• Home
    Home 

  • Articles
    Articles 

  • Happenings
    Happenings 

  • Eksentriks
    Eksentriks 

  • Community
    Community 
  • Home
  • Asian Arts Magazine  ▾
    • News
    • Arts
    • Culture
    • Films
    • Literature
    • Music
    • Performing Arts
    • Photography
    • Poems
    • Stories
  • Artist Registry
  • Arts Community
  • Happenings

  • Sign In
  • Submit Stories & Poems
  • List Your Events
  • Be On Artist Registry

  • What Is Eksentrika?
  • Get In Touch With Us
  • FAQ
  • Join Our Monthly Newsletter
  • Eksentrika Facebook
  • Eksentrika Instagram
  • Eksentrika Twitter
  • Eksentrika Linkedin
  • Eksentrika Telegram
  • Start Writing
  • Asian Arts Magazine
  • Artist Registry
Arts & Culture Malaysia | Eksentrika
Eksentrika Login
“More space should be made available for local musicians” Beverly Matujal
Sukhbir Cheema

Written by Sukhbir Cheema

“More space should be made available for local musicians” Beverly Matujal

Share this article via


Image credit: Noah Kwek

As a musician, tapping into the Malaysian audience can be a real pain, as singer-songwriter Beverly Matujal explains.

The 24-year-old who hails from Kota Kinabalu, Sabah rubbishes claims made by many that lack of interest in local music due to personal preferences is a contributing factor.

“It is no doubt easy to get your music out there if you’re signed under a big record label,” she says to me when we met at The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (klpac).

Surely, this statement would make any local musician fume and seethe in anger. But Beverly put my mind to ease when she began explaining how she got into the local music scene.

Just like her fellow friend, singer-songwriter Amrita Soon, Beverly began her journey into music when she was 11.

“I did not know how to play any instrument. Most of the time, the melodies would come into my head and I’ll record them using my grandfather’s old Nokia phone,” she laughs.

19955992 1563230040387735 5769665396434772618 o
The choice of the Nokia was because her grandfather was not tech-savvy, so Beverly knew no one would find out about her naughty musical experiments.

“I was also really shy as a kid and found it difficult to express myself. So I used to write some of my songs in my exercise books which would then be turned into music.”

Her father being a musician himself, was the only one who could relate with what Beverly was going through. He is also her source of inspiration.

20746395 1591933910850681 6954052649898103246 o
Image credit: Blaisé Clicks

Upon seeing his daughter’s interest in music, Beverly’s father began sending her for numerous piano lessons – which she would quit after a month or two.

“I don’t know if it was because the piano teachers were too strict or I was too lazy, I would quit and then after a few months join another class,” she quips.

A year on, with the basic piano knowledge that she had accumulated, Beverly began playing the piano by herself. And soon, the guitar.

19620524 1551735148203891 7373451558776798320 o
Image credit: Beverly Matujal

“It was all through trial and error. Mistakes, after mistakes.”

But it took her 13-years-later to have the courage to pursue music.

Having adhered to her parents’ wishes of completing her degree in Mass Communications, Beverly has allowed herself ample of time this year to work on her first EP which is set to be launched on August 26, at Merdekarya.

17918073 1470558006321606 462873460453778833 o
Image credit: Beverly Matujal

“echoes”, according to Beverly is all about pining, unrequited love.

“I pictured myself in a large but empty hall and I’m speaking to someone but there’s no response except echoes bounding off from the four-walls.”

“I know, I know, I’m a sappy romantic at heart, lah!”

19477489 1578287275548678 7114863863453274688 o

Just a few weeks back, I had the honour of being provided an early listen to her EP and boy, it’s amazing!

Right from the first track, “escalate” to the last, “admit”, Beverly has put in alot of thought to the lyrics and the composition of the songs itself.

Each track compliments the other and if listened together in one go, the listener is given a first-hand experience into Beverly’s journey as an individual who is just as vulnerable and courageous as you and me.

19221498 1534319963278743 648563146493562272 o
Image credit: MY Indie Music

My favorites have to be these two tracks because of the sheer honesty in them.

In “admit” Beverly demonstrates her vocal prowess as she admits her fears and insecurities but also reconciles with the fact that she one has to and will move on ultimately.

Though the music is a little slow paced, it does make a soothing easy listen, serving as a balm for anyone who is nursing a broken heart.

17620084 1451955768181830 1065483355726399633 o
Beverly with Nadir.

Beverly did not produce this EP through a big record label. Infact, she saved up RM10,000 through her hard work with a portion of it coming from her supportive parents.

The EP is self-funded and produced by Angie Farr. Majority of the tracks were penned three-years-ago.

“I agree it is hard to put your music out there. But there is always a solution,” Beverly says.

The singer-songwriter believes that there should be more venues the likes of Merdekarya, The Bee and Gaslight Cafe that allows young Malaysians ample of opportunity to unearth and appreciate the plethora of musical talents that are currently available in Malaysia.

We need more and more event spaces where musicians can express themselves creatively. The problem is, many of such venues are obscure or hidden from the public eye.”

This usually results in lack of attendance at some of these spaces.

“It’s unbelievable that many Malaysians actually miss out on real good musical acts because of the location of the spaces itself.”

17807466 10211079449515048 8718585129846764806 o
Coebar Abel, a talented young musician who played a pivotal role in Omar Ali’s Kandang. Image credit: Tang Chun Cheuh

True to relating with the sentiments on the ground, Coebar Abel together with klpac have been organising the intim sessions.

The intim sessions are basically an hour long acoustic music performed at an intimate setting (indicine) on a quaterly basis.

20818801 1601871699897632 4405139607111024263 o

“The aim is to create an intimate space for local musicians to express and get their music out there,” Coebar, who himself is a musician, says.

“This is our way of letting others find out about the immense musical talents in Malaysia.”

The fourth edition of intim sessions is set to take place on August 19 at indicine, klpac at 8.30pm. Entry is a minimum donation of RM15. Beverly would also be bringing along her EP for those who wish to purchase physical copies! Follow Beverly Matujal on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube!

Tags: Beverly Matujal, Coebar Abel
  1. Anonymous says:
    August 18, 2017 at 11:03 pm

    4.5

Contribute to Us

We accept short stories, poems, opinion pieces, and essays on a complimentary basis.

SUBMIT

Other Stories You May Like

Over 300 Artworks By 128 Malaysian Artists Get Exhibited At Telur Pecah 2.022

Over 300 Artworks By 128 Malaysian Artists Get Exhibited At Telur Pecah 2.022

Rachael Lum

SWEET AND SOUR art exhibition by Alya Hatta & Leily Moghtader Mojdehi

2 Artists Get Together To Create An Art Exhibition Inspired By… Sweet And Sour Chicken?!

ZHAN Art | Space

Who Is Ratu Kuning Of Pattani? A Queen In Southeast Asia.

5 Reasons To Remember Ratu Kuning Of Pattani, An Iconic Queen Of Southeast Asia

Jennifer Rodrigo

How Asian Motifs Inspires Tobyato's Digital Art And Murals

How Asian Motifs Inspires Tobyato’s Digital Art And Murals

Sukhbir Cheema

Guava Girls: How 2 Women Are Supporting Female NFT Artists

Guava Girls: How 2 Women Are Supporting Female NFT Artists

Marco Ferrarese

3 British Council Global Arts Programmes in Malaysia in 2022

3 New British Council Arts Programmes To Foster Collaborations and Networks

Ista

About Eksentrika

Eksentrika is an arts community and an online Asian arts magazine with an artist registry. Join us to get inspired and find Asian artists here!

Quick Links

  • About Eksentrika
  • Contact Us
  • F.A.Q.

Join Our Newsletter

 


All Rights Reserved © 2021 Eksentrika | By eJeeban Web Design Company

  • Eksentrika Facebook
  • Eksentrika Instagram
  • Eksentrika Twitter
  • Eksentrika Linkedin
  • Eksentrika Telegram