Los Angeles-based singer Yuna tells Tahir Alhamzah the story behind her latest single Pulang
WHEN one is away from home, nothing beats the excitement of returning. That’s the reason Yunalis Mat Zara’ai (Yuna) wrote her latest song.
“I wrote Pulang in Los Angeles early this year. You know, I’ve been in the US for six years. I’m there alone and the loneliness does get to me sometimes,” she admits.
“I wrote about how working hard to achieve my dreams had somehow separated me from my loved ones across the globe.
“While focusing on your career is good, it can also be detracting when it makes you forget to spend time with your loved ones. It’s actually good if we can take time to smell the roses while we are on the way to our destination,” says the turbaned Yuna, 29.
AG Coco (the Malaysian-based music producer) arranged the song.
“When he returned the song to me, I was elated to find that it was on the same vibes as the songs on Chapters. Next, I wanted to give it an edge. Then I remembered I’d always had the idea to work with the talented SonaOne. Once I told him that if our compositions could be melded together beautifully, we should try. So I approached him and asked if he’d like to be part of the project,” says Yuna of her first collaboration with the rising rapper.
SonaOne was happy to oblige.
“When she contacted me, I was like ‘wow’. Why would I not want to be part of the project. It’s an offer from Yuna. What could be better than that?” he says.
When SonaOne sent her the part he wrote for Pulang, she was pleasantly surprised to find that the lyrics spoke about long-distance relationships.
“What a coincidence! I think the song is relatable to many people... there are a lot of couples who are separated by distance,” she says.
Released on Aug 19, the song, says Yuna has been received well.
“Many fans gave me good feedback. I even got approval from fans in the US, who don’t even speak a word of Malay. Like they say, music is universal... if the rhythm is good, it does not really matter in what language a song is sung. You can enjoy a good song without understanding the lyrics. But of course, it gets better when you know what the song is all about,” says Yuna.
Asked if she is going to have the tune translated into English to market it internationally, Yuna said that is not necessary.
“It’s not my style to have a song translated from Malay to English or vice versa. The feel won’t be there. It won’t be the same. Let’s just leave the songs as they are, let Crush be just Crush, and let Terukir Di Bintang be just that,” she says.
When she composed the track Pulang, she wanted to release the song simultaneously with Chapters in May.
“However, I realised that’s not a good idea. So we focused on Chapters first. Once that was out and done, I concentrated on the release of Pulang,” says Yuna.
That was indeed a good move. With Chapters and Crush climbing the charts in the US, Pulang will have been left in the lurch.
“I’m very proud of the album Chapters. I never imagined that it would do so well, climbing up the charts back there. I’m thankful for the support I’ve received so far. Please support me all the way if you like what I’ve been doing,” says Yuna who appreciates her fans here, even though she was recently disappointed with certain quarters here.
“What I stated on my personal social media are my personal opinions. It’s not like I’m now untouchable or anything. Just put yourself in my position and I’m sure you’ll be able to understand how I feel. You must remember that I’m alone there. I’m just like every single one of you, I have feelings too.”
Now Yuna wants to put what’s past in the past.
This month, she is touring several European cities for performances on a small platform in an effort to penetrate the market there. She will be performing in Berlin (Sept 13), Cologne (Sept 14), Paris (Sept 15), Rotterdam (Sept 17), Brussels (Sept 18), Amsterdam (Sept 19) and London (Sept 20).
“After Europe, I will be back in the US to do a tour in the southern states to promote Crush. I will be putting up shows in places such as Louisiana and Texas,” she says.
Recently, she launched another collaboration — this one with Malaysian fashion designer Hatta Dolmat — to come up with a fashion range to be sold on online shopping portal Fashion Valet.