Afgan Open To Collaborating With Siti Nurhaliza

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 8 (Bernama) -- Indonesian singer Afgan has expressed his openness to collaborating with Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza Tarudin, following their impromptu duet at the 2025 Pestapora Music Festival in Jakarta in September, which went viral on social media.

Afgan, 36, whose full name is Afgansyah Reza, said if the collaboration were to happen, careful consideration would be needed in selecting a song that truly suits both artistes.

“There is no plan yet, but for me, the song must carry real meaning and soul that fits both singers. It can’t just be any song. If a collaboration happens one day, I want it to be the perfect song,” he said at a press conference yesterday to announce the ‘Afgan Retrospektif Showcase’.

pic-2

A self-professed fan of Siti Nurhaliza, the ‘Jodoh Pasti Bertemu’ singer said their onstage moment at the festival was unplanned and happened spontaneously while he was watching her performance.

“I had just finished performing with Raisa. Then I saw on the schedule that Kak Siti was next, so I said, ‘Wow, I want to watch.’ Before that, I went backstage to greet her and wish her good luck.

“When I was watching from the front, she suddenly came towards me while singing ‘Bukan Cinta Biasa’ and said, ‘Afgan, we have a song with the same title. You wanna sing?’ I was surprised, but I went on stage and sang a bit. Luckily, I’d performed that song before in Penang, so I still remembered the lyrics,” he said.

pic-3

During her set, Siti Nurhaliza performed around 11 songs, including ‘Betapa Aku Cinta Padamu’, ‘Cindai’, ‘Purnama Merindu’ and ‘Wajah Kekasih’, drawing thunderous applause from the crowd.

Deeply impressed by her performance, Afgan praised the celebrated singer for her ability to beautifully blend traditional and pop elements.

Afgan, who is set to perform at the Afgan Retrospektif Showcase at Zepp Kuala Lumpur on Dec 5, said he will perform about 25 songs during the more than two-hour show, including new material from his latest album, ‘Retrospektif’.

pic-4

The special showcase will feature 10 new tracks from ‘Retrospektif’, along with a lineup of his biggest hits such as ‘Ku Dengannya Kau Dengan Dia’, ‘Terima Kasih Cinta’, ‘Untukmu Aku Bertahan’, ‘Panah Asmara’, ‘Knock Me Out’ and ‘Wajahmu Mengalihkan Duniaku’, all rearranged into fresh versions and medleys exclusively for his Malaysian fans.

“This showcase is very special because it will be my first time performing the new songs from my ‘Retrospektif’ album even before doing so in Indonesia.

“Malaysia will be the first place to experience these songs live. Every time I perform here, Malaysian fans are among the most energetic and supportive. That’s why I’m happy to make Malaysia the premiere location for this album,” he said.

Afgan added that Zepp Kuala Lumpur was chosen because the album’s concept differs from the large-scale concerts he has held previously, such as at Plenary Hall, KLCC here.

pic-5

“I wanted something less formal, more intimate. Usually, my concerts are grand with full production, including an orchestra. But for this album, I want a relaxed, jam-session vibe,” said the ‘Padamu Aku Bersujud’ singer, expressing gratitude for the overwhelming response to the ticket sales.

He added that the casual setting will allow him to interact closely with the audience and share the stories behind each song in a more laid-back atmosphere.

“The stage will be designed to feel like I’m jamming with friends in a living room. I want it to feel like home, and I think Zepp Kuala Lumpur is the perfect venue for that. I’ve never performed there before, so I’m really excited,” he said.

-- BERNAMA