From bells to beats: Carrie Geres’ Dayung Bidayuh gets 2026 remix makeover

KUCHING (Feb 21): Award-winning Padawan-born artist Carrie Geres has given her hit single Dayung Bidayuh a fresh twist with the release of Dayung Bidayuh (2026 Remix).

The track premiered yesterday at 6pm on YouTube and is now available on major streaming platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, and Tidal.

In a statement, Carrie said that while the song mentions Dayung Biperoh, referring to the Biatah subgroup in Padawan, it ultimately celebrates Bidayuh women as a whole.

“Dayung Bidayuh tells the story of Bidayuh women. While it mentions Dayung Biperoh, the song actually represents Bidayuh women from Padawan, Bau, Serian, Lundu, and even West Kalimantan, Indonesia,” she explained.

She added that the track carries a positive, empowering message for women, while its musical arrangement features darker undertones created by bell chimes and muted gongs, giving it a distinctive identity.

Originally released in 2015 after her debut single Tenggie Ku’, the song made history by winning the Anugerah Carta Lagu Bidayuh Wai FM (ACLB 2019) at Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) Kuching.

Written, composed, and produced by her brother Lester Geres, the track incorporates the Biperoh dialect, adapted with modern language and local slang from their family hometowns of Kampung Garung and Kampung Jambu.

Recording, mixing, and mastering were handled by Bernie Joel Geres at their home studio, Tsitra Music.

Lester said using the Bidayuh language promotes ethnic heritage while showing the community evolving with contemporary music trends.

“We know this dialect may not be pure Biatah or Biperoh, but this is how we speak now. The song reflects who we truly are,” he said, adding that the hip-hop and Rhythm and Blues (R&B) genre was chosen to connect to younger listeners.

The song was previously remixed in 2018 with an additional Bidayuh rap verse by Lester.

To mark its 10th anniversary last year, the production was fully restructured, retaining the original vocals and key elements such as bells and background instruments, while adding a more energetic drum line and bass arrangement.

For the 2026 version, Carrie has added a new English rap verse.

“I want to show that I can not only sing but also rap. Many people don’t know that side of me,” she said.

Alongside the audio release, the official music video for Dayung Bidayuh (2026 Remix), directed by Director GX, is now available on Carrie’s YouTube channel.

Some riverbank scenes near Kampung Annah Rais were filmed as early as 2018.

Carrie revealed that a large tree featured in the shots was later swept away in a major flood, adding meaning to the visuals.

“The video combines traditional, contemporary, couture, and streetwear fashion designed by MG Couture and HafizDressmaker, highlighting Bidayuh and other Dayak ethnic elements from Sarawak and Kalimantan,” she said.

The video also features Dashin Ngalong, one of the last Bidayuh Ring Ladies from Kampung Semban, alongside cameo appearances from local artistes Swaiv (Pearl & Rendall), Jasmine John, and Michael Gayut MG.

Filming took place over three phases across nine years: in 2018 at the river near Annah Rais, in 2023 at Carrie’s home in Kuching, and in early 2026 at Semadang and Kampung Garung. Locations were sponsored by Que River Retreat in Kampung Bunuk.

With its exotic locations, distinctive fashion, dance elements, and modern music rooted in ethnic identity, Dayung Bidayuh (2026 Remix) is poised to bring Bidayuh music to a wider audience.