A Fresh Take on Tradition

Anderson Kalang has launched his latest two singles — “Beautiful Pair” and “Dreamy Fog”. These tracks epitomise the fusion of traditional and modern styles with their unique arrangements, offering open interpretation to listeners.

Heritage melodies with a contemporary flair

Sape’ maestro Anderson Kalang’s recent releases — “Beautiful Pair” and “Dreamy Fog” — in conjunction with his birthday are a juxtaposition of traditional Sarawak and contemporary genres. His blend of both singles highlights his proficiency with the Orang Ulu musical instrument, the sape’, and his talent in composing music.

“Beautiful Pair” is an enchanting mix of melodies and introduces various tunes from beginning to end. With its jazzy melodies and climactic progression, the song takes a graceful note that encourages listeners to sway along.

Anderson revealed that he composed this single on January 9 of this year after learning about the meaning of a special someone’s name.

“The title ‘Beautiful Pair’ is a direct Chinese translation of her name. Over the years, she chose not to adopt an English name after learning the meaning of her original name.

“Her parents gave her this name because they knew they would have only two daughters, and she was the second and last child. They saw their two daughters as their ‘beautiful pair’,” added the Co-Founder of KL Sape’ Collective.

Anderson in his home studio.

Cover of ‘Beautiful Pair’.

Anderson in his home studio.

A story of life

The 43-year-old found the story intriguing during the meeting, saying, “I find this interesting and so relatable to our individual lives as well. So, ‘what’s in a name anyway’? The name given to us is just a way to identify us while we live among others. Our choices, how we perceive and react to outcomes — that’s where character comes in. It is all part of the journey we call ‘life’.”

Anderson further described life as both easygoing and dull at times. He noted that there are moments when life can become so challenging that it seems like there is no return. Yet, when we rise again, we experience joy and success or a few significant achievements that we value to the point of wanting to stay in the moment.

“We go through this cycle in our relationships, professional work, emotional state, and mindsets towards our purpose from the day we are born until the day we leave this world. We are constantly searching for our purpose in life but often forget to appreciate its origin and end, which is simply to live and die,” he said.

Reflecting on his inspiring words during the interview, Anderson, like any artist or painter, continues to create, discover, and explore his own interpretations and realisations along the journey he calls “life”.

“There are so many ‘colours’, rhythms, vibrations, frequencies, and even temperatures that we experience in our daily lives — from the moment we wake up to the sunrise until we close our eyes at night to rest. We often forget that all these magnificent colours and temperatures originated from just two colours — black and white. From these two colours, we see night and day, experience evil and good, feel cold and hot, and sense bitterness and joy.”

Anderson

Anderson in his home studio.

Anderson

His compositions

Exploring and blending various soundscape moods in his composition, Anderson revealed how he merged different temperatures and interpretations of many vibrations and transitions, encompassing the harmony of the entire song. He also explained that he did not include any lyrics because he wanted his listeners to have their own interpretation and understanding of the song during their journey of experiencing their feelings when listening to “Beautiful Pair”.

“One important element people may not realise after listening to this unique composition is the feeling and impression it leaves. Some may feel confused and out of place, but trust me, I intended that in this composition. It might be easy listening for some, while others may take time to ‘get it’.”

With hopes that his listeners will appreciate his latest release, Anderson also hoped that “Beautiful Pair” would be the song many turn to when reenacting their good moments with loved ones and appreciating new memories made.

“Beautiful Pair is a song that begins with drama and ends with peace. A song tailored to every specific detail of dimension I intend to transcend beyond the norm.”

Meanwhile, his second release, “Dreamy Fog”, is a composition completed two days after “Beautiful Pair”. The song is an infused rendition of the traditional tune “Ilun Jebut”.

The song “Dreamy Fog” takes a different turn, as the melody feels like an encouragement amidst tiresome days. Anderson said that the song aims to inspire futuristic traditional dance and stage drama performances, as well as various productions like short films, feature films, and movies.

“Though the original ‘Ilun Jebut’ was composed as a women’s dance, my version of ‘Dreamy Fog’ is a new futuristic arrangement to enable both men and women to dance to it. The music arrangements and flow of ‘Dreamy Fog’ are inspired by a community or an individual going through life’s struggles to achieve a victorious end.”

Both “Beautiful Pair” and “Dreamy Fog” are out now on every streaming platform, including YouTube, Spotify, and others. To follow his updates, visit his social media on Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram

“Beautiful Pair’ is a lovely new song with sweet inspiration and emotion translated through an instrumental piece. We always celebrate new compositions on sape’! Congrats, kanid!”

“I can imagine this track (‘Beautiful Pair’) on every TikTok reel, especially for adventures. It has such a great feel and a positive vibe. Definitely a great track to kick-start your day. I’ll definitely use it for my future reels.” — Vince Chong (Akademi Fantasia Grand Champion)

“Beautiful indeed, Brother! It starts somewhat suspensefully, transitioning into a melodic piece. The journey is definitely a whirlwind of emotions, one that yearns for a sense of belonging.” — Ash (Meruked)

“Great job, Anderson! I like the arrangement and melody. There are certain parts of the melody that bring back the flavours and vibes of the early ’80s and ’90s. Gosh, I miss my childhood days!” — Hezekiah Asim (Producer & Composer | International Sape’ Artiste)

“The debut of ‘Beautiful Pair’ embodies eclectic tones, sounds, and textures. Through Anderson’s mastery of the age-old sape’, it flaunts the soul and spirit, transporting listeners to paradise. The uniqueness of the sape’ fused with a rich contemporary ensemble introduces refreshing new textures, tones, and musicality. Truly a masterpiece.” — Patrick Leong (Anugerah Industri Muzik 2023)