Ushera stirs up patriotic spirit

AS A passionate jazz artiste, local singer Ushera ( below) has always gone after opportunities to share her love for jazz with audiences.

Through her current project titled Semalam di Malaya, Ushera is dedicated to the revival of classics from the early 1940s to the late 50s.

In conjunction with the 61st Merdeka Day, Ushera has also released a single, Malaysia Merdeka ( right), to commemorate the founding of our nation.

Inspired by the original recording by Zahara Agus in 1956, the lyrics have been rewritten by Ushera, while the musical arrangement was by composer Ganesh Bala.

The track is now available on iTunes and Spotify, while the official music video – sponsored by MY Creative Ventures – is available on YouTube.

Malaysia Merdeka is a patriotic song, revolving around the musical n a t i onal i s m movement of 1950s Malaya.

Ushera is, in fact, dedicating this song to all her fellow Malaysians, to serve as a reminder of the importance of unity and harmony, and the effort it takes to sustain prosperity and peace in our country. Staying true to her ‘Nona Malaya’ musical style and the spirit of Merdeka, Ushera hopes Malaysia Merdeka will inspire patriotism in every Malaysian who gives it a listen, especially among the younger generation. Fans can catch Ushera at her upcoming live shows for Semalam di Malaya at No Black Tie tomorrow a n d Saturday, as well as at Babo KL on Sept 16. For more, visit the Semalam di Malaya website.