KRU GOES BIG WITH KL JAMM
Now that KRU has disbanded, Norman Abdul Halim tells Dennis Chua that KRU Music will concentrate on making KL a regional stop for international artistes
KRU may have ended as a pop trio but the Halim brothers’ entertainment empire continues to pursue their vision of putting Malaysia on the musical map.
Their company KRU Music is focusing on festivals that bring together local and international artistes, with the aim of placing local talents in the spotlight and promoting their careers on the global stage.
KRU Music president Datuk Norman Abdul Halim has just unveiled Malaysia’s largest pop and hip-hop music festival, KL Jamm, which will take place annually for three days in April, beginning next year.
WELCOMING ARTISTES
The festival’s inaugural season will be from April 26 to 28 next year, with performances by local and international artistes at Dataran Merdeka, Quill City Mall and several nightspots around the federal capital.
“KL Jamm strives to bring as many international artistes to Kuala Lumpur in the years to come.
“We may not have the United States’ A-listers for now but we hope to get as many big names to perform here,” said Norman at the festival’s launch at Quill City Mall, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Kuala Lumpur recently.
MUSICAL NETWORKS
Norman also said that KL Jamm aimed to strengthen networking between music producers and artistes around the region.
“It is our platform for local and international artistes to promote themselves and forge musical collaborations that will boost their respective careers.
“It will also enable music producers to create strategic partnerships that will help artistes under their record labels go global,” said Norman.
Besides evening concerts, KL Jamm will feature music symposiums and workshops involving artistes, composers, lyricists and producers.
“The workshops will enable established artistes to guide newcomers in the industry. Artistes can also upgrade their skills, and learn to become composers and lyricists as well.”
Norman said on the first night of the festival, local artistes will entertain fans.
They will be followed by regional artistes on the second night, and Western artistes on the closing night.
SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE
“More than 20 event partners have given KL Jamm their support and we all hope it will raise the profile of the Malaysian music industry and give our promising talents a bigger platform to soar,” said Norman.
“Most of the main genres of music will be present at KL Jamm, including pop, rock and hip-hop.
“The festival is suitable for whole families, as the artistes have ‘clean’ images and do not utter profanities in their songs.”
More than 200 local and foreign artistes will participate in KL Jamm, and 50 panellists comprising producers and composers will be involved in symposiums about issues facing the music industry.
BIG NUMBERS
In addition, there will be 100 exhibitors in a music exposition at Quill City Mall.
Fifty international journalists will be stationed in Kuala Lumpur to cover the event.
“The festival is also aimed at promoting entertainment tourism in Kuala Lumpur, and making the city a world-class centre of entertainment in the region,” said Norman.
“There are many successful music festivals around the world and it is time for KL to take centre stage to host them.”
GROWING SUPPORT
Norman also said that if KL Jamm gets an overwhelming response they may increase its duration to a week.
“Like all popular music festivals, KL Jamm is expected to grow with the times, and when support for it increases, we’ll definitely extend it for a few more days.”
KL Jamm is supported by Kuala Lumpur City Hall, Asia Music City, Quill City Mall and Unusual Productions, a Singaporean company that produces live concerts.
Its event partners include Star Planet, MM2 Entertainment and Media Asia Production.
It is our platform for local and international artistes to promote themselves and forge musical collaborations. Norman Abdul Halim