Balan Kash Inspires Pride In Malaysian Music

By Atira Khalisha Nor Adnan

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 22 (Bernama) — Local hip-hop artiste Balan Kash hopes more Malaysian musicians will develop their own unique identity in their work, instead of measuring their success against foreign artistes.

The 42-year-old said the identity crisis in Malaysia’s music industry stems from the public’s tendency to idolise foreign musicians, even though local talents have comparable ability and potential.

“We often set foreign artistes as the benchmark, but the truth is many Malaysian musicians produce strong, competitive work. What they need is space and support from the local ecosystem,” he told Bernama when met at RiuhxASEAN: Frequensea Music Conference at GMBB here.

Balan said the perception that local music is inferior to international products has long shaped the country’s listening culture, especially among young people who are more familiar with K-pop, American hip-hop, and international hits.

“Our youths can memorise songs by Blackpink or Bad Bunny, but they don’t know songs by Too Phat or Butterfingers. It’s not their fault, but a result of a system that doesn’t give Malaysian music equal exposure on mainstream platforms,” he said.

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The Cekap singer said mainstream media and digital platforms should play a more active role in strengthening local music by giving fair coverage and airplay to works in Malaysia’s rich array of languages — Malay, Mandarin, Tamil and English.

“In Thailand and Indonesia, most of the songs played on radio are local, but in Malaysia, we’re filled with foreign content. We have Malay, Tamil, Mandarin, and English stations, but they each operate in their own silo — when music could actually be a bridge. Why can’t English stations play Malay songs, or vice versa?” he asked.

The singer from Klang, Selangor, believes Malaysian music has the potential to become a regional powerhouse if identity is given renewed focus — through lyrics, sounds and narratives that reflect the realities of local life.

“We have great artistes like Yuna, Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza and Shila Amzah, but to go even further, we must first understand ourselves — our language, culture, and the stories we want to tell,” he said.

Balan also stressed that building a national musical identity is not just about language, but about recognising that every musician, regardless of race, contributes to shaping Malaysia’s musical landscape.

“I’m Indian, but I’m also Malaysian. It’s time we stop dividing music by race. We need to see ourselves as Malaysians creating art for the world,” he said.

Active in the local music scene for over a decade, Balan is known for bridging cultural divides through his versatile Tamil and English songs. He previously collaborated with renowned Indian composer Anirudh Ravichander on the song Hola Amigo, which has garnered over 2.3 million views on YouTube.

-- BERNAMA