KUALA LUMPUR - The song ‘Joget Budaya’, composed by the late Tan Sri Ahmad Nawab, was veteran singer Rozita Rohaizad’s opening song for her performance at the Mela One World Day Festival held at Union Terrace Garden in Aberdeen, Scotland, on Sept 7.
The 1970s classic drew special attention when it was performed with a joget dance demonstration by a member of a local group called The Melting Pot Collective Fusion Band, who had only learned the steps a day before the show.
"I taught him the joget steps, and he picked them up quickly. On the day of the performance, he managed to capture the audience’s attention,” Rozita said in a statement to Bernama.
She said the honour accorded to her at the festival provided an opportunity to introduce Malay songs to an international audience while also building friendships with foreign musicians.
The performance was especially memorable as Rozita was accompanied by seven Scottish musicians playing the flute, mandolin, violin, fiddle, darbuka, guitar and bodhran. They had only six hours of rehearsal time together before the show.
"I am grateful they were so open to learning Malay music and accompanied me flawlessly. The blend with their instruments created something different, but it was still captivating,” she said.
That evening, Rozita also performed two songs with Orkes Keroncong Asrama Sabah Malaysia, made up of students aged 13 to 17, at the festival.
She said the festival organisers invited her to perform again next year.
Rozita also credited her friend, Mahani Mahmod, who not only handled her makeup and styling but also joined her as a backing vocalist.
In July, Rozita had the opportunity to share the stage with Indonesian jazz icon Mus Mujiono at the Solo Keroncong Festival 2025 in Indonesia, which received an enthusiastic response from both the audience and local media.
On another note, Rozita is currently promoting her English single ‘A Beautiful Life’, composed by Kyoji Sky (real name Roslan Ismail) and the lyrics written by her.
"The song was actually composed 10 years ago, but at the time I didn’t feel confident enough to release it. Now, I am remixing and remastering it, and God willing, it will be launched next month in a new version. With that, I can also apply to become a member of MACP (Music Authors Copyright Protection Bhd).” - BERNAMA