Soulful singer Ning Baizura has a new-found role as music educationist
NING Baizura admits that the Covid-19 pandemic has affected her tremendously.
"I felt really down because of it. I was literally jobless for eight months," she says at the launch of her new Hari Raya Aidilfitri song Irama Aidilfitri at EQ Kuala Lumpur Hotel in Jalan Sultan Ismail, Kuala Lumpur.
However, as one who never gives up and always thinks positively, the 45-year-old singer-actress and mother of 8-year-old Ryan Dalton, she has reinvented herself as a cikgu for aspiring singers.
"I reflected and realised that I had to learn new things. As a result, I decided to conduct vocal classes regularly. As a veteran in the industry, I guess I've got to help find the next generation of musical talents."
LEARNING FROM ALICIA KEYS
Ning first gave vocal lessons to new singers two years ago. However, she only began conducting regular online classes during the Movement Control Order (MCO), which began last year.
"To come up with my syllabus, I've learnt from Christina Aguilera and Alicia Keys, two American singers I greatly admire and who have been conducting classes for sometime," says Ning.
"I've also learnt from Cheryl Porter, a respected opera singer from the United States. Her classes are really fun."
Ning, who currently has 10 students and is blessed to be able to teach them on a one-to-one basis, combines the teaching methods of Aguilera, Keys and Porter to guide aspiring singers.
"I strongly encourage two-way communication with my students, and while I share my knowledge with them, I also learn new musical ideas from them. They are pretty amazing!"
NON-FICTION ROLE
Ning's next major appearance will be her first non-fiction cinematic role.
She plays social activist Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir in Mahathir The Journey, a biopic about former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his 2018 political comeback, which saw him returning as the country's seventh prime minister.
"In many ways, it was a dream come true. I'm a big fan of Marina, and I love her tireless efforts to raise awareness of AIDS and to promote women's empowerment," says Ning.
Mahathir The Journey was filmed three years ago, and Ning found it quite easy to play Marina.
"I did a lot of research on her, by watching many videos and reading many books about her," she says, adding that her family members felt that she looked the part.
"The best scene was the final one where everybody was waiting for Dr Mahathir to be sworn in as prime minister for the second time at Istana Negara. It looked very real, and seemed to transport me to that very evening of May 10, 2018."
VOICEOVER HOPES
Now that Ning has played a non-fiction character, she hopes to star in more historical films or dramas in future.
"I'm pretty choosy with roles, but if I were to star as a real-life person again, she would have to be a great woman who inspires the younger generation," says Ning.
Fans have suggested for Ning to try her luck in voicing animated characters, and she gives this idea the thumbs up.
"Doing voiceover work is a challenge, but it's something that's close to my heart.
"I'm a big fan of animated films such as those by Pixar, Disney and Primeworks, as well as our BoBoiBoy, Upin & Ipin and Ejen Ali," she says.
"Animated films are set to grow and they would definitely require artistes to bring characters to life. So count me in!"
CLASSIC LOOK
Irama Aidilfitri marks Ning's first Hari Raya Aidilfitri song in six years.
"I last recorded Raya songs back in 2015 with Ayda Jebat and Elizabeth Tan. It was a project called Raya Akustik and we gave some classic Raya songs a more contemporary touch," she says.
Irama Aidilfitri is Ning's first collaboration with Singaporean composer, lyricist and singer Awi Rafael. The song, which comes with a music video, is co-produced by Awi's company Newsantara and Habib Jewels.
"Awi and I worked together in the reality show Duo Star on Astro five years ago. We didn't speak much back then, but I'm a big fan of him," she says, adding that Awi has a great sense of humour and great taste in music.
"He's down to earth and really good in composing and songwriting. His music is from the heart and straight to the point."
Irama Aidilfitri also features Awi, actresses Rozita Che Wan and Tiz Zaqyah and popular new singers Ismail Izzani and Bunga Isme. The artistes were dressed in nostalgic 1940s and 1950s fashion.
"I love it that we looked retro. The 1940s and 1950s were a very fashionable time, and I admire the outfits of those times," says Ning.
"It didn't take me long to get the look, as I had a great makeup artist and I had already shortened my hair."
She says that the music video was filmed three days after they recorded the song in Awi's studio.
"I'm honoured to work with promising starlets as Ismail and Bunga. They're extremely talented and hardworking. Teamwork was great and it was smooth sailing," says Ning.
Ning's upcoming projects include a drama series and songs that are "inspirational and motivational".
FINAL ADDITION
Awi, who filmed the Irama Aidilfitri music video at Pondok Azzmo in Puchong, Selangor in a day, says that Ning was his final addition to the song.
"At first I planned to get Maya Karin or Wany Hasrita on board, but their busy schedules didn't permit them to join us," he says.
"Ning was the next name that came to my mind. I've always been a big fan of her."
Awi says that the music video's biggest challenge was its outdoor shots as it was raining heavily that day.
"Thank God we managed to capture our required takes by shooting whenever we had a chance."
Awi plans to come up with at least one Raya song annually, and Ning will "definitely" be on his list of artistes.
"My next project is Kasablanka, a new band I've formed with some close friends. We'll do both Malay and English songs."
TRADITIONAL AND MODERN FUSION
Ismail, 21, says that Irama Aidilfitri has inspired him to create his own Raya songs.
"Hari Raya is my favourite time of the year, and as a singer and songwriter, I'd love to create my own Raya songs in the years to come," he says.
"Even though the old Raya songs are evergreen gems, as songwriters we have a duty to keep creating new ones that reflect the changing times."
Ismail, whose first Raya song was Raya Nusantara, a duet with Siti Nordiana, Fatin Lubis annd Rezki Febian in 2017, is currently working on a new album with 10 songs.
"I hope to release it in October. It's got a combination of traditional and modern pop."
Ismail is honoured to work with Ning for the first time, as he grew up listening to her music.
"Kak Ning is a legend par excellence. It was a dream come true to meet her and we've promised to collaborate in future projects."