SIX YEARS SOLO, NAQIU STILL SEARCHING FOR HIS MAGIC

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 24 (Bernama) –After six years of going solo, 38-year-old singer Naqiu has yet to create the magic that would solidify his brand, despite releasing seven singles since his comeback after being crowned champion of Gegar Vaganza season six.

It remains unclear where things went wrong, as Wan Naqiuddin Mohd Najib is still widely recognised as the lead vocalist of the influential 2000s band Boboy, known for their soul-stirring hits alongside other popular acts like New Boyz and Spin.

 Therefore, it comes as no surprise that the Skudai, Johor-born artiste, who is also a composer, is frequently asked to perform songs that were once all the rage with his band, such as Episod Cinta and Dalam Benci Ada Rindu, during his performances.

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While acknowledging that these songs were instrumental in elevating his profile alongside Boboy, Naqiu, as an artiste, naturally seeks to evolve his career by presenting a more mature image that aligns with his advancing age.

For this reason, the singer and actor is pinning  high hopes on his latest single, Khayalan, to bolster his brand, explore new opportunities, and establish a benchmark for his continued relevance in the industry.

 “Although I continue to perform those types of songs, I don’t want my music in 2025 to mirror the same old ballads from 2001. I’m always striving for growth and innovation with each new piece because, as an artiste, it’s crucial to keep moving forward.

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 “This is also a step for me to stay competitive with today’s young talents. That’s why I keep trying to release new songs,” said the singer of Kisah Hati Lara when met after the launch of his latest single.

Describing his eighth single as truly special, the youngest of eight siblings never imagined that his dream of collaborating with renowned composer Mohd Faizal Maas, better known as Ajai, would finally come to fruition after two decades in the Malaysian music industry.

 Staying true to the ballad and pop genres, Khayalan, recorded in July and August of last year and streaming on all digital platforms since Wednesday, is a track Ajai had kept in his vault. Ajai, formerly the keyboardist for the popular band Exists, was the one who brought this collaboration to life.

 “I’m truly honoured to work with such a remarkable individual. In fact, I’ve always been a loyal fan of Exists, and collaborating with him has been part of my dream as a singer,” Naqiu shared.

 “Upon hearing Khayalan, I instantly fell in love with its melody and chorus, and without hesitation, I agreed to record it,” he said, adding that Ajai places great importance on precision to ensure his work is perfectly translated.

Naqiu explained that this was evident when the recording of just one verse of the song took two hours before the prolific composer was satisfied enough to move on to the next verse.

 “Even though I’ve been in the industry for 24 years and have recorded many songs, this recording process was different. Ajai is very meticulous and doesn’t want to rely excessively on digital elements. Instead, he insists on getting the right emotion and intonation to truly connect with the listener.

“From this experience, I’ve learned an invaluable lesson about the importance of patience in producing high-quality work,” he added.

-- BERNAMA