Malaysian rapper Yunohoo is back and she’s serving up spiritual energy with a danceable beat that's guaranteed to chase away the blues and might just attract some serious good luck!
Her new single, 'Cicak', officially dropped today and it’s already sounding like the kind of track set to dominate playlists this Deepavali season.
Born Shamnkeri Pillai, the 35-year-old 'Stylish Tamilachi' has always been known for her fierce stage presence and bold lyricism. But with 'Cicak,' she’s revealing a lighter, cheekier side while keeping her signature message of empowerment intact.
Yunohoo said the song comes from a very personal place.
"I’ve always been fascinated by the idea of who we truly are and what we believe in. We all wrestle with a tug-of-war between dark and light thoughts, constantly having to lift ourselves up," she told Sinar Daily.
She credits her late Aachi (grandmother) for introducing her to spirituality, which helped her navigate personal hardships.
That resilience forms the soul of 'Cicak'; it’s a reminder to choose light over darkness, even when life feels messy.
"In a world full of conflicts, while we’re here safe and sound in Malaysia, I felt compelled to encourage people to raise their vibrations and not let the darkness win... 'Cicak' is about positivity, hope and the triumph of light over darkness," she added.
Brazilian Phonk Meets Yunohoo Flow
If that sounds deep, don’t worry, the track is anything but heavy. Teaming up with producer HighThash, Yunohoo cooked up something that’s equally introspective and infectious.
Think a Brazilian phonk groove layered beneath Yunohoo’s trademark flow; the kind of sound that gets your body moving before your brain can catch up.
"This one’s a bit cheeky, spontaneous and quite carefree compared to my earlier tracks. I just wanted a danceable beat and HighThash absolutely smashed it. It’s got that Brazilian phonk flavour; you’re definitely going to want to get up and dance," she raved.
Interestingly, 'Cicak' didn’t just emerge from studio magic; it’s inspired by Yunohoo’s childhood memories and her grandmother’s spiritual influence.
The title itself is a quirky metaphor. For many Indian households, the little geckos (cicaks) are seen as good omens.
"There’s this belief, when a cicak makes that ‘cho cho cho’ sound after someone says something, an elder will say, ‘Paaru palli eh sollethe,’ which means ‘that’s a universal sign.’
In my family, cicaks are seen as a good omen. So I thought, why not spread a bit of that positivity with this song?
The more you play it, the better luck you’ll have or at least that’s the theory," she shared playfully.
Though the song feels effortless, it took two years to perfect.
"I wrote the lyrics almost two years ago, recorded it about a year back, and here we are finally releasing it this year," she said.
While there’s no official music video this time around, Yunohoo’s making sure fans can still get their fix (and their dance on!) via social media.
"No music video this time, but I’ve got you covered on TikTok with the hook steps so you can dance along. Find me at @yunohoomusic on TikTok and Instagram,” she said.
With its hypnotic rhythm, playful lyrics and underlying message of good energy, 'Cicak' feels like the perfect soundtrack for the festive season; a vibrant reminder that even when life feels offbeat, the universe might just be sending you a little 'cho cho cho' sign!