taken from The New Paper, 27 March 1995
By Siti Rohanah Koid
M. NASIR'S latest album, Canggung Mendonan (Awkward Stranger), is his most successful.
Sales of more than 100,000 copies has given it double-platinum status in Malaysia.
But music is not his only creative outlet.
The Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (Nafa) graduate plans to hold an art exhibition. He has also acted in five movies and has just finished a 60-scene movie script.
"I've got a sponsor for my exhibition but none yet for my movie idea. But if no one wants to take it up, I'll use my own money," he said with a shrug.
How can he find time to paint, write and act while composing award-winning songs for himself and other artistes?
"I'm just expressing my creativity in different forms. Creativity should never dry up," he said.
"It's like a river, always flowing into the ocean, which then comes back as rain."
IMPERFECTIONS
Nasir likes his expression of creativity to be raw, with imperfections — "like my present album".
"If judged by Malaysian standards, it's okay. But internationally, it has its weaknesses," he said.
"It may not have the best engineering or best vocals, but it's got spirit. And that is something important to me."
Many would agree. Canggung Mendonan won the Best Traditional Album award and a track, Mentera Semerah Padi, won the Best Song at the Malaysian Music Industry Awards last week.
Nasir disagreed with the Traditional Album award.
"Is it that traditional? Yes, it contains traditional elements in its sound and spirit, but it is not a traditional album," he argued.
"The album is better classified as a Malay pop album. It reflects my style — a fusion of the ethnic and the modern. You have to know your roots."
Nasir scoffed at the Malay rap music that dominates airplay here and in Malaysia.
"It's just a fad. Those teen rap groups, they are just there for the fun of it. They know there's no future in it," he said.
"They may say that with rap music, they are rebelling against teachers, parents or the government. But really, most youths have no cause to rebel.
"Rap music belongs to the West. We were colonised physically once. Today, we are being colonised artistically."
MUSIC AND MOVIE MAN
M. NASIR released his first album, Pecinta Seni (Art Lover), in Singapore in 1980. It would take him another 10 years to make his second album, Solo.
But those years were put to good use as he wrote hit songs and produced albums for the likes of Search, Wings, Ella and Ramlah Ram.
His third album, Saudagar Mimpi (Dream Merchant), was released in 1992.
Nasir has also acted in five movies, including the award-winning Selubung (Veil) and Balada (Ballad).
His latest film is Simfoni Dunia Ku (Symphony of My World), which has yet to be released.
He swept four out of the five awards in the Malaysian song contest Juara Lagu '94, including the coveted Song of the Year.