ANN/THE STAR – When Malaysian singer-songwriter Firdhaus Farmizi first entered a Chinese primary school, it wasn’t his decision but one made by his parents.
Unbeknownst to him at the time, this unexpected journey would lay the foundation for his emergence as one of Malaysia’s brightest talents in China.
“My parents believed it was the right move for my future.
“My cousin was also sent to a Chinese school, so they felt the need to send me because, you know… Asian parents don’t want to lose,” the 25-year-old quipped during an exclusive interview with StarLifestyle last week.
Raised in a traditional Malay household, one might assume Firdhaus struggled with the Chinese language.
But not only did he master it, the Johor-born also earned a spot at the prestigious Foon Yew High School, where he consistently ranked at the top of his class.
“Sometimes, I feel like I’m a genius because I can speak Chinese very, very well. I’m guessing it’s because I started from kindergarten, so I have the basics,” he said, adding that his teachers also pushed him hard.
“I still remember how they would get angry and throw my books on the floor when I was seven years old!” he exclaimed.
Reflecting on his school days, Firdhaus recounted being the only Malay student in his classes, though he had Indian classmates too.
Surrounded by mostly Chinese friends, the singer naturally embraced their culture – from joining the Chinese yoyo club to competing in Chinese calligraphy contests, where he once represented Johor.
He would also play lanterns with his peers during the Mid-Autumn Festival and celebrate Chinese New Year by visiting friends’ homes to collect ang pow.
Growing up, Firdhaus always had a passion for music and would sing in the car with his mum.
“Whenever my favourite song played on the radio, I’d try to pick up the lyrics. I also had a small notebook which I used to write down the lyrics as I listened to the song,” he said.
However, the idea of pursuing music full-time never crossed his mind. That is, until his Chinese friends introduced him to Mandopop superstar Jay Chou.
“That was my first time listening to a Chinese song. I was 12 at the time and thought it’s really cool that a singer could write their own songs, so I began writing my own,” he said.
MAKING WAVES OVERSEAS
Firdhaus didn’t stop at songwriting.
He also picked up the guitar, sang at restaurants and shared Chinese covers and original songs on his social media accounts.
“If I experienced a heartbreak and still had things I wanted to share, I’d use songwriting as a tool to express myself,” he shared.
When asked why he chose to sing in Chinese instead of his native language or English, Firdhaus explained that it wasn’t a deliberate choice but a “natural path”.
“It didn’t feel like I was making a decision. This is because most of my friends were Chinese, so writing and singing Chinese songs was the natural way to go,” he said.
After finishing his pre-university studies, Firdhaus chose to skip university, feeling it was unnecessary for his ambitions.
The singer told StarLifestyle in a 2021 interview that his true passions lay in connecting with people, doing business, and making music – skills he believed didn’t require a degree.
And so, Firdhaus dived into the real world – selling vegetables at a market and working at a tech shop to sharpen his sales abilities, all while perfecting his musicality.
In March 2020, Firdhaus released his self-penned Mandarin ballad, Gulf Of Alaska, on Instagram, though it flew under the radar back then.
“I knew it was a good song and was a favourite of mine for a while, but it didn’t get the traction I had hoped for. I had no connections in the music industry too back then,” he said in our recent interview.
A glimmer of hope appeared to Firdhaus in mid 2020 when his track caught the attention of local singer Yise Loo, who offered him a contract with her entertainment company Loolala Music.
Backed by the agency, Firdhaus released his debut EP, A Letter, which included Gulf Of Alaska, in November that year.
A month later, he received news that Gulf Of Alaska had become a hit in China, chalking up over 840 million views at press time on Douyin, the Chinese counterpart of TikTok.
“I wasn’t really familiar with the platform then, so it caught me by surprise.
“I had the opportunity to explore the market in China because of this song. Everything happened organically. I was very, very lucky,” he said.
With the door to the Chinese music scene wide open, Firdhaus seized the opportunity to amplify his presence on the mainland stage.
Over the years, he has proven he isn’t a one-hit wonder with songs such as Eternal Friendship, Up & Down and Divorce In Ghana making waves too.
The latter track, which he sung with local artiste Diorlying, clocked over 22 million views on YouTube and topped the Douyin Hot Songs chart, with over a million likes on the platform.
“My career has been filled with lots of joy, and I’m very, very grateful.
“To even think about the idea of so many people listening to my songs and willingly buying tickets to see me is very humbling,” he said of his success.
Earlier this month, Firdhaus was featured on Apple Music’s Here’s To The Dreamers campaign, which spotlights Southeast Asian talents who have navigated challenges and turned their dreams into reality.
A WARM WELCOME HOME
In August, Firdhaus kickstarted his Hello Again Asia Tour in Guangzhou, China.
He will be going back to Malaysia to perform at Arena of Stars in Genting Highlands this weekend. – Anndrea A Webber
