Power vocal quartet Forteen may be teen idols but they tell Dennis Chua that they aspire to mature with style
The name of the pop group Forteen means just that — “for teen listeners”.
The quartet is one of KRU Music’s most well-known artistes in recent years.
One member is a reality talent show graduate who represented Malaysia at two international music festivals.
Another is an award-winning actor, a household name.
Forteen comprises Ridzuan Sharifuddin (One), 25, Saiful Ridzuan Abdul Hamid (Ariz), 25, Arif Ameerais Azhar (Ameer), 24, and Izzue Islam Mazlan (Izzue), 24.
They were brought together in 2011 by their mentors — KRU brothers Norman, Yusry and Edry Abdul Halim — to specialise in ballads and pop songs.
QUARTET WITH COMMON PASSION
Izzue is the best known among the four young men, since he is a much sought-after actor these days.
Kota Baru-born Izzue, the second of eight siblings, will soon be appearing in a romantic comedy series, Suami Sebelah Rumah on TV3, directed by Jinggo.
He plays the protagonist in this “feel good, neighbourhood story” and co-stars for the first time with Rindu Awak 200% actress Ayda Jebat, and Hot FM announcers Zulin Aziz and Sherry Al-Haddad.
“I’m a fan of Zulin and Sherry.
They are hilarious and sporting radio and TV personalities Zulin was also a favourite contestant of mine in Datuk Rosyam Nor’s actor search TV show Pilih Kasih 1.
“As for Ayda, I’ve known her since Akademi Fantasia 9, through a mutual friend, the actor and singer Erul Abu Samah, who was among my favourite finalists.” Television fans have lauded Izzue’s versatile acting in drama series Sebenarnya Saya Isteri Dia opposite Nur Kasih’s Tiz Zaqyah Razak, and in Aku Isterinya, opposite Sejoli’s Anzalna Nasir.
Movie fans gave Izzue a standing ovation for his moving performance as blind boy Razak in KRU’s historical movie, 29 Februari.
In that poignant movie, Izzue starred opposite Remy Ishak who played the slow-ageing protagonist Budi Halim their characters were buddies who made rattan baskets while living in the same orphanage.
29 Februari earned Izzue his first film award — Most Promising Actor at the Malaysian Film Festival 2013.
Izzue began his acting career in 2009 and starred in the T V dra ma Kampung Jaguh.
In 2011, he made his movie debut in the gritty Songlap opposite Shaheizy Sam, Syafie Naswip and Sara Ali.
His other notable films include horror-comedy, Hantu Tok Mudim, adventure-comedy Hantu Kapcai, romanticcomedy Chikaro and “man versus wild” movie Ular.
Izzue has also acted in theatre and played the protagonist in two hilarious plays at Istana Budaya this year — Maduku Kalut and Projek Kahwin.
He has also helmed documentaries and game shows on TV as hosts, most notably Anda Fikir Anda Bijak, and the entrepreneur documentary Sifu, both on TV1.
One, who was known as Rizu before joining Forteen, is from Teluk Intan and is the fourth of five siblings.
Last year, he represented Malaysia in the annual World Championship Of Performing Arts in Hollywood, the United States.
And in 2006, he was the country’s representative at the Shanghai Asia Music Festival.
One began his singing career when he was 12, participating in Radio Televisyen Malaysia’s pre-teen talent search Bintang Kecil.
“While I’ve been singing since primary school, One In A Million was my big break.
I joined the third season in 2010, and while Tomok eventually won the coveted RM1 million prize, competition was very tough and I received good feedback from judge Syafinaz Selamat, who coached me in singing,” says One, who finished seventh.
Throughout the competition, Syafinaz and co-judge Paul Moss hailed One as “the little guy with a big voice”.
“I took that as an encouragement to stamp my mark in Malaysian music.
Initially, I wanted to make it as a soloist but KRU persuaded me to team up with three other likeminded young men and Forteen was born,” says One.
He feels that his quartet shares a common passion for ballads and soulful songs.
One, who plans to compose and write his own songs some day, has also dabbled in acting.
Encouraged by Izzue, he lent his voice to the Bahasa Malaysia edition of KRU’s recent animated movie Ribbit, the story of a talking frog with big dreams.
“Izzue played a friendly spider while I played a diabolical human shaman.
The bad guy I played was very tall and muscular, pretty much the opposite of who I am, but that’s great, because I love playing people who are different from the real me,” he says.
Ameer, who is also from Kota Baru and the elder of two siblings, is the group’s latest member to pursue a solo project.
“Last year, I dabbled in acting, appearing in veteran actor and singer Datuk Shah Rezza’s telemovie Permata Hati.
It’s a drama about everyday human values and is about a bunch of youngsters who grow up together and face a lot of temptations in the city,” he says.
Directed by Feroz Kadir, the telemovie’s protagonist is Elfira Loy, and Ameer plays one of the villains, a drug pusher who preys on some of her best friends.
“I’m a mean baddie in that telemovie but that’s something I like to do, because bad guys sell as much, if not more than good guys.” Describing Feroz as “hands-on and brilliant”, he says, he would love to work with him again, as Feroz has shown him the ropes of acting.
Ameer recently launched his first solo single Hitam.
“It’s a duet with the hip-hop duo Dualiti, and while they rap, I sing a ballad that harmonises.
They are my fellow KRU artistes and awesome musicians.” Malacca-born Ariz, the third of four siblings, has yet to involve himself in solo projects, but says they are in the pipeline.
“All of us have our own projects, be it in acting, singing or even hosting and starring in entertainment programmes on TV.
“But more importantly, it’s part of our branding as Forteen — we want to be known as youngsters who are versatile, hardworking and results-oriented role models for teenagers,” says Ariz.
One says the quartet is in the midst of promoting a DVD for its first solo concert which took place last April 27 at KL Live, Kuala Lumpur.
“This DVD not only shows our concert, but also the preparations leading up to it.
It’s a no-holdsbarred journey that depicts us as the guys next door that we really are.
Like our fans, we have our own share of loves, likes and dislikes,” he says.
The concert was delayed for two months because of the tragic loss of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370.
“We dedicate this concert to the families of the people on board that flight.
We believe in the power of music to heal and bring people closer together.”
IN THE RUNNING FOR AIM 2014
The group bagged its first AIM trophy two years ago, when its song Seperti Dulu, from 29 Februari, won Best Vocals In A Song.
Delighted to be nominated again this time around, One says: “Seperti Dulu was a double celebration for us, as Izzue was also a main actor in the movie.
We hope to replicate the success of Seperti Dulu in AIM 2014 (on Saturday) because our song, Dikau Saja, from Ribbit is in the running for a similar award.
“And if we win, it’ll be a triple celebration as Izzue and I are both acting in the movie, at least through our voices.” Forteen’s ultimate dream is to appear in a musical movie.
“We love musicals, be they local or Broadway.
And our mentors, KRU, are superb creators of musicals with beautiful storylines — Magika, 29 Februari and even the TV musical series Hotel Mania, comes to mind,” says One.
Forteen hopes to collaborate with One’s old friend and fellow WCOPA Malaysian representative Ikhwal Hafiz Ismail, an Akademi Fantasia 2014 finalist.
“Ikhwal and I are both Teluk Intan boys and we both started singing from a very young age.
I admire his ability to sing in more than a dozen languages, besides writing and composing his own music.
Izzue says Forteen’s target audience may be teenagers for now, but they are also enjoyed by middle-aged adults.
“There’s a teenager in everyone of us, and that teenager within is whom our music reaches out to.
While it’s great to be teen idols, we gradually want to ‘grow with style’, maturing with our musical souls,” he says.