KOTA KINABALU: There was a lot on Velvet Aduk's mind in the weeks leading up to her first solo showcase here.
Despite being an experienced talent, the Sabahan singer-songwriter was worried that the lack of practice during the final week due to the recent flooding in Penampang might affect her performance last night.
The flooding in Penampang, described as the worst since 1999, had affected thousands of people, including her mother, on June 30.
"It definitely affected my preparation. I did not have enough time to get ready for something this big.
"After the flood, we set our expectations really low in terms of crowd turnout because we understood the situation.
"There are people who are in trouble... And we understand the struggles they are facing," the 38-year-old songstress told the media after entertaining a full house of fans at Crooner's Bar here last night.
Despite these setbacks, the reality talent show Akademi Fantasia 4 top-5 finalist said that canceling the showcase was never an option, as it would not have been fair to those who had bought tickets and to her bandmates.
"My band was amazing. They really brought their A-game, and we all had a lot of fun on stage.
"We didn't expect such a warm welcome, especially considering the situation. The crowd tonight was amazing, and I am truly grateful."
The two-hour showcase featured 21 songs, including tracks from her 14-track album Darkest Knight, released last year.
Highlights included "Bejugit Betanda Menari," a duet with Sarawakian singer-songwriter and sape player Alena Murang, as well as the evergreen and catchy tracks "Oi Gaman" and "Sumandak Sabah," among others.
Velvet closed the show on a high note by performing duets of "Oi Gaman" and "Sumandak Sabah" with fellow Sabahan songstress Marsha Milan Londoh.
"We really enjoyed ourselves, and I am so happy we were able to do it here for the final leg of our album promotion.
"This is my first solo showcase in Sabah, and I'd definitely consider doing another if the opportunity arises. I don't know when that will be, but I'd love to do it again."
The Kota Kinabalu performance followed her earlier showcase in Kuala Lumpur, making it her second major solo event.