After decades of pop and rock, Westerners are now scouring the globe (and paying good money) for something different. And that`s partly how last week`s 10th Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) in Sarawak became one of the most successful events of Visit Malaysia Year 2007, drawing in more than 20,000 visitors and RM15mil in tourism revenues.
At the RWMF, Brits strummed Venezuelan salsa rhythms, Poles played Scottish bagpipes and a Canadian shared his passion for Sarawak`s bamboo instruments. There were showcases of ethereal Peruvian pan pipes, Zimbabwe`s soothing a capella voices, hypnotic Islamic refrains from Afghanistan, Madagascar`s reggae-like rhythms and giant tambourines from Sicily.
And then the Mongolians showed how explosive they were. No, not at the courthouse; rather, a few old men from Huun Huur Tu – armed only with guttural steppe-land voices and Genghis Khan era instruments – got thousands of people gyrating and jumping when they blended their age-old music with a throbbing techno bass by Russian DJ`s. What a blast!
But for me, what was truly amazing was how Malaysian bands were revving up the citizens in the crowd with traditional Malaysian music. Stuff – like Kelantanese drums and Sarawakian Kelabit bamboo pipes which when played on RTM TV1 would normally make most of us flip channels instantly – was now causing us to whoop and dance like we were cheering for Manchester United (had they been allowed to play in Kuala Lumpur).
The Aseana Percussion Unit got everybody stomping and swaying as they explored local rhythms on Malay rebana, Chinese lion dance drums and Indian tabla. Tabuh Pak Ainal showed how funky Sarawakian beats could get.
And then came rhythmic revelation. I have attended many Orang Ulu cultural shows in Sarawak`s interior, the kind which feature dainty pastoral sape (a kind of guitar) melodies and ladies delicately waving hornbill feathers. It`s, ummm ... nice... but even an Orang Ulu cultural activist once told me that it can be sleep-inducing.
Anak Adi Rurum started out that way too. But within five minutes, one of the very comely girls transformed the sape into a rock guitar while belting out to several thousand people: “Are you ready to party?!” Never had I seen sape and hornbill feathers swirl with such sparkle!
Our batik is being reinvented and glamorised for export to the world. We used to have to endure the same-old same-old 1970s style batik shirts; you know, the type worn by nicotine-infused “uncles” after they emerge from five non-stop days or whatever at the Genting Highlands casino.
But no more! Now the image is all about dazzling fashion catwalks and high society dinners.
But what of our music? I regularly surf the 18 local radio channels programmed on my car and all I hear is (mostly) Western-style pop, rock and rap – be it in Malay, English or Chinese. Only the Indians have spiced up their traditional beats for a young audience (try the THR station).
The only other “real” local music I hear is 1960s style Malay oldies on RTM`s Klasik FM. But seriously, this is like TV playing all the old P. Ramlee movies over and over again. Don`t we have anything new to offer?
As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of decolonisation, I wonder if our music has achieved “independence” from slavishly imitating Western rock and pop?
The RWMF was a gigantic cross-fertilisation of global harmonies where Malaysia demonstrated that we too can adapt our ancient musical heritage and make it rock.
I long for the day when I can turn on my car radio and listen to a Sabahan sompotan (bamboo pipes) in dalliance with a Chinese erhu over an acid jazz bass beat. Or perhaps a Malay seruling (flute) and Indian tabla hip-hopping with an electric guitar.
There`s no market demand? The crowds were chanting “More! More!” at the RWMF. But somebody has to plant the seeds. Perhaps the Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry can consider funding some initiatives to modernise Malaysia`s rich musical inheritance for today`s tastes. You know, go “glocal”...
A picture says a thousand words. But I believe this funky new Malaysian fusion music will say only three words: Pride, Unity and Merdeka!
`Teh Tarik` is an offbeat column that appears when something `khau` is brewing in the author`s head.
Source: www.thestar.com (23 Juli 2007)
