KUALA LUMPUR – Having more than 45 years of experience as a singer and club performer has prompted Datuk Zainal Abidin Mohamed to set the “Sound Spirit Zainalabidin Concert: The Legacy of Sound” into motion, combining elements of musical entertainment and education.
The “edutainment” concert is aimed at students majoring in music – from public and private institutions and B40 backgrounds – who have the opportunity to watch it free of charge.
To that end, he is working with Universiti Teknologi Mara, Universiti Malaya, UCSI, the National Academy of Arts, and Limkokwing University.
Popularly known as Zainal Hijau, the 64-year-old said he had always wanted to hold an edutainment concert that focuses on talent, providing guidance, and sharing the beauty of music with students.
“I have done numerous charity work, but this would be the first to involve students. With my experience, I think I can share a lot with the students – even with the newcomers.
“I want to show them how to be involved in the industry, the don’ts, and the obstacles of not having a formal music education.
“This is so that they do not make the same mistakes I did. They must obtain formal education to reach success the right way.
“We do not have enough highly educated musicians in the field, (they instead) play according to their feelings. But we need something better to support the future of these music students.
“As such, the Sound Spirit concert is focused on learning, sharing, education, and passion,” he said during a recent event to announce the concert.
Zainal, alongside Sound Spirit’s management and production team, garnered sponsors to purchase tickets for the B40 students to ensure that they could tune in to the concert for free.
He added that the concert included students for the concert’s pre-production preparations.
“We included them because we want them to gain experience and knowledge on concert production work, and they will get a certificate (for their participation).
“It will also help them to write their assignment reports. The same applies to the students who get to watch the free concert.”
Zainal said the concert will be proof that music can bring about positive change while uniting people from diverse backgrounds in celebration of art and culture.
“It is not just a platform for learning, it can also be a foundation for establishing relationships in the music industry.
“By including talented individuals and focusing on underprivileged music students, I hope Sound Spirit can contribute to the next generation in music and art.”
He will also be accompanied by industry veterans, including Michael Veerappan, Steve Hassan Thornton, and Sunil Kumar.
Zainal is also set to perform three songs, while Michael will discuss music composition and arrangement.
Meanwhile, Thornton will talk about rhythms based on certain music styles or genres, and Sunil will focus on sound systems and lighting.
The concert will also feature performances by Mentor winner and Zainal’s protege, Pija Yasin, as well as One Juicy, who is a rising breakdancer and winner of the reality show The Band.
The concert will be held at Stage 1 of the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre, Sentul, here on January 20 next year.
It is organised by Zainal’s Afrozapin Network Sdn Bhd with the support of MyCreative Ventures and its official partner, CIMB Artober.
Those interested in watching can purchase tickets priced between RM110 and RM210 on CloudJoi.
More information is available at @soundspirit.zainalabidin on Facebook and Instagram. – December 11, 2023