The busking trio, from left, Rusydi, Andy and Azmeer.
SANDAKAN is a small town where, if you have lived here long enough, you would run into at least one person by coincidence a week. But running into three young men playing music on an acoustic guitar complete with a microphone on a stand and a portable amp singing ‘Don’t Look Back in Anger’ is completely novel.
Andy, Rusydi and Azmeer have been busking in Sandakan every night since the first few days of Hari Raya. They’ve seen tourists dance, got chased off and learnt some insights along the way.
It all began when Andy @ Putra Razli visited his family in Sandakan for Raya.
“I haven’t been here (Sandakan) for eight years. My mum encouraged me to go. She said, “Why don’t you try busking in Sandakan?” But I said, “kampunglah” and “wasting time lah” but she said, “if you never try, you never know”,” said Andy.
Andy, 23, was born in Tawau but currently lives in Kuala Lumpur. He has been busking for six years and has performed in places like the First World Hotel in Genting Highlands, various pubs and nightclubs in Kuala Lumpur, weddings, busked in Penang and Johor and appeared in a program called “Seniman Jalanan” (Street Artists) on TV1.
“(Coming to Sandakan), I realised, all places are the same. There will always be people who love music. Even the indigenous people love music,” he said.
Andy met Rusydi Rosli, 19, and Azmeer Awang, 18, two weeks ago at Rusydi’s shisha parlour in Sandakan town. After busking, Andy approached the two and were immediately drawn to each other by their interest in music.
Since then, Andy, Rusydi and Azmeer have been busking around Sandakan nightly.
“Sandakan is not like other places. People here might be a little shocked seeing buskers. Sometimes they’d ask “Where are you from? Are you Filipino?”. I’d tell them “no, I’m from Sandakan”. I’d show them my IC if they want to,” said Azmeer.
But these buskers agree that nothing would stop them from doing what they love – making people happy.
“There was one time, a foreigner started dancing to our music. I thought ‘Wow. Busking can get people dancing!’. It was a great feeling (getting people to dance). That experience was unforgettable.
“Making people happy … It’s hard to describe. If you were a busker, you’d be able to feel what we felt. As they say, ‘rambut sama hitam, hati mana sama'(the colour of our hair is the same but our hearts are different,” said Azmeer.
While Andy has a six-year experience in busking, Azmeer and Rusidy’s busking life had only just begun when they met Andy.
“We’ve learned a lot of patience from busking. From being hot headed, you’ll be more composed. The most important thing is patience. If you are critiqued, you stay quiet.
“There are those who’d critique you but there are also those who like and respect your music. At first, you’ll definitely feel nervous but when you see people who are happy with your music, you’d be happy too,” said Azmeer.
Andy, who works in a guitar store back in Kuala Lumpur, had a more dramatic busking experience. At one point in his life, he was homeless for six months and relied on busking money to survive.
“I lost my passport and money and slept on the streets for six months. I didn’t want to call my parents because I didn’t want to trouble them. I was ashamed.
“I was drunk and chilling out and was waiting for a train in Pasar Seni. When I woke up, my pants were cut. All I had was my guitar. So I busked. I busked for five hours and got RM10,” he said.
Andy admitted he had a troubled early adulthood but music and busking in particular had helped him get back on his feet.
“When I was younger living in Singapore, alcohol and women was a normal thing for me. Looking back, music isn’t about sex, drugs and Rock and Roll.
“Music is my drug. We’re addicted to it. Why can’t musicians stop making music? It’s because they’re addicted to music. They never stop writing songs and pour their hearts into what they love.
“I wouldn’t meet Azmeer and Rusidy if it weren’t for music,” said Andy.
Andy’s passion for music gave him a direction in life. While drugs and alcohol may be a thing of Andy’s past, these days he prefers staying sober.
“People get nervous before going on stage, so they smoke weed or drink but they don’t realise that they are cowards.
“Why would you need those things to confront people? Why can’t you be clean?” said Andy.
Andy will be returning to Kuala Lumpur on Monday (September 3) while Azmeer and Rusidy said they will have to continue their busking adventures without Andy.
“We’ll definitely continue busking, God-Willing. It’s been a great experience and we’d like to see where this can take us,” said Azmeer.