An Interview: A Message of Unity Through Music

If there was ever a time in our modern history when we need unity, it is now. In our politically, culturally, and physically divided world, it can be easy to retreat to our tribes, and often for good reason. But there is also plenty of space for messages about unity to remind us of the common good among us as human beings.

Malaysian musician Amirah is an artist who believes in the message of unity wholeheartedly and is using her talents to spread that message wherever she can. The award-winning singer/songwriter grew up in Malaysia and blends traditional Eastern sounds with more modern Western pop music, showing unity through the medium of music.

Both of her latest singles 'You Are My Land' and 'Tell Me' are cinematic in scope with luscious live strings and modern pop drums. Originally composed in Malay, her music explores faith, freedom, and the endless search for meaning for who we truly are as a people. Amirah's lyrics speak specifically to women of color who fight for their dreams, as she confidently creates her inspired music and stays loyal to her heritage.

We spoke with Amirah to go deeper into some of these themes and learn more about her music, her background, and her message.

Tell us about your journey into music – where did it all start for you?

I was a very introverted child growing up. I gravitated toward my grandfather's old piano, which he had bought for my mother when she expressed interest in learning to play. Eventually, my mother enrolled me in piano lessons, which I am eternally grateful for. I started composing small piano pieces as a child, and later picked up the cello, an instrument I have grown to deeply adore. Over time, I became a songwriter, composing songs for other artists and various projects.

One day, a song I had composed and sung myself, a piece calling for unity, caught the attention of the national news in Malaysia. Due to this unexpected turn of events, I was encouraged to start singing and performing my own original songs.

Growing up in an Indian and Malaysian family you have been influenced by cross-cultural influences. Can you tell us how that defined your sound and you as an artist?

I am very proud of my biracial heritage. Growing up in the melting pot of cultures that is Malaysia definitely shaped my sound and who I am as an artist. I was exposed to both Malay and Indian cultures at home, and I learned to deeply appreciate, understand and love them both. The music, language, dance, and fusion of foods in Malaysia are absolutely extraordinary. There is nowhere else I have seen where a person can experience such incredible diversity and blending of traditions in a single nation.

However, this richness of cultural influences also raised many questions for me regarding my own identity. How could I embrace both my modern sensibilities and my deep cultural roots? Why did I have to choose between them? This sparked my journey of experimenting and fusing traditional Eastern instruments into my cinematic pop music. It was a way for me to authentically express the full breadth of my artistic and personal identity.

You are also an activist who wants to give greater representation for women of color especially. What are some of the causes you are passionate about?

I am a feminist, and have been since I was a child, almost by default. I have always questioned everything. Being unfairly treated due to my gender damaged my self-esteem for a very long time. I remember telling a relative that I wanted to be a doctor, only to be told that if I did, I would be too old to get married and no man would want me. Some of my school teachers even told me I was too dark-skinned, which they equated with being ugly, and they asked me to stay away from the sun. I was also taught to be ashamed of my body as a woman. It was a very lonely experience, not having anyone to discuss these topics with, and never meeting anyone who shared a similar mindset as a child and teenager.

However, I have now grown to deeply love my beautiful skin color and my body. I look up to Zainah Anwar, a Malaysian female activist, whose articles I loved reading as a teenager. They gave me a glimpse of hope that there were other people out there who thought like me.

Tell us about your latest singles “You Are My Land” and “Tell Me”. What are the messages behind them? 

I was literally in tears when I composed "You Are My Land" on the piano. The song is an expression of my deep love for my country, Malaysia, and the pain I feel in watching it be torn apart by power, greed and corruption. I also thought about people from other countries who have had to flee their homelands due to war. With the worldwide pandemic and so many people being uprooted and displaced, I feel that the message of this song will resonate strongly. I have been very touched by the positive, heartfelt responses and comments I've received from people all around the world.

"Tell Me" is the English version of my song "Katakanlah", which poses the question of who we truly are. Are we defined by our name? Our face? With the urgent call for racial equality and unity, I believe it is critical for people to start asking these important questions. Why do we hurt others simply because of the color of their skin or their religious beliefs? When we hurt others, we only end up harming ourselves, and humanity and the planet pay a devastating price. During times of pain and division, it's important for us to realize that we are not alone. Sometimes, that realization alone can be the start of the healing process, allowing us to unite and work towards a better future.

How do you balance wanting to stay true to your heritage with the often narrow confines of the music industry and what is considered “pop music”? 

Balancing my desire to stay true to my heritage with the often narrow confines of the music industry has been an ongoing challenge, and one I grapple with in many ways. There was a time when I couldn't even listen to the radio for several years because of this conflict.

However, the rise of the internet has been a game-changer. More and more artists are now able to express our true creative visions musically without being pigeonholed into specific genres. Genre boundaries are becoming increasingly blurred, and alternative sounds are gaining greater acceptance.

The world is our audience now, not just a particular geographic location. I work incredibly hard to stay faithful to my own artistic vision and not let genre classifications dictate how my music should sound.

I understand the practical need for genres when it comes to music distribution and discovery. But those categories should not be allowed to influence the artistic creation process itself. I ask myself every day to ensure I am always serving the music first, and never shortchanging my creative vision.

Your lyrics explore faith, freedom, and the need to find meaning. Can you share more about this, and why it has become an important part of your music?

I've always had a curious mind since I was a child. I questioned everything, because freedom is extremely important to me. Personally, I've turned to songwriting as a means of expression during my loneliest, most isolated, and painful times - the times when I felt misunderstood and didn't belong. It is through the act of songwriting that I am able to express my pain, my struggles, and my deepest truths. Sometimes I feel that music is the only thing that truly understands me.

Who are some of your musical heroes, and why? 

Some of my musical heroes include Jacqueline du Pré, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Anoushka Shankar, Yo-Yo Ma, and Tan Sri P. Ramlee. Each of them has endured immense personal challenges in their lives, some of them extremely tragic.

Ryuichi Sakamoto, in particular, is one of my favorite composers. I greatly admire how he endured and defeated throat cancer, never giving up on his "personal legend" and always striving for greatness.

I also have a deep admiration for cellist Yo-Yo Ma, for creating The Silk Road Ensemble as a means of spreading a message of unity through music. And I'm in awe of Anoushka Shankar's courageous collaborations and her work in breaking down barriers as a female sitarist.

None of these artists gave up on their dreams, even in the face of adversity. They have all inspired me with their resilience and dedication to their craft.

We live in such a divided country, and world. How do you hope to unite people with your music? 

I always remember what my cello teacher said - that music has the power to profoundly alter people's emotions. As musicians, we must remember that we hold a great responsibility when wielding that power. Do we want to create music that promotes harm and conflict? Or do we want to craft music that helps people feel connected and heal?

Music is incredibly powerful because it has the ability to transcend boundaries. There is at least one situation where you can find people with opposing beliefs come together in celebration - at a music concert. During a performance, people seem to forget their cultural and political identities, uniting instead in the magic and spirit of the music. Even if it's only for a night, that shared experience is so meaningful.

Through my music, I hope to pose important questions in people's minds. I want to help them realize that, at our core, we are all the same - we all want the same fundamental things in life. My goal is to use the unifying force of music to bridge divides and bring people together.

What can listeners look forward to next from you?

I am working on releasing a few more songs and completing my full album project. I plan to share a lot of behind-the-scenes content and updates with my audience as that creative process unfolds.

Alongside my music, I have also been designing my own East meets West clothing line, which I'm excited to be releasing soon. Additionally, I'm in the process of creating a miniseries of East meets West-themed YouTube videos that I hope will resonate with my fans.

People can check out my latest creative projects and releases on my website. I'm really looking forward to continuing to share my artistic vision and message of unity through this diverse array of mediums - music, fashion, and video content.

My goal is to use every platform available to me to bridge cultural divides and bring people together.

#3rdCulture #EastMeetsWest #Unity