KUALA LUMPUR: When Covid-19 surfaced and movement controls kicked off early last year, the music industry was one of the first to be hit hard.
Ross Ariffin, an accomplished violinist, pianist, hit song producer, composer and singer was among those who struggled.
Coupled with personal issues, the 59-year-old was unable to create songs like he used to and lost all sources of income.
"As Covid-19 continued to ravage society, I lost the one last gig I had. It was a performing contract in a renowned hotel here, and public performances aren't allowed. I also lost my clients for whom I had produced jingles for advertisements, and it left me relying solely on my savings which have also depleted," he said when interviewed by the New Straits Times.
Although grateful for the government's Bantuan Prihatin Rakyat aid, the few hundreds of ringgit he received lasted for a short while despite him being frugal with spending.
"Thankfully, I still have royalties from the 64 songs written over a career spanning about 35 years, but I can only access those funds once a year from three record labels I used to do work for, as well as the MACP (Music Authors' Copyright Protection).
"All avenues and potential jobs disappeared almost overnight. That's how I ended up here... at my lowest ebb having to rely on soup kitchens, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and good samaritans for daily sustenance," said Ross.
When relating his background, he said he was born in Melaka and raised by adoptive parents, a Malay father and an English mother. He followed his parents to live in the United Kingdom when he was 11. He honed his music skills at a music school in Redbridge, London.
"As a young child, I was musically inclined as I started playing piano when I was 8, and began composing songs a year later. By 12, I had picked up the violin.
"I returned to Malaysia in 1982 when I was 20. I got married when I was 27. I got my big break of sorts in the late 1980s through the 1990s."
Among the hits Ross composed are Dia by Fauziah Latiff (lyrics by Amran Omar), Kau dan Aku by Ning Baizura (lyrics by the singer), Kurniaan Dalam Samaran by Datuk Siti Nurhaliza (lyrics by S. Amin Shahab) and Semalam Ku Tolak Ke Tepi by Liza Aziz (lyrics by Datuk Habsah Hassan), which earned him an Asian Broadcasting Union Golden Kite prize in 1990, launching his career.
Ross, who has bipolar disorder and a few other ailments, was very grateful to the NGO Pertiwi and its president, Datuk Munirah Abdul Hamid, for helping him through tough times.
"I am willing to get back to teaching piano and violin. I used to teach Datuk Munirah's children. But such activities are not allowed now. I can't teach online because I don't have a laptop and an Internet connection."
He is still inspired to create as late last year, he composed a song entitled Tersisa for a top local artiste, with lyrics by Nazri Nawawi, a good friend of his, who also fell on hard times.
"It's on the backburner. It's supposed to be my ticket to get back into the local music industry. It's on hold until the current situation improves."