BRIGHT FUTURE: ‘Aku Nemu’ hitmaker Hevance has already received numerous accolades and awards in their fledgling career.
KUCHING: Dayak artistes must not be afraid to explore new music and modern beats if they were to succeed internationally.
The success of Iban group ‘Hevance’ in winning Best Indie Rock Group of South East Asia in the Voice Independent Music Award (VIMA) in Kuala Lumpur recently has set the bar for Dayak artistes to conquer.
Hevance’s success has proven that the days where language is seen as the barrier to promote Dayak music nationwide or in the region is over.
Despite problems with music piracy, Kuching Dayak Culture and Arts Promoters Association (PPSKDK) deputy chairman Isa Lee remained optimistic that the future was bright for Dayak music at the Asian or global stage provided they stayed in sync with modern trends.
“If we want Dayak artists to be known internationally we cannot avoid putting high emphasis on developing our music with modern beats. Developing our music with up-to-date beats does not mean that we abandoning our traditional and old school roots.
“We will not be able to develop if we are satisfied with what we already have. We must continue to work hard to push forward. We must not be afraid to explore new and modern music,” he told The Borneo Post when contacted yesterday.
The emergence of Hevance, which is fronted by multi-talented Aldrich Hevance, has helped to promote Iban music regionally.
“We are proud because Hevance has catapulted Dayak music a step forward.
“Hevance has become the first Iban band that won any music accolades and awards outside the country,” Lee enthused.
Hevance is quite well known locally despite having only released their first full album ‘Aku Nemu’ last year.
Among their achievements is winning in the Best Song category for their hit ‘Aku Nemu’ during AJARR 2012 award. The song was also a winner in the Best Dayak Song category at AMD 2012 (Dayak Music Award).
‘Aku Nemu’ gained national recognition when it was voted the Social Media Most KAW (catchy) song in the Anugerah Carta Borneo Era 2012 (Era’s Borneo Music Chart Award).
Hevance is currently working on its second studio album. The title of the album and date of release has yet to be confirmed.