Music in his blood

Upcoming singer-songwriter Deen Asimi is going places with his family’s musical restaurant, writes Dennis Chua

Deen Asimi is fortunate

to be supported by a musically-inclined family.

FOR aspiring singers, songwriters and composers, there is no better launching pad than a musicallyinclined family. Better still, a family that promotes music as part of its business. Mohamad Izzudin Yusof, 24, better known by his stage name Deen Asimi, has precisely that.

A self-taught guitarist who has written and composed songs since his teens, Deen is grateful for the support from his parents and siblings.

Born in Kerteh, Terengganu, Deen helps his parents, Yusof Lazim and Zuriana Khalid, to manage a musical cafe, Snap And Snack Cafe in Ayer Keroh, Melaka, where aspiring musicians can hone their skills in weekly busking sessions.

Once a week, Deen teams up with his musical siblings Nur Syafiqah, 26, and Mohamad Said, 15, who are guitarists and Nur Farah Najiha, 22, and Mohamad Syahiran Izham, 17, who are vocalists, to entertain diners.

Deen, whose direct and meaningful lyrics are accompanied by haunting and melancholic tunes, has been getting some airplay on East Coast radio stations Terengganu FM and ManisFM over the last year.

TV CONNECTION

Despite having only two singles since he began his career in 2012, he has been featured on TV3’s weekly chart show

and interviewed on his musical journey and future plans.

“Both my singles have become part of television drama soundtracks,” he says in an interview at Balai Berita.

His first single, (2012), written by Pojie Samad and composed by himself, became the theme song of Astro Citra drama series

starring Diana Danielle, Sharnaaz Ahmad and Keith Foo.

His second single (2016), also penned by Pojie, was used as the theme song for

starring Nur Fazura Sharifuddin and Fattah Amin.

is a tribute to women and their achievements. I’m very happy that it entered and earned me my first TV interview on the show,” says Deen, adding that the song was written in four days and emerged top three on the charts of Terengganu FM.

is an emotional message about a young man who is hurt when his girlfriend is wooed by a third party. It did very well on ManisFM, spending five weeks at No.1!” HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

Deen has always dreamt of becoming a musician, and his parents encouraged him from the start.

“I learnt the guitar when I was 10, and practised playing the songs of my music idol Datuk Sudirman Arshad.”

As a teenager, Deen participated in singing contests in Kuala Terengganu and Kuantan.

“Initially limiting myself to Sudirman songs, I gradually expanded my music vocabulary to include songs by Indonesian singers especially Opick, whose spiritual lyrics are uplifting.”

Deen is especially fond of Indonesian pop and rock music, because Indonesian singers have soulful voices and good showmanship.

“Their concerts, especially their rock concerts, are adrenaline-pumping, singalong feasts.”

Prior to starting his musical career, Deen spent three years working as a sales adviser at the Perodua office in Chukai, Terengganu.

“My parents advised me to gain some good experience managing finance, for this skill will come in handy as my musical career progresses,” he says.

Deen credits Pojie, whom he met at a Hot FM Big Jam showcase in Kuala Terengganu in 2012 as his “teacher” in show business.

“Whenever I’m in doubt, I’ll seek Pojie’s advice. He is a very knowledgeable lyricist and musician, and he’s given me a lot of tips on how to improve my songwriting.” THINGS TO COME

Deen will be composing a third single after Hari Raya Aidilfitri and hopes to collaborate with another popular new singer and songwriter, Ippo Hafiz.

“This song will have a universal, humanitarian message, compared to the first two. As my career progresses, I hope to write more such songs,” he says, adding that he looks up to composers and lyricists such as Datuk M. Nasir, Audi Mok, Ajai and Aubrey Suwito.

In the long run, Deen would like to perform rock, dangdut, asli and even hip-hop numbers. His ultimate dream is to sing duets with, or write songs for Datuk Siti Nurhaliza and Datuk Jamal Abdillah.

“I recently had a mini studio set up in my house in Ayer Keroh. This will give me a special place to create new and original compositions and to rehearse with my potential collaborators,” he says.

“I also plan to discover promising young talents in music, whom I can collaborate with. Malaysia is blessed with many hidden talents, and having a musical cafe is a great way to find them.”