POPULAR singer and composer Naqiu is set to be the main Malaysian star at Indonesian music legend Hetty Koes Endang's coming concert 'After Hours With Hetty Koes Endang' (AHHKE) at Grand Shah Alam in the Shah Alam Convention Centre on Feb 24.
The Indonesian diva and 'Gegar Vaganza' judge's three-hour concert, which begins at 8pm, is organised by Visual Print Sdn Bhd.
More than 1,000 guests are expected to attend the dinner concert which promises a romantic, intimate and memorable evening with Hetty who is affectionately known as Bunda to Malaysian and Indonesian fans.
PAST WINNERS
Naqiu recently finished fifth in the 10th season of 'All Stars Gegar Vaganza' (ASGV) which saw all of the past winners of the reality show compete against each other over 12 weeks.
The versatile singer, who found fame as the lead vocalist of pop group Boboy in the early 2000s, was one of the most consistent contestants and often impressed the judges, especially Hetty, in every weekly performance.
In a video conference at The Gardens Mall, Mid Valley City, Kuala Lumpur recently, Hetty said that she personally chose Naqiu as her guest artiste, as she deemed him the "cream of the crop" in the talent show.
"Naqiu is just the man I was looking for — a talented male vocalist and a great role model for all established singers who want to take their craft to a higher level," she said.
HEART AND SOUL
Visual Print executive director Anis Fathiah Abd Hamid said that her company fully agreed with Hetty that Naqiu was the best male singer to be her "co-star" for the evening.
She said that he oozed charisma, showmanship and "hunkiness", and poured his heart and soul into every weekly performance on the reality show.
"He was at his best performing 'Episod Cinta', and his outstanding performance earned him a standing ovation from Hetty and her fellow judges Datuk Ramli MS and Datuk Syafinaz Selamat," said Anis.
WINNER AND JUDGE
Anis added: "We suggested several names of Malaysian singers for Hetty and Naqiu was one of them.
"She was delighted that he was on our list.
"It is the first time we will be having a 'Gegar Vaganza' winner and judge performing together and fans of the show will love it.
"Hetty and Naqiu will sing their popular songs, and we'll have them perform some power-packed duets."
ALWAYS GRATEFUL
Naqiu said that he was delighted to be chosen as Hetty's guest star and described her as his favourite Indonesian pop queen.
"Bunda Hetty is a legend of Nusantara and I've always loved her power-packed songs. I am always grateful to her for her constructive criticisms during 'Gegar Vaganza 6' and ASGV."
Naqiu will perform six songs while Hetty will perform eight. They will perform two to three duets, too.
Hetty's other guest artistes are her daughter Afifah Yusuf, Zulkefli Majid of 2By2 fame and Intan Maya of The Girls, a popular six-member girl group which was formed in 2001.
Tickets can be purchased at www.tix-box.com.
TOOK HIM HIGHER
Naqiu said that 'Gegar Vaganza 6' aded to his fame after Boboy called it a day in 2005. "It took my career higher. It encouraged me to write songs too," he said.
Naqiu will have a solo concert later this year and has several new songs in the pipeline.
FAIZAL AND NASIR
One notable composer, Datuk M. Nasir has come up with songs for Naqiu but they have not been recorded yet.
"Another big name I plan to work with is Faizal Tahir. We have a lot in common and emerged around the same time. Faizal is the next big sifu of music," said Naqiu.
He also hopes to have a Boboy reunion concert. However, he has not met the right people who can organise it well.
SHARED PRIZE
The Skudai, Johor-born Naqiu, or Wan Naqiuddin Wan Mohd Najib, 37, became popular as the lead singer of teen pop group Boboy. The group had major hits with 'Episod Cinta', 'Demi Masa' and 'Dalam Benci Ada Rindu'.
After five years with Boboy, Naqiu slowed down to focus on spending time with his family and later became a restaurant and club singer.
He joined 'Gegar Vaganza 6' in 2019 and won first prize together with Singaporean singer Hady Mirza.
BINTANG ASLI
Naqiu first sang when he was 12 and was active in Quran-reading events around Johor Baru district. When he was 14, he represented his home state in Bintang Asli 2000.
He also sang with Kumpulan Ghazal Daya Tebrau and Yayasan Warisan Johor.
Naqiu formed Boboy with guitarists Muhammad Muzaffar and Azrizal Kamarulzaman, bassist Mohamad Addinan Azmi and drummer Aris Fahmi Zulkifli.
TALENTED ACTOR
As a soloist Naqiu is known for the hits 'Hanya Aku', 'Sinar Kedua' and 'Kisah Hati Lara'. He also recorded the power-packed duet with Vanessa Reynauld in 2021.
Naqiu is also a talented actor, and starred in 'Boboy The Movie' in 2001, 'Semarak Naga' in 2003, 'Mat Bond Malaya' in 2021 and the television drama 'Kisah Rumah Tangga' in 2021.