Young singers looking for recognition and fame have a new platform on which to
showcase their skills, writes Tahir Alhamzah
A NEW reality show featuring young and talented new singers is Astro’s latest offering for TV audiences. Called Big Stage, it will feature 10 contestants: Ariff Bahran, 20; Afieq Syazwan, 21; Andi Bernadee, 27; Syafiq Farhain, 24; Tajul, 20; Baby Shima, 25; Fara Hezel, 22; Sarah Suhairi, 18; Sissy Imann, 22; and Wani Kayrie, 18. According to Astro’s Head of Content and Innovation Strategy, Namanzee Harris, this reality show seeks to give those who have yet to make it big in the entertainment scene a bigger platform, hence the title.” We believe that these 10 have what it takes to compete on this platform and, hopefully, this will help them advance further in their singing careers,” he said at the launch of the TV show at Chamber 3 in Kuala Lumpur.
The show kicks off on Sunday, airing live from Auditorium Majlis Bandaraya Shah Alam. It will screen every weekend at 9pm, for eight weeks. While popular TV hosts Sherry Al-Hadad and Alif Satar will helm the show, singer Ernie Zakri has been roped in as the vocal teacher for the contestants. Meanwhile, Eyra Hazali and Harris Anuar will be hosting Big Stage Live Plus which will air on its digital platform. While each performance will be judged by the programme’s two permanent judges — Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza Tarudin and Faizal Tahir — the fate of the weekly bottom three contestants will then depend on TV audiences who will cast their vote through the Tik Tok app. The one with the lowest votes will get the boot.
Each week, the contestants will be performing songs according to the weekly theme, which will be determined by the production team. At the finals, the winner will receive a cash prize of RM100,000 and a trophy from Astro, while the first and second runners-up will each receive RM50,000 and RM25,000, and trophies. As a permanent judge, Siti Nurhaliza is glad to be part of a programme that has taken the initiative to help new singers advance in the music scene. “As a judge, I promise to give comments that will make each contestant want to improve their talent further. I have seen videos of them singing and I know these are talented young people who deserve to be given a chance to show everyone that they have what it takes to be great future performers,” said the country’s top singer. “Big Stage is indeed the perfect platform for them. Although some of them may have taken part in other singing competitions prior to this, I hope they all will present great performances in this programme,” she added.
Meanwhile, Faizal said that the refreshing format attracted him to want to be part of the show. That, he joked,and the good remuneration package. “The format that Big Stage offers is interesting; it’s a fresh approach in the
local entertainment scene. With the young, new artistes who already have some experience in the industry, I hope it’ll keep local fans entertained and get them acquainted with these new faces, if they haven’t already.,” he said. “What we promise is to guide them to become better singers and performers.
We won’t be too harsh, ... putting them down on live TV is not why both Siti and I are in the judge’s chair. We aim to teach and guide, based on our own experiences.” “We promise we won’t be too garang,”Siti chimed in with a laugh.