According to Atu, the idea for the song came from his two brothers Sharif and Syaiful after the two won the ‘Famili Duo 2023’ programme produced by TV3.
“It would be a shame if they didn’t have their own song since they have the talent to sing. Previously, they were only singing other people’s songs. (As for ‘Tondu’) they sang the whole song while I was mainly involved in the rap sections,” he said in a statement.
Atu said they created the song not to compete or participate in any contest but rather to get opportunities to perform at shows.
He added that the proceeds from these performances will be used to fund the funeral management services the siblings had established, in addition to supporting family commitments and other needs.
“We know that without a song, we would get fewer (offers to perform at) shows. We are not relying on acting in dramas or films. So, we decided to create a song to diversify our talent,” he said.
The song ‘Tondu’, which means ‘woman’ in the Kadazan Dusun language, was composed by Zai Hamzah and Hemo, with lyrics by Achoi Floor 88 and Ayie Elham Floor 88. The song has been available on all digital platforms since yesterday.
The song’s producer Zai Hamzah hoped that ‘Tondu’ would be well-received by fans not only in Malaysia but also in Indonesia due to its music concept, which incorporates elements from that country.
“The concept of this song is inspired by Indonesian music styles. Actually, Sabah also has a similar music concept. However, it leans more toward the Indonesian archipelago,” he said.
Zai also praised Zero’s unique singing character, influenced by their Sabah roots, which gives them an advantage in delivering the song with their distinct style.
“Their voices are not exactly like that of the singers we know of, but they have the talent to perform this song (‘Tondu’) exceptionally well. Their efforts to improve their vocals and incorporate certain effects have resulted in making the recording more interesting and of high quality,” he added.
