TWENTY-eight-year-old K-Clique member, rapper and songwriter Noki enters the new year with a few projects in the pipeline.
Fresh from his recent performance at Fiesto Fest in Melaka which was held between Dec 29 and Jan 1, the Sabahan artiste, together with his fellow K-Clique member MK (Muhammad Hairi Amin Hamdan), 26, are busy preparing for TV3's Anugerah Juara Lagu 37 (AJL37), set to take place on Feb 12.
They will be performing their self-composed Payung Pelangi, one of the 12 songs that made it into the finals of the song competition.
Other songs are: Anugerah Terindah (performed by Alif Satar & The Locos), Debu (Dayang Nurfaizah & Amir Masdi), Korban (Ernie Zakri), Satu Malam Di Temasik (Joe Flizzow & Sonaone), Bahagiakan Dia (Shila Amzah & Liza Hanim), Kembali Terang (Marsha), Mainan (Naim Daniel), Nang (Iman Troye), Terus Hidup (Aina Abdul), Sengsara (Khai Bahar) and Irama (Shiha Zikir).
"We hope to release the music video for Payung Pelangi prior to AJL," shares Noki whose real name is Ahmad Ikhwan Aji.
Not new to AJL, in 2021, he collaborated with Kaka Azraff and LOCA B for the single Gila which went on to become Best Song at AJL35 that same year.
On his expectations for Payung Pelangi, he said that they would give their best performance yet.
Besides juggling his commitment with K-Clique, Noki is also working on putting out a new solo single set for release sometime after AJL.
Putting his best foot forward
While he has been making himself busy, fate dealt him a blow when his father Aji Lee Ahsam, 66, breathed his last on Dec 9.
"I remember losing one of my grandmothers when I was small, but at the time, I didn't know much about grieving.
"So when my father died, the feelings of shock and numbness quickly sunk in. He died in Sabah and at the time, I was in Kuala Lumpur. And I did not make it on time to see him for the last time."
At the same time, Noki is thankful his father's final journey was made easy by the Almighty.
"He will always be my rock, even if he is not here with me anymore. At the same time, I am also relieved to know that he was no longer suffering."
According to the youngest of five siblings, his father suffered from leg problems for more than 30 years.
"My father was a religious person, but he never discouraged me from singing. Instead, he always reminded me not to miss my daily prayers," he said.