HE just knows how to move people, musically that is.
The shy and soft-spoken singer and songwriter Aizat Amdan has been serenading listeners since 2007 with his husky vocals and self-penned lyrics and melodies.
The artiste recently released the single Jangan Menangis, a collaboration with popular singer Faizal Tahir and composer Mike Chan.
Jangan Menangis accurately expresses his feelings on his recent decision to move out of his family home in Ampang.
It was last September when Aizat decided to live on his own in order to focus on his music career.
The 28-year-old admitted that it was the hardest choice he’s had to make so far.
“I didn’t know how to tell my parents without breaking their hearts,” says Aizat.
INDEPENDENCE AND MUSIC
“My mum is very protective of me and she couldn’t bear to see me leave. But I want to learn to be independent,” says Aizat, the fifth of six siblings.
Signed under the Warner Music label, Aizat rented a house in Damansara, which is a stone’s throw away from the company’s HQ in Mutiara Damansara.
“It cuts travelling time between home and work by half. This way, I can focus on my work,” says Aizat, the man behind a string of hit tunes including We’ll Be Happy (a collaboration with Zee Avi), Lagu Kita and Erti Hari Ini.
Since moving out, Aizat says he has to perform most of the house chores himself, including ironing his clothes.
“It wasn’t until I lived on my own that I realised that ironing is not an easy task. I had to rely on instructional videos on YouTube to get things right,” says Aizat, chuckling at his own predicament.
FAIZAL TAHIR CONNECTION
On his first collaboration with Faizal, the down-to-earth Aizat explained that there were disagreements in the earlier stages of writing the song.
“We had different opinions on songwriting. But they were quickly resolved as we didn’t want to affect the song. At the end of the day, work is work,” says Aizat.
“Besides, it’s not everyday that you get to work with someone as talented as Faizal. We’re both on the same wavelength when it comes to passion and creativity,” adds Aizat, beaming.
The two were in the studio hanging out when Faizal came up with the idea of collaborating.
“Ideas were popping up everywhere and Faizal came up with a tune. He eventually asked me to write the lyrics,” he says.
TALENT SHINES THROUGH
Aizat first burst onto the music scene when he took part in the fifth season of the reality-based singing competition, Akademi Fantasia.
Although he finished at seventh place, his popularity and talent for songwriting helped him to make a name for himself as a singer.
Armed with a growing fanbase, Aizat’s rendition of Pete Teo and Amran Omar’s Pergi (the theme song from Yasmin Ahmad’s last film Talentime) in 2010 won him the Song Of The Year award at TV3’s Juara Lagu Ke-24.
His self-composed song Kau Dan Aku also won the Best Performance award at the event.
Aizat, who has been writing songs since high school, once envisioned himself in the studio, writing and producing songs for artistes.
NO DREAM TOO SMALL
“I love singing but my passion has always been songwriting. I feel great satisfaction making music and want to share my stories through songs,” says the Anugerah Bintang Popular Berita Harian 2009 winner for Most Popular Male Singer.
This year marks Aizat’s 10th anniversary in the music industry but he has no major plans yet to celebrate the significant milestone in his career.
“I just want to focus on making good music and writing songs. My musical journey has been great so far and I don’t plan to stop. I’m always looking to do something new,” says Aizat, whose dream is to collaborate with the English singer and songwriter Ed Sheeran.
Jangan Menangis is available for download on all digital platforms including iTunes, Spotify and Joox.