Rockers winner Zarith Sofea tells Dennis Chua about her future plans.
NAMED by her parents after Johor’s people-friendly Permaisuri Raja Zarith Sofia Sultan Idris Shah, the petite Zarith Sofea Yasin, 24, is an explosive pocket dynamite onstage.
After all, it has always been her dream to be a singing star.
The Johor Baru-born rocker was a step closer to fulfilling it when she won the Rockers reality talent show on HyppSensasi (HyppTV channel 116) last February, beating 11 other contestants.
Impressing fans and judges alike with her interpretations of Ella’s songs such as Permata Pemotong Permata, she was one of four female contestants in Rockers. The others were Suhaila Saadon, one-time Bintang Idola Berita Harian winner Liawanis Kamarudin and Akademi Fantasia 2013 graduate Nona Thamrin.
“My parents encouraged me to join Rockers since it would be a great opportunity to be mentored by Datuk Ramli Sarip a.k.a. Papa Rock,” said Zarith at the Kuala Lumpur Tower.
She was at an event to promote Rockers Raya, the show’s Hari Raya special on HyppSensasi.
Asked about being mentored by Ramli, the show’s principal, Zarith says she initially felt intimidated by him.
“Datuk Ramli is indeed a no-nonsense teacher and a perfectionist but thankfully, there’s also a kind and compassionate side to the man. He not only pointed out where I went wrong but also gave constructive criticisms for me to improve myself,” said Zarith, a former student of Sekolah Menengah Pasir Gudang in Johor.
When Ramli learnt that Zarith eventually won the contest, he congratulated her and remarked that she was truly a giant killer after defeating 11 much taller competitors.
“He told me, ‘Well done, Zarith, keep it up and never stop learning’,” she says, adding that the rock legend does not praise his proteges too much, lest they “lose their passion and discipline”.
“He is absolutely right. I don’t wish to be over-praised by friends or fans, as I still have a long way to go to become a true entertainer,” she said.
Zarith also learnt from Ramli that talent alone does not necessarily make one a star in the music industry.
“What’s equally important is one’s work ethic, humility and respect for fans and collaborators. True stars are not prima donnas,” she said.
Zarith won RM50,000, a Music Man guitar sponsored by Ernie Ball and a chance to record her debut album in Los Angeles, USA. She is likely to go there after Raya.
The singer, who has spent five years performing in nightspots around Johor Baru and Kuala Lumpur, is now a KRU Music artiste and has just recorded her first single, Penawar Bisa, composed by Tam of Spider and written by Adam Iskandar.
Rockers was produced by KRU Studios.
“It’s a simple, meaningful rock song about a girl who is unsuccessful in her love life. She realises that only faith in God can bring her inner peace and happiness in the long run,” she said.
Zarith, the second of five siblings, counts Ramli, Search, Wings and Ella as her main music influences.
“As a child, I loved listening to their music and whenever they performed in JB, I tried to attend their showcases. But it was only during Rockers that I got to meet them. I thank KRU for making my dreams come true,” she said.
While Zarith is going solo now, in the long run she plans to form her own band, along the lines of US rock band Paramore, one of her favourites.
She also plans to write and compose her own songs because it adds value to any artiste.
“I believe it is always good to have a band because when it comes to rock, nothing beats the sound of a band.”
Quick facts
NAME:Zarith Sofea Mohamad Yasin
AGE: 24
PLACE OF BIRTH: Johor Baru, Johor
OCCUPATION: Singer
EDUCATION: Sekolah Menengah Pasir Gudang, Johor.
TRIVIA
While Zarith Sofea loves rock music, she is also a sports fan and as a proud Johorean, she supports her state team, JDT.
Besides musicians Datuk Ramli Sarip, Amy Search, Awie and Ella, she also looks up to the Raja Permaisuri of Johor, Raja Zarith Sofia Sultan Idris, after whom she is named.
Getting Hypp this Ramadan
HYPPTV’s channels HyppSensasi HD and HyppInspirasi HD have new local productions for this month. In addition, HyppTV has a newly rebranded channel, Salam HD, which was formerly known as Hikmah (Channel 113).
Hikmah is a religious channel with comprehensive Islamic content in Malay.
The new programmes on HyppTV are part of its Ramadan and Raya campaign themed Keindahan Ramadan, Keriangan Syawal.
TM vice-president (business and media operations, new media) Emily Wee says that for Ramadan and Syawal, four exclusive drama series will be featured on HyppSensasi, namely, Lip Lap Raya (starring Daler Yusuf and Sari Yanti), Cinta Tangkap Muat (Johan Asari and Mimi Lana), Mr Secret Admirer (Elfira Loy and Fezrol Khan) and Spylah Sangat (Risteena Munim and Zain Hamid).
There is also Euromaxx, an entertainment show on Sundays featuring European entertainment highlights. It is hosted by Hani Hatim and Nina Naharuddin.
Ella’s recent concert at Stadium Malawati, Shah Alam, Rockers Raya, and drama series Cinta Sticky Notes are some of the Raya specials on HyppSensasi.
Cooking show Dapur Bujang Ramadan and Chef Mail Masak Bersama Pensonic come on HyppInspirasi throughout Ramadan.