JOHOR BAHRU: For Hasib Zarak Khan, music is the food of love. And expressing this love in the major languages spoken in Malaysia is his way of fostering national unity.
While Malay songs are the mainstay for his band the Symphony Buskers, Hasib and Nurul Nadirah Shahril, another vocalist in the group, also sing in Tamil, Mandarin and Hindi with ease.
The five-member band spends most of their time busking at shopping malls and supermarkets, but their repertoire has also made them popular at multicultural events.
Given that people of all backgrounds gather at malls, Hasib said he usually performs before a multiracial audience. “Many Tamil and Mandarin songs are so melodious. I notice Malays also love Tamil and Hindi songs,” he pointed out.
Hasib admits that, as a Malay who does not speak Tamil or Chinese, singing in those languages can be a challenge. Nevertheless, “music can break all barriers, even the racial differences that have been rampantly played up by politicians these days”, he said.
And while he doesn’t always pronounce Chinese and Tamil words well, he feels that, as a singer, he should be brave enough to try. This means he sometimes has to listen to a Chinese or Tamil song 30 or 40 times just to get the pronunciation right.
“But my Indian friends have told me on social media that this is a small problem. I am very encouraged by such positive comments,” Hasib added.
He is also motivated by the applause they get when playing Mandarin songs at Chinese gatherings, or Hindi and Tamil songs at Indian functions. “I even get goosebumps,” he quipped.
Recordings of performances by the Symphony Buskers have gone viral on social media, garnering a large number of views. Hasib is now learning to sing in Korean and will start singing in that language soon.
“Some people have even offered to teach me how to pronounce words in Mandarin or Tamil,” he shared. “Learning can be tough, but when you see the fruits of your labour, it is satisfying. Money is not our ultimate objective.”
He said many of those who have seen his band in action have encouraged them to keep it up. After all, music can transcend differences and make Malaysians focus on what is common among them.
At a recent busking session at the Aeon outlet in Bukit Indah, Johor, a group of Chinese spectators sang along while others cheered him on as he strummed away on the guitar.
“This happens often, especially during weekends. I enjoy the interaction among different races as much as others do,” said Hasib, who believes music and sports can bring Malaysians together.
While the Symphony Buskers have yet to venture beyond Johor, Hasib is confident they would be well-received if they did. After all, “the reception is naturally better when one sings in other languages”, he said.
In the meantime, the band members are committed to continuing with their multilingual act. Apart from Hasib and singer Nadirah, the Symphony Buskers consist of bassist Annuar Ariffin, guitarist Md Noor Samad, and drummer Kamsul Abdullah.
Follow Hasib and the Symphony Buskers on YouTube.
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