THE third and final instalment of Dewan Filharmonik Petronas' (DFP) groundbreaking 'Generasi DFP' initiative for the year will take place tomorrow.
The initiative was launched in March to support the music and arts landscape in the country.
Since its launch early in the year, it has garnered a strong following from wannabe artistes nationwide.
It has received 70 audition videos from potential talent aged between 18 and 30.
Through a selection process by a panel of DFP jury, 15 artistes had been shortlisted to make their debut at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.
For 26 years, DFP has stood as a beacon of arts and culture in Kuala Lumpur, hosting illustrious artistes and a variety of musical genres and artistic expressions.
Through this initiative, DFP aims to provide a platform for singers, songwriters and aspiring musicians to come forward and showcase their undiscovered talent.
The first ʻGenerasi DFPʼ concert was held on July 24, which featured Fadzly, Syiqin, Ruhil, Ee Vone and LOKO.
This was followed by another concert on Sept 25, with performances by Amrita, Dekwa, Ruebben, Cherry On Top and Saiko-Rama.
"Our target is to provide up-and-coming artistes a bigger platform, to provide an opening for them for bigger and better opportunities," says Effendy Khalid, DFP head of business and strategic relationship management.
"As concert organiser, we want to expose these artistes to music listeners from all walks of life."
He adds: "Judging from the two previous concerts, we've successfully achieved that objective.
"People have become aware of this Generasi DFP brand and some are already asking about the next (year's) project."
Meanwhile, the final concert is set for Wednesday, which will feature three female solo singers — Mardiana, Khalyn Mulyani and Jo Lixian — as well as bands named Sounds Like Sunday and Meruked.
Opportunity of a lifetime
Sounds Like Sunday is a band from Kuala Lumpur, comprising seven young musicians.
They combine high-octane energy and soothing sounds with a Nu Jazz nuance.
The group has released singles titled 'Happy Meal', 'Is It Worth It' and 'Snacking' in the last two years.
"This will be an opportunity of a lifetime for us and hope to do our best.
"For many local musicians and performers, to perform here is a dream," say the band members, which is made up of students from Akademi Seni Budaya Dan Warisan Kebangsaan.Meanwhile, Jo Lixian, who has a formal music background, including a degree from Berklee College of Music in the United States, says despite being a music producer herself, this exposure is something that is hard to come by, especially for an indie act like herself.
"I've been making music for two years, and it's been challenging to break into the market and find new listeners," says Lixian, who is into electronic music.
Lixian is also the founder of an arts school called Music Nation, which she sets up as an initiative to assist the community in music education.
"Being an educator, I have to set an example for my students. Doing this is part of walking the talk," she says.
She released her first extended play (EP) in 2014, which comprised five singles.
Meanwhile, singer Mardiana, who is a songwriter-producer rooted in R&B and pop genres, has also launched her album 'Don't Cry For Me' back in 2022.
It even garnered attention from international publications, such as 'Notion', 'Fame Magazine' and 'Lock Magazine'.
She has performed at various places and released an EP titled 'Dance Alone' and two singles — 'I Don't Care' and 'Make You Love Me' this year.
"It's harder for local English songs to catch music listeners' attention.
"From my observation, listeners still prefer to listen to English songs from international artistes, so I hope with this concert, I'll be able to show what I'm capable of," she says.
Khalyn Mulyani, who is an alumnus of Sekolah Seni Malaysia Kuala Lumpur and has participated in talent competitions, such as The Chosen One and All Together Now, is thrilled about her upcoming performance.
A committed artiste to her craft, she has sung at events on a national level.
The young artiste is equally excited to perform at DFP with her musicians, hoping that the show will be a stepping stone for her for more opportunities in future.
As for Meruked, a six-member band from Kuching, Sarawak, they promise a performance that fuses contemporary and traditional elements, including the sape.
According to the band, their name is derived from an ethnic Lun Bawang dialect, which means "everlasting", which epitomises the spirit of preserving the local heritage.