#SHOWBIZ: Ziana Zain is proud of niece Ernie Zakri, now a famous singer
KUALA LUMPUR: Ziana Zain never imagined that the little girl who sang her song at a wedding ceremony some 27 years ago would grow up to be a famous singer.
Ziana, 57, was referring to her niece, Ernie Zakri, 32, who is now a renowned female vocalist with a string of hit songs such as 'Masing Masing' and 'Aura'.
Proud of Ernie's achievements, Ziana admitted that she also never expected to share the stage with her niece.
They are both set to perform at the 'Empat Live In Kuala Lumpur 2025' concert at the Mega Star Arena KL on Oct 18.
"In 1998, Ernie sang the song 'Berpisah Jua' at my wedding. She was also my flower girl," Ziana recounted in jest.
"Even though the song choice was 'wrong,' who would have thought that the 'chubby' little girl wearing a ribbon on her head would now be a singer?"
"She used to watch us (Ziana and her brother Anuar Zain) sing. Now, Ernie and I will share not only the stage but also the fans," she was quoted as saying in a news report today, referring to the recent press conference for the 'Live In Kuala Lumpur 2025 Four Concerts' held here.
"For me, this is a very interesting combination because it involves two different generations."
Apart from Ziana and Ernie, Anuar Zain and Ernie's husband Syamel will also be performing at the concert. Ziana admitted she was thrilled that her dream of staging a concert with all four of them is finally coming true.
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New Straits Times
4 days ago
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Ziana Zain is proud of niece Ernie Zakri, now a famous singer
KUALA LUMPUR: Ziana Zain never imagined that the little girl who sang her song at a wedding ceremony some 27 years ago would grow up to be a famous singer. Ziana, 57, was referring to her niece, Ernie Zakri, 32, who is now a renowned female vocalist with a string of hit songs such as 'Masing Masing' and 'Aura'. Proud of Ernie's achievements, Ziana admitted that she also never expected to share the stage with her niece. They are both set to perform at the 'Empat Live In Kuala Lumpur 2025' concert at the Mega Star Arena KL on Oct 18. "In 1998, Ernie sang the song 'Berpisah Jua' at my wedding. She was also my flower girl," Ziana recounted in jest. "Even though the song choice was 'wrong,' who would have thought that the 'chubby' little girl wearing a ribbon on her head would now be a singer?" "She used to watch us (Ziana and her brother Anuar Zain) sing. Now, Ernie and I will share not only the stage but also the fans," she was quoted as saying in a news report today, referring to the recent press conference for the 'Live In Kuala Lumpur 2025 Four Concerts' held here. "For me, this is a very interesting combination because it involves two different generations." Apart from Ziana and Ernie, Anuar Zain and Ernie's husband Syamel will also be performing at the concert. Ziana admitted she was thrilled that her dream of staging a concert with all four of them is finally coming true.
Malaysian Reserve
6 days ago
- Malaysian Reserve
'Empat Live in KL 2025' concert brings Ziana family's dream to life
THE upcoming 'Empat Live in Kuala Lumpur 2025' concert will unite siblings Ziana Zain and Anuar Zain, along with their niece Ernie Zakri and nephew-in-law Syamel, on one stage for the very first time. Speaking about the concert, which will take place at Mega Star Arena in Bukit Bintang here on Oct 18, Anuar said it is a tribute to their family's artistic journey, while also establishing themselves as a brand in the local music industry. ''Empat' (four) isn't just a number. It's a collaboration among four artistes from the same family. We hope it will become a legacy and a historic moment for us. 'We also hope it will be something people talk about for a long time,' he said at a press conference recently. To further excite fans, the four will also be releasing a brand-new single in conjunction with the concert, centered around the theme of universal love and composed by Edry Abdul Halim. Anuar, who worked with Edry about 15 years ago on the hit song 'Sedetik Lebih', described him as a smart and experienced songwriter and composer. 'When we met Edry, he gave us two song options. But one of them really captured our hearts. Without saying much, the four of us immediately agreed once we heard it,' he said. Anuar added that Edry understood the vocal characteristics of all four singers and crafted an arrangement that suited them well, which made the recording process smooth from start to finish. Organised by Anuar Zain Network in collaboration with Altus ProHouse, 'Konsert Empat Live In Kuala Lumpur 2025' is expected to be one of the most memorable music events of the year. Meanwhile, Ziana said the concert not only fulfills the dreams of loyal fans who have supported their artistic journeys but also marks a special moment for their family. 'We want this concert to be the most meaningful moment in their (fans') lives and ours too. Hopefully, it becomes a beautiful story to be remembered even when we are no longer here,' she said, adding the concert is expected to feature over 20 songs which they will perform solo or as a duet or group. Ernie, who grew up watching her uncle and aunt performing on stage, described the concert as a dream come true. 'When I was told the concert was going to happen, I felt a mix of emotions – touched, overwhelmed and proud. This is a major moment in my life,' she said. The concert will be directed by Jennifer Thompson while the music director is Lee Sze Wan. Only 15 percent of the tickets for the concert are now remaining since they went on sale on April 25 and are available at — BERNAMA
The Star
12-06-2025
- The Star
Empat is the name - Malaysian music legends team up with family members to become music's new super quartet
The dice has been set and it heralds a new beginning for Malaysian music and also for the South-East Asia entertainment scene. Meet the new quartet set to break new grounds in the local and international entertainment scene. They are aptly called Empat and will feature legendary singers and siblings Ziana Zain and Anuar Zain, along with their niece, award-winning singer Ernie Zakrie, and her husband Syamel, a well-known singer-composer who was also a member of Akademi Fantasia 2015 franchise. And then comes the 'Empat Live in KL 2025', which will be held at the Mega Star Arena on Oct 18. It will also mark the first concert collaboration between the four family members, each of whom has made a significant and lasting impacts on the Malaysian music industry. They will take to the stage in a performance of love for their fans who have shown immense support through ticket purchases shortly after the concert was announced last month. Already 85% of the concert tickets have been sold and it is expected to be sold out by end the month. And the love that they have received from their fans will see the four becoming a brand of their own with future collaborations. To start things off, the four top musicians among the superstars of Malaysian music for that long, will combine their skills for a new single in celebration of the concert. They are already working with Edry Abdul Halim of legendary group KRU for the new singles expected to hit the charts in August well before the concert. "This is not a one-off thing. That I can promise everyone. It is a great start and we all agreed that we want to continue with this new combination and we have several things planned for the group," said a happy Anuar Zain. "But one thing for sure, Empat is the new brand in town. That is for real. "Besides the concert, we have the upcoming single which we will announce to all soon. On the questions of coming out with a album, all four of us are not going there yet. It may come in the future, we will take everything step by step and the important part, is enjoying this new venture." As for the concert, organised by Anuar Zain Network and co-organised by Altus ProHouse -- Ziana Zain, who has been crooning unforgettable tunes for music lovers since 1991, said all four of them are overwhelmed by the support shown by the fans. "I can't wait for October. Words can't express what your support means to us. I hope October 18 becomes a phenomenon in the industry – it's the first time a family of artists is doing a concert like this. It will be our most memorable night,' said Ziana. She also has been preparing mentally and physically – hitting the gym and watching her diet. Ziana also teased fans about the concert content. "There will be many hit songs, and even some that haven't been performed in a long time will be revived on this night. Just like Anuar, Syamel, and Ernie, I'm focused on lyrics and mental preparation," said Ziana. "In many ways, this concert is our (Empat) gift of love and tribute to the journey of their artistic careers, and it will be performed with sheer magic on show night. This is our promise to you (fans)." Anuar Zain, Ernie Zakrie, and her husband Syamel also expressed their deep gratitude to the fans for their strong support. "I hope everyone who bought tickets will truly be present at Mega Star Arena on the night and be part of this beautiful memory we are creating together,' said Anuar. "With this family collaboration, we hope the concert will satisfy everyone and we are aiming to truly entertain all our fans. Expect some singalongs and interaction between us four and the audience… Let's bring the house down," he said. The Ernie-Syamel couple also said they are fully focused on preparing to deliver his best for the audience. "Right now, all four of us are preparing mentally and physically to give our all and satisfy our beloved fans. Come with open hearts and minds. Let's celebrate this beautiful moment together and create an unforgettable memory at Empat Live in Kuala Lumpur 2025," said Ernie. 'I can say this will be a historic night for me personally and for the industry – a first for a family of singers to perform together in such a major concert. This show wouldn't be possible without the fans. Everywhere I go, people say they've already bought tickets. It touches my heart and I can't wait to pour our love into the performance,' said Ernie. Syamel, too, feels this concert will be a beautiful, lasting memory – not just for the four of them, but for the loyal fans. "Those in the audience aren't just spectators – they're the heartbeat of this historic night. "We're not just singers – we're here to share love, stories, and the rollercoaster of our musical journey. I want the audience to travel and reminisce through the song selections that we'll present on October 18 at Mega Star Arena. It's my hope that our performance will truly touch their hearts,' said Syamel. Meanwhile, Sze Wan, the renowned music director, is at the helm of the historic concert. She is thrilled and describes the concert as a musical journey of Malaysian ballads that unites eras and generations, still well-loved by fans today. "Empat Live in Kuala Lumpur 2025 can be described as a musical journey, especially in the ballad genre, spanning from the era of diva Ziana Zain, to the phenomenon of 'Lelaki Ini' by Anuar Zain, wrapped in the modern vocal stylings and fusion genres brought to life by Ernie Zakri and Syamel,' shared Sze Wan. "It will be one unforgettable affair and there will definitely be many special moments." Ticket Information - Empat Live In Kuala Lumpur 2025: Date: 18 October, 2025 Venue: Mega Star Arena, Kuala Lumpur Artists: Ziana Zain, Anuar Zain, Ernie Zakri, Syamel Presented by: Anuar Zain Network & Altus ProHouse Website: Available Categories: • Diamond – RM888 • VIP – RM1,088 Sold Out Categories: Bronze (RM288), Silver (RM388), Gold (RM488), Platinum (RM688), Royal Twin Seat (RM2,088 for 2 tickets) For OKU ticket purchase: +6011-1190 0518; Buy Now, Pay Later options available via Atome and SPayLater.
