Up-and-coming singer-songwriter Sissy Imann talks about her new single, which she dedicates to her supportive parents
SHE is bubbly and school-girlish, but believes in writing songs with substance. Sissy Imann Mohamad Kamil, 23, is not one to sing about break-ups and childhood sweethearts.
The participant of Astro Ria’s aspiring singers’ challenge Big Stage 2018 pays tribute to her parents, specifically her father Mohamad Kamil Mustaffa, 56, in her latest single Pesanan Ayahanda (My Father’s Advice).
“I’ve always wanted to give my parents, especially my father who is my biggest fan, a musical tribute and treat, and now’s the time for it!” said Sissy at the launch of her single’s music video recently.
Describing her parents, Mohamad Kamil and Zuraidah Yazid, 50, as her “best friends”, they have always been open-minded in bringing up their three children.
PARENTAL SUPPORT
The middle child said her parents had been “very supportive of her music career” from the start, but there was one condition — that she completes her studies.
Sissy did that late last year, graduating with a First Class honours for diploma in music education from Institut Pendidikan Guru, here in Cheras. “My parents, especially my father, advised me to pursue the things I have passion for, so long as I make progress and do my best,” she said, adding that she inherited their love of music.
Her parents would stipulate the limits when it came to socialising, and explaining the dos and don’ts.
“I must inform them where I am going first. And while I can watch the latest movies with friends, at times I have to give my parents a treat at the cinemas too.”
Have her parents ever gotten “mad” at her? “Well, sometimes. But I will quickly apologise and they forgive me, just like what best friends do!”
POPPY BOSA NOVA
Pesanan Ayahanda, which was launched last October, is Sissy’s first single since joining singer-songwriter Faizal Tahir’s label Faithful Music in the same month. The song was co-written and co-composed by Faizal, Ezra Kong, Romeo, Mike Chan and Sissy herself.
“It’s got a bossa nova pop tune, something my father loves a lot. We recorded it in two months, and shot the music video in Shah Alam early last month,” said Sissy.
She chose to join Faizal’s label as he has always been one of her favourite singers. “I’ve been a Faizal fan from those days, when he was in One In A Million, and it’s an honour to be under his label. His songwriting and composing team which comprises Mike, Romeo, Ezra and himself, is also one of my dream teams.”
When asked how they created the song, Sissy said they had spontaneously hummed tunes in Faizal’s studio. Chan would indicate when these became “good enough” for a single. “We then amalgamated these tunes into a song, and when it came to writing the lyrics, I suggested that it be a special gift to my father — they unanimously agreed.”
Sissy said that the music video, directed by Azhar Ismail, was filmed within a day and it also starred her parents.
“They readily said ‘yes’ and were surprised that I invited them. In the video, I play myself and they play themselves, but of course, we’re a lot crazier in front of the camera than in real life.”
Sissy explained that the video showed her preparing to go for lunch at a restaurant with a male friend, and her parents telling her what to do and what to avoid when interacting with him. “And yes, it ends with me and my friend watching a movie, and my parents watching the same movie, unknown to me.
“The message it conveys is, even though your parents may be a little over-protective of you, it’s because they love you and want the best for you.”
TOTALLY COMPOSED
Sissy has been singing for five years, and she first found fame singing Mungkin Kamu, the theme song of the comedy series Eksperimen Cinta. She wrote and composed that song with help from AG Coco of Hujan.
Sissy has also performed, written and composed the songs Benar Ku Tak Bohong (2014) featuring Kelantanese hip-hop sensation Iwere, and Entah Apa Rasa (2015) featuring Eyza Bahra.
Sissy has also composed songs for the contestants of Idola Kecil 6 on TV9 in 2013. She has always wanted to become a musician, and when she was five, her parents encouraged her to take piano lessons. Later, she learnt to play the guitar, bass guitar and violin as a student of Sekolah Menengah Taman Setiawangsa, Kuala Lumpur.
Sissy also joined her school’s choir and at 16, she joined the National Choir of Malaysia, where she was coached by choir master Datuk Syafinaz Selamat. She was nominated for Best New Female Artiste (Malaysia) at the Anugerah Planet Muzik 2015.
Sissy is also an actress. As a pre-teen, she starred in several television and print advertisements, and made cameo appearances in local dramas.
The part-time music teacher has just starred in her first telemovie Misi Penculikan Cinta. Screened on TV3 last Sunday, it is the story of a group of aspiring singers and songwriters. “It was great playing a protagonist named Cinta, an ambitious young musician, for the first time.
“I got along great with my director Amorizan, and co-stars Niezam Zaidi and Sweet Qismina on the set three months ago,” she said.
“I’d love to act from time to time. Nevertheless, singing is my prime passion, and songwriting comes second.”
Pesanan Ayahanda is available on Spotify, Apple Music, Joox, KKBox, Deezer and iTunes. It is distributed by Warner Music Malaysia.
Its official music video is at www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3sMAt0sKq8