Busy Atilia manages No.3

The singer Atilia Haron finally releases her third album today. Tahir Alhamzah has the story

THOUGH she’s been singing from an early age, popular songstress Atilia Haron has so far released only two full-length albums to date. Her third, titled is out today.

Surprisingly, this latest album took three years to complete. “With a packed schedule of performing at corporate shows, and teaching yoga classes (at Yoga Want That I Want Studios), it could not have been completed within a shorter period of time,” says the petite 42-year-old singer.

“This was supposed to be released last year. However, I had to put everything aside for a few months when my father suffered a heart attack. He needed me. Work and the album had to wait,” recounts the singer who is close to both her parents, Raja Haron Raja Aziz and jingles queen, Salamiah Hassan.

LITTLE MISS METICULOUS Besides having a lot on her plate, Atilia also admits to being a meticulous person and thus wanting to be involved in every stage of recording.

“Being the executive producer, I was very hands on in the production of my album,” admits Atilia.

The album carries seven Malay songs and two tracks in English, and was co-produced by Tiew Tok Khon, Jason Voo and her husband Adam Sofian. “While I’ve maintained a jazzy pop concept for the album, I’d say this time it has more easygoing tunes compared with my previous albums which were too deep. But you’ll still get the essence that is Atilia,” she says proudly.

Although the trend these days is for singers to come up with digital singles, Atilia still believes in releasing a full physical album. “Sure, it requires a lot more in terms of work and funding, but a physical album would definitely give me more satisfaction at the end of the day,” she says.

MELODIOUS SPREAD

In the album, Atilia also has a duet with her good friend, singer Adibah Noor, and also with singer and composer Lokman Aslam (one of the finalists for in 2006).

“Initially,

I composed and wrote

for Adibah’s new album. But I thought it’d be good to include this track in my album too. Maybe we’ll work out a new arrangement for her album,” says Atilia of the song which can also be performed as a solo number.

The first single from the album,

was composed and written by Indonesian Choky Naninggolan, whom Atilia has yet to meet in person. This track is one of the three songs (the other two are and which already been published on YouTube.

While she has received her mother’s blessings to record Salamiah’s

and one may wonder if she is ever going to record a duet with “Little Miss Dynamite” herself.

“Of course, the idea had been there all along. But we have yet to find one good song. Because the relationship we have is very special, we want a song that perfectly defines us, from its tune to lyrics,” says Atilia who became her mother’s backup vocalist for the song when she was 13.

PERSONAL EXPENSE

“I’m grateful that this album had been produced together with Warner Music Malaysia. However, I also had to top up because there were things that I wanted to do which was a little beyond the budget given by Warner, like having some of the songs mixed at Real World Studios (in United Kingdom). I even recorded the track

there,” shares Atilia excitedly.

Atilia is also grateful that some of the work was done at her husband’s studio, Bsync Studio. “Hope he won’t issue me an invoice later,” she jokes.

To promote the album, Atilia will be touring to Kuching, Kota Kinabalu, Singapore and Jakarta.

“I will kick off the tour with a showcase at the KL International Jazz Festival on Sept 16.” Atilia is also currently working on a book about her experiences in practising yoga.