories. The documentary was produced by Aliza Shah, Iylia Marsya Iskandar, Khairus Ramli, and Amalina Kamal, while the talk show was helmed by Siti Nur Amalina Kamal, Hazween Syarina Md Hassan, Farrah Ain Jasmine Jasman, and Shahrul Redzuan Zulkifli. The ceremony saw over a thousand guests from across the media industry, including editors, reporters and corporate representatives, gather to celebrate excellence in Malaysian journalism. This year's awards attracted 549 entries from 58 media organisations, with honours handed out across 23 categories. The night also marked the launch of MPI's first-ever journalism e-journal by Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir.
The Star
3 hours ago
- The Star
'Queen of Dangdut' Zaleha Hamid passes away at 70
A celebrated singer in Malaysia and Singapore, Zaleha Hamid was recognised as one of the pioneers of dangdut music. Photo: Filepic Malaysian singer Zaleha Hamid, who rose to fame in the 1980s, died due to a lung infection at Sultanah Aminah Hospital in Johor Bahru at about 8.30pm on June 19. She was 70. Her husband, Ungku Sulaiman Ungku Aziz, confirmed the news when contacted by Bernama. "My wife was admitted to the hospital on the second day of Hari Raya Aidiladha. Around 6pm (on June 19), she began experiencing shortness of breath while we were feeding her milk through a tube. "She had been bedridden since suffering a stroke in 2020,' he said. Ungku Sulaiman said her remains will be laid to rest at the Kassim Noor Muslim Cemetery in Kampung Sungai Danga, Johor Bahru after Friday prayers (on June 20). Besides her husband, Zaleha is survived by three children and six grandchildren. A celebrated singer and entertainer in Malaysia and Singapore, she was recognised as one of the pioneers of dangdut music and was fondly known as the Queen of Dangdut. Among her popular songs were J angan Segan Segan, Jangan Kau Tangiskan, Nasib Janda, Sesejuk Airmata Ibu and Dangdut Reggae . She also recorded duets such as Inang Aidilfitri with the late Datuk Sudirman, Sesuci Kasihku Semurni Cintamu with Aziz Ahmad and Joget Burung Merpati with Herman Tino. – Bernama
