Found a friend in iTunes

by | Mar 22, 2004 | John Ong Living | 10 comments

Last Thursday, Bruce sent me a funny album by Mrs Miller, well, that’s a whole other story. But, through that, I found myself browsing on iTunes, which I rarely do. But today,  I found one of my favorite singers, Ning Baizura listed on iTunes. Ning is a Malaysian singer whom I enjoy since her first album. Being away from Malaysia for so long, trying to keep up with the music industry back in Malaysia could be a little challenging. I was excited to see Ning listed on iTunes. I didn’t buy her album. This is the reason why.

While I was browsing under the “World” section of iTunes, which is where I found Ning, I stumbled upon this Malay sounding album “Tekad Redha Tabah.” So I clicked on it. Listened to a couple of tracks, it really sounded great. I was going to check to see if this album is indeed Malaysian or Indonesian (the Malay language and Indonesian language are very similar). Looking up on the artiste’s name, Hazami, I thought it sounded familiar. After reading on more, I found out that he is indeed a Malaysian singer, and began to suspect that the Hazami could very well be a friend of mine from Malaysia. After listening to all the sample tracks, I love the album, and I bought it.

Hazami was my good friend Henry’s best friend. I was introduced to him through Henry when I was studying in Petaling Jaya. Hazami and I both love singing, and we would sing and chat on the phone for hours. He is fun, smart, and definitely a wonderful vocalist. His trademark was his high pitch singing ala Mariah Carey. (A few tracks on his album have those singing style, but only as backups, which I thought was wonderfully done. Really not many people know that’s him singing) However, we have never met in person. The last I heard about him was from Henry that Hazami was in engineering school in England. That was at least six years ago.

After a few more research online, and getting Hazami’s full name and a few chat sessions in some Malaysian chatrooms, I finally was convinced that the Hazami I know, is indeed this rapidly becoming very well known singer in Malaysia. Another factor confirming the fact that he is the one I know was his singing. He was nominated for the best new male artiste and the most popular male artiste in the Malaysian equivalent of the Grammy Awards. And he won the best new male artiste.  I try to get back in touch with him. I wrote an email to him, but haven’t heard from him yet. I hope he’ll be able to get my mail and finally get back in touch.

I am so proud of his success and would definitely love to share his success and reminiscing those days when we were just dreaming about our success being famous singers. And today, he has made it. I’m still a singer, famous only in the vicinity of a few miles. Nevertheless, enjoy every bit of the singing that I get to do.

Syabas Hazami! (Congratulations Hazami!)

p/s: Buy Hazami’s album if you like R&B. As far as I know he wrote most of the music and lyrics himself.

10 Comments

  1. David Coles

    Hi John. I’m sure that this is very old news, but I just saw your page after trying to check up on Hazami. It is the same guy. Did he reply to you ?? I met him first when he was in the Uk studying engineering…… shortly after he returned to Malaysia and another friend Tris agreed to manage and promote him. Now you will agree that he is not the most beautiful guy in the world, but did you see what the Malaysian press said about him ?? The voice of an angel and the face of a !!***%%% ! That is why the picture of him on the cd cover is out of focus. Poor him !
    I heard that he and Tris had split up and he’s now managed by someone else, but I’m going to KL for 6 weeks xmas/newyear so I’m going to try to catch up with him.
    Best David

  2. John Ong

    Hi David,

    I never did get in back in touch with Hazami. It’s either he’s too busy about writing, which is very likely. Or he might not know who I am. Or for whatever reason, I haven’t heard back from him. Don’t know if I ever will. But that’s totally okay.

    Through another singer, I managed to get closer in contact with Tris, to pass the message over to Hazami. But not sure whether Tris gets my message.

    But regardless. If he chooses too, I’d definitely would be happy to get back in touch with him.

    Plus, I think the press is cruel!!! Besides, he is a singer, not a model. But gosh, I don’t think he is that unpleasant to look at. Is it because I’m so normal looking myself? Oh well. 😀

    Just a suggestion, when you go to Malaysia, I’d look up his CDs, and try to see if there is an email address you can write to or contact a recording company.

    I’m going back to Malaysia this winter too. I’ll try to do the same.

  3. Lisa Lish

    Hi there. I was browsing thru the internet to find info about Hazami as I am currently collecting articles about him. I am Hazami’s friend by the way. I will definitely inform him about you guys yea. Hazami came back from the UK in 2001 and thats when I met him.

    Hazami just won 2 awards on 5th Feb during Anugerah Juara Lagu ke-20. He won Best Vocal performance and Best Pop rock Category. Do check for some photos at my fotopages. Do check ajl.com.my or google AJL 20 too.

    Hazami is no longer managed by Tris. Oh by the way, its his birthday tomorrow and he’ll be holding a party in Bangsar. Holla me back quick!

  4. John Ong

    Lisa Lish,

    Thanks for the comment. I’ve already written you a personal email.

  5. Izham

    Thanks god… at last i found smone who, hopefully, can get me in touch with Hazami. Lisa, if u r reading this, kindly please send me an e-mail, will ya?. pls.

    Regards,
    Izham

  6. Jesper

    I’ve been trying to get in touch with Hazami as well, lost his phone number after leaving Malaysia 4 years ago (lost my maxis sim card with his number on it.) He used to stay with me and my girlfriend in KL while recording his first songs in 2001. He was so sweet to put our names among the credits of his first album later on. I took his pictures for his portfolio at the time, had a lot of fun with him being quite shy and cute. Anuar Zein was coaching him and they did some gigs together. Tris was starting to manage his career at the time, Hazami had just returned from England when I met him. He’s one of the most lovely persons I have ever known and he definately taught me a lot about life and about pursuing your dreams. Listen to his songs and you’ll hear his experience expressed very vividly. Lisa if you can, please forward my hug to Hazami and tell him that I am so happy to see how far he has come with his dreams. And send him my birthday greetings as well (we happen to share the same birthday 😉 Tell him that he can get my phone number through Rose if he wants to reach me, or use my email. You and I have most likely met back in 2001 or later, but I’m not sure which Lisa you are! 😉
    Thanks!

  7. John Ong

    Wow, I certainly didn’t know that my blog post back in 2004 can be a place where friendships might be rekindled. Lisa has been very helpful with passing the message to Hazami. I will forward both your messages from Jesper and Izham to Lisa.
    Hope all of us would be able to get back in touch with Hazami.

  8. Lisa Lish

    Hey all!..

    Wow… thank God for internet! I will surely print this out and give it to him as I’ll be seeing him tomorrow for our next practise. He has a 1-hour show at RTM next week, singing 6 oldies – Elvis, Jackson 5, Bee Gees and the Beatles. Wish us luck!

    p/s : I’m so happy! You guys found him and he found you guys. 🙂

  9. Jesper

    Thank you so much Lisa! I hope to see both Hazami and yourself some day soon, I will try to find him next time I am in KL.
    Until then take care and thanks again for passing on my message! 🙂
    Jesper

  10. Jesper

    Oh and I forgot to thank you John for hosting such a great blog! 🙂
    Thanks! Jesper

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Ongline Podcast documents the life of a gay Malaysian-born Chinese American. Immerse yourself in the life of a not-so-typical individual. Expand your horizon by experiencing the topics, issues, stories, and simply, the life of a gay Asian man. Until now, the voice of a minority individual has not been this loud!

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