DATUK Sheila Majid’s daughter Kayda Aziz trusts her musical instincts for her debut album Love For No Reason.
While both her parents are well-established names in the local music industry but Kayda prefers to carve her own path in her musical career.
One would think that having renowned music producer Roslan Aziz for a father, and the country’s Queen of Jazz Datuk Sheila Majid as mother, Kayda could have opted for a shortcut in her musical journey.
“When I was working on this debut album, it didn’t even cross my mind to ask for help from any of my family members.
“If anything, working on this album on my own is a way to prove myself to them,” says the 26-year-old singer who released her debut album titled Love For No Reason on March 1.
Love For No Reason contains six tracks — Can’t Go Back To You, Views, Pull Up And Swerve, Sugar, Call On Me (feat. Sheila Majid), and Sugar (remix).
While Call On Me has a mixture of both Malay and English lyrics, the other five numbers are in English.
Kayda, whose full name is Wan Nur Khaleda Roslan, began singing when she was a child.
MIXTAPE TO STUDIO RELEASE
In 2013, while she was finishing her studies in psychology, she slowly built a name for herself as a recording artiste.
The following year, her debut single Down With Me (featuring B.E.M.) won Silver at the Voice International Music Awards (VIMA).
Kayda then released a collaborative mixtape with Malaysian singer/rapper Hunny Madu titled Go Hard Or Gostan. They were both nominated for Best Duo/Collaboration at the Anugerah Industri Muzik (Malaysian Music Awards) in December 2016.
For her single album, which took her two years to complete, Kayda chose to work with Indonesian hip hop/R&B producer Emir Hermono, as well as fellow Malaysians B.E.M. and Puffietop.
Kayda says among the inspirations for her while working on the project are Canadian rapper Drake and American singer-songwriter Jhene Aiko.
“When I was writing the song View, I actually had this vision of Drake singing it,” says Kayda with a smile, resembling her legendary petite mother.
“I’m very excited for this album, not just because it is my first, but also for the fact that the entire concept, from the melody to ideas, is all mine. Every little detail is according to what I wanted it to be.
STICKING TO HER SONIC GUNS
“It’s very satisfying to see it finally being materialised. I wasn’t holding anything back. I stuck to what I believed in and pushed on,” said Kayda who initially got confused when there were many people giving her advice on what kind of music she should bank on for this project.
“I’m grateful for the advice shared, but that made me think too much about everything and it kind of slowed down the project. So I was so relieved when I made up my mind and didn’t hold back on anything,” Kayda explains.
Like the saying that too many cooks can spoil the broth, Kayda decided to follow her heart and focus on the things which she really wanted for her music.
“I wasn’t being stubborn or anything. But so many people were telling me to do this and that. To me, what’s the point of doing something which is not what your heart desires? After all, only I know what I want and what would make me happy and satisfied,” she shares.
“It might not be the best but if it comes from your heart, it has to be worth all the effort.
“If it is a hit, then it’s great. If not, I’ll take it as a learning experience,” she says.
After a month of releasing the album, Kayda says that her mother hasn’t said anything to her with regard to the album.
“I’m actually scared to ask her opinion. She has more than three decades of experience as a recording artiste. What if she is critical of the songs?” jokes Kayda.
She has noticed, however, that Sheila has been listening to some of the songs on repeat — Sugar, Can’t Go Back To You and the song which she was also featured in, Call On Me.