Kuching - A father and his daughter were thrilled to win the Best Dayak Composer and Best Female Singer awards at the first Dayak Music Awards on Saturday night.
Jimmy Geres Sinju‘s Menu Menu Rindu, written for his daughter Claudia Fay, was not nominated for best dayak song, but the catchy, danceable Bidayuh love song recorded three years ago bagged them each an award.
Fay said it would be a night her family would never forget.
"I was overwhelmed. All kinds of emotions overcame me when I was announced the winner," the excited Fay said yesterday morning during a family celebration to mark the father-daughter triumph.
"I am so honoured with the recognition of me as a singer," said the 22-year-old.
Fay has a full-time job as a draughtsman in a civil engineering firm and does the pub and club circuit at night.
Her 52-year-old father, a civil servant, has been in the music industry for 20 years, but only started writing songs in 2004. Geres plays lead guitar in the band D Sound Express.
"Love is a popular theme in nearly all songs. So when I started writing, my theme was, of course, on love.
"I thought: ‘why not write one for someone I truly love?‘ I‘m glad to have won the award. It is a recognition of the small group of musicians and songwriters that caters for a small community," he said.
The Dayak music industry has an audience of eight million Dayaks in Borneo.
Singer/songwriter Rosiana Urai was the most prolific winner, picking up three awards on the night.
Telang Usan picked up the Best Dayak Patriotic Song in the Orang Ulu category, while Anak won the Best Orang Ulu song award. She was also voted the Best Dayak composer in the Orang Ulu category.
Veteran Iban singer Jenny Tan was honoured with the Most Successful Female Dayak Singer award.
Tan now runs a recording studio with her husband.
The guest-of-honour for the evening was Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek.
Source: http://www.nst.com.my (September, 29, 2008)