ANN/THE STAR – Having resided in the United States (US) for more than 10 years, if you inquire about Malaysian songstress Yuna’s truest connection, she would promptly point to Sungei Wang Plaza in Kuala Lumpur.
Yes, she is indeed mentioning the mall situated on Jalan Bukit Bintang in Kuala Lumpur. During her formative years, Yuna, now residing in Los Angeles, frequented this spot to acquire the CDs, albums, and musical instruments that fueled her passion.
So, it’s no surprise that the 36-year-old found it fitting to bring her Yunaverse concert to the shopping centre’s Mega Star Arena yesterday.
“It feels surreal holding my concert here because this place was such a big part of my childhood, so it feels like a nice homecoming tour.
“I have been working towards having my own show in Malaysia for the longest time. (But) due to financial constraints and logistics, the process was a little difficult.
“Now that this concert finally happened, I’m really thankful,” Yuna told StarLifestyle in an exclusive virtual interview.
The artiste’s gig in Kuala Lumpur marked her first solo concert in Malaysia since her Yuna Live In Malaysia show in 2015.
The singer – whose real name is Yunalis Mat Zara’ai – said that she prepared a setlist of over 20 songs from both old and new albums.
Adding to the fun was local singer Aizat Amdan whom Yuna personally chose to open her concert.
The pair are close friends and have worked together on the songs Dwihati and The Last Thing.
“(Aizat) is an amazing singer and performer. He has this amazing English EP (Everything In Between) which he released after rebranding to Ai.Z.
“That’s the name he goes by when he’s performing English songs but not many people know about it.
“I just think he’s really smart and I really want my fans to watch him perform. I’m also excited to share with everyone the songs we did together,” she said.
In addition to her KL gig, the talented songbird will also hold a concert at Hikmah Exchange in Kuching, Sarawak, on October 27 as part of her Yuna Asia Tour. The events are Yuna’s initiative to express her gratitude to loyal fans who have supported her throughout her music journey.
POWER COUPLE
Last month, Yuna ticked an item off her to-do list after performing her latest single, Glory, on Colors – a German music platform featuring live performances of various artistes.
Among the big names previously featured on the platform are US rapper Doja Cat, Grammy winner Billie Eilish and Canadian singer-songwriter Daniel Caesar.
In an Instagram post, Yuna revealed that she had been longing to perform on the platform for years but was unable to do so because of clashing schedules.
Weaving tinkles of synth piano with bass tones and subtle snaps, Glory centres on the theme of someone striving to be the best for, and bringing out the best in, the one they love most.
For the track’s lyric video, Yuna once again collaborated with her husband Adam Sinclair.
The couple – who tied the knot in 2018 – previously worked together on the music videos Forevermore, Make A Move and Blank Marquee.
Reflecting on her experience working with Adam, Yuna said: “It’s kind of weird when you think about it because there’s this notion of how there will be clashing of ideas or interest when you work with your husband.
“But for us, we actually love each other’s ideas and work well together. We also have mutual respect which I think is the most important aspect. We never try to compete with each other and there’s no toxicity.”
Yuna first met Adam, 39, on the set of a commercial after a 16-hour flight from the US back in 2013.
The singer revealed in a past interview feeling moody and disinterested in continuing the shoot on that particular day. However, Adam made her feel “safe and comfortable” after checking on her and making sure she had something to eat.
There’s a certain glint in Yuna’s eyes as she spoke with StarLifestyle about her beau, whom she said is her most favourite person to work with.
According to the singer, teaming up with her husband made work all the more fun.
“He brings balance into my life and would always calm me down and reassure me when things get overwhelming. I do the same for him too. There’s no stress whenever we work on something as a couple because we just know the end result will turn out great.” – Anndrea A Webber
