Once the first lady of hip-hop, Mizz Nina tells
Dennis Chua that her new direction is fashion
A HOUSEHOLD name for 15 years, first as the front woman of pioneering pop and hip-hop group Teh Tarik Crew (TTC), and later as a solo artiste, Shazrina Azman a.k.a. Mizz Nina, 33, is now pursuing her second dream.
Since returning from Mecca last year, the Kuala Lumpur-born has devoted her energies to building up her new fashion label, Madeena.
The name is a combination of the holy city of Medina in Saudi Arabia and “deen” or “faith”. Nina’s “new baby” had evolved from her previous fashion brand Mizz Demeanor.
“Madeena is also a modification of Mizz Demeanor’s initials “M” and “D”, and it reflects my new, more spiritual side,” says the youngest of five siblings who plans to expand the brand to include cosmetics as well.
Featuring conservative and modern, yet modest, fashion for women, Madeena will open its first boutique after Hari Raya. “It’s going to be in Damansara Perdana, Petaling Jaya, and it’s a stylish shop that promotes street smart, yet modest fashion for women,” says Nina.
She unveiled Madeena’s first high-end collection, Queen Of The Deen, at the Kuala Lumpur Fashion Week 2014 at the Pavilion Shopping Centre in Jalan Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur recently.
It symbolises women who are strong, independent, confident and modest with poise and grace. Inspired by nature, the collection features strong autumn hues of orange, mustard yellow, purple, dark green and black.
GLOBAL INSPIRATIONS
Besides inspiration from all the States, Nina also takes her cue from fashion designers in Japan, North America, Europe and New Zealand. She looks up to fashion designers such as Victoria Beckham, Rizalman, Tengku Syahmi, Jonathan Liang, Melinda Looi, Datuk Jimmy Choo, Zang Toi and fashion house Inai Red.
“Madeena offers trendy and stylish apparels for modern women who believe in the beauty of modesty,” she says.
Nina aims to provide a line of modest clothing that will not only appeal to Muslim women but also to customers who love chic fashion. “Since my university days I’ve always been an avid fashion lover who believes fashion is fun. Today I’m promoting the belief that being fashionable yet modest is the new cool.”
Mizz Demeanor’s associated brand, Neon Rebel shoes, is still part of Nina’s fashion house. She says: “Neon Rebel stays with me as I’m an avid footwear fan. The brand carries chic footwear in neon colours, comprising flats, platforms and wedges for different occasions.”
Nina’s haj may have changed her in terms of fashion but she admits that she is “always herself” at heart. “What you see is what you get, that’s who I am,” she says.
“Nevertheless, I’ve grown closer to my family — parents, siblings and husband — and close friends who have stood by me throughout my singing career.”
ALWAYS A MUSIC LOVER
Nina is content with giving her husband, Noh Salleh of Hujan fame, moral support from behind the scenes while she builds up her fashion house. But she assures her fans that “once a music lover, always a music lover” and there is no 100 per cent retirement from showbiz for her.
“When I was with TTC and then as a solo artiste, I was 70 per cent into music and 30 per cent into fashion.
“Today, it’s the opposite,” says Nina, who has spent 15 years in music. Now, she wants to devote more time to fashion, which began as a hobby.
Meanwhile, she would be delighted to write music for Noh or any of their talented musician pals as well as promote her fashion label in their music videos. As for making guest appearances in music videos, she is all for it as she was the country’s “first lady of hip-hop” at one time. She is also game enough to recite poetry in songs by talented singers.
Nina, who takes her cue from two veteran entertainers she admires, Noor Kumalasari and Fauziah Ahmad Daud, has no regrets in her musical journey so far.
“The old me and the new me are one and the same. Becoming the new me is a journey of self-discovery, and I’m thankful and grateful for the sum total of great experiences I’ve had, and the friendships and partnerships I’ve made along the way,” she says.
Widely read when it comes to popular music, she cites American music legend Bob Dylan and British music legend Cat Stevens a.k.a. Yusuf Islam as icons, whose journeys has taken them to a more spiritual lifestyle over time.
“Life is full of surprises and we never know where we are heading. But one thing for sure, the best of life is when you stay true to your heart, for only then will you find inner peace and happiness,” she says.
Nina won Anugerah Kembara in Anugerah Industri Muzik (AIM) 2012 for promoting Malaysian music internationally.
A graduate in public relations and marketing from Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia, she began her career with TTC in 1999. The other members were Altimet, DJ Fuzz and Taufiq. It earned two AIM nominations in 2002 for its first album How’s The Level? It received two nominations in 2004 for the album What’s Next? The group disbanded in 2007, and Nina, Altimet and Fuzz had successful solo careers.
“TTC members and I are still buddies, and we last met in a reunion held at the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre last year,” says Nina. “I still follow the musical careers of Altimet and Fuzz, just as they give me full support for my fashion house.”
Her first solo album, What You Waiting For, in 2010 had an infectious title track, a duet with American singer Colby O’Donis. She also collaborated with international singers Theo Martins on the song Let Me C U Get It, Planet Asia on Hope and Flo Rida on Takeover (from her second album in 2012 of the same name). In 2012, she had a single Summer Burning produced by DJ Poet (who popularised the Black Eyed Peas), and co-written with Jamie Munson and Lucy McIntosh.
A year later, her collaboration with South Korean pop sensation Jay Park, Around The World, became a monster hit. It also came with a stylish music video filmed in South Korea and the duo performed at KL Live in Jalan Sultan Ismail, Kuala Lumpur the same year.
Besides collaborating with international stars, Nina opened for Bruno Mars, Justin Bieber, Flo Rida and Pitbull during their tours of Malaysia.
Nina was also honoured at the Shout! Awards 2013 organised by 8TV, taking home the Flava Award (for hip-hop and R&B artistes) and Music Video Award (With You). Dabbling in radio broadcasting, she became a presenter for the radio stations Red FM, Wow FM and Fly FM.
LONG-TERM PLANS
Nina plans to train aspiring fashion designers and models, besides producing television programmes on fashion and travel. Her documentary Always Traveller airs on Astro this Ramadan. Besides being the producer, she is one of its hosts.
She says: “I’ve judged singing contests for youngsters as a guest judge and if I’m invited to be a judge again, I’m ready for it as I love to see our aspiring young talents.”
She says Aizat Amdan, who sang the hit duet In Love With You with Noh, is her favourite rising star. “He’s an old friend and a fun-loving entertainer who will definitely go far with his immense talent as a singer, songwriter, composer and leader of his own band.”
As for female artistes, she salutes Yuna, Najwa Mahiaddin, Shila Amzah and Zee Avi for putting the country on the world music map. “Shila and Yuna have worked hard to plant brand Malaysia in China and the US, respectively. Their down-to-earth personalities make them ideal national ambassadors,” she says.
Nina describes her father, businessman Tan Sri Azman Hashim, as her biggest fan who has been 100 per cent behind her career from day one. She has always been active in the foundation he established, Yayasan Tan Sri Azman Hashim and has appeared as a brand ambassador for his business.