Honouring sape tradition while pushing creative boundaries

BY IDA NADHIRAH

BE it the captivating energy of pop choruses or the soulful melodies of traditional folk sounds, music provides a window to the soul of every discerning listener.

Whether you’re headbanging to thrilling rock riffs or getting lost in the throbbing rhythms of electronic music, there’s a genre to suit the mood and evoke one’s emotions.

With so many styles to explore, the world of music becomes a personal journey of discovery, with each person discovering their own soundtrack to life.

For Norfazlina Mohd Fariz, a 28-year-old Sarawak Cultural Village musician from Kuching, it is about the sape musical instrument with which she has had a thing.

She began her musical journey with the sape when she was 21, captivated by the instrument’s unique sounds and set out on a journey that would lead her to become a rising star in Sarawak’s music scene.

“Many people are still confused about the origins of the musical instrument which can be traced back to the Orang Ulu.

“But nowadays, many races have already learned to play the sape musical instrument,” she told New Sarawak Tribune.

Norfazlina said historically, the sape was primarily played by men and that it was rare to then see a Sarawakian Malay woman play the sape.

The challenge she faced in learning to play this instrument was the constraint in memorising or remembering the melody in a song.

“My solution to this challenge is collaboration and self-discipline. It’s the way I solve this problem, to ask more people who are more expert in this instrument as well as self-training,” she said.

Her Inspiration In Sape Music

Norfazlina’s musical influences are a mosaic of Sarawak’s rich musical heritage.

Several mentors and influences fueled her interest in sape, among them being well-known sape players Jerry Kamit, Alena Murang and Anderson Kalang.

“Besides that, my Sarawak Cultural Village co-workers also gave me support and inspiration in my sape music career,” she said, adding this supportive network was critical to her growth as a musician.

Towards this end she credited the Tuku Kame’ a Sarawak Cultural Village music group with inspiring her works.

“After I worked in the Sarawak Cultural Village, I became more exposed to their songs,” she said.

This exposure has influenced her approach to making music that appeals to both traditional and contemporary audiences.

Her creative style is highly collaborative and centred on inquiry.

“Most of the time, I hunt for inspiration on the internet and listen to new sape songs with my colleagues. And this is where I find inspiration to write a song.”

This combination of internet tools and in-person engagement has helped her develop a distinct musical style, which she defines as contemporary.

Her devotion to expanding the sape’s place in contemporary music reflects a desire to honour tradition while pushing creative boundaries.

Her Career In Sape Music and Achievement

Norfazlina sees the sape as more than just an instrument; it’s a connection to her audience and a means of sharing Sarawakian culture.

“The sape enables me to forge connections with audiences, transcending linguistic barriers,” she said, emphasising the instrument’s cultural exchange prowess.

Her stage performances are a display of both cultural pride and musical skills of Sarawak.

“I often engage in cultural performances accompanied by traditional dances, where the sape’s melodies weave stories of our rich heritage,” she said.

It is all about the melody and the ability to convey emotions with each note,  said Norfazlina.

“The sape allows me to express myself uniquely in each performance.”

The love of sape music has resulted in amazing achievements with Norfazlina having performed at major events such as the Waterfront Kuching Jazz Festival 2018 with Tuku Kame’, the Sarawak International Festival of Music and Arts (SIFMA, 2021) and the Rainforest World Music Festival (2018, 2022 and 2023).

Her ability has also been recognised in the Borneo Music Festival 2022, the Borneo Sar x Indo Concert 2023, as well as the Sarawak State Symphony Orchestra’s 35^th anniversary in 2023.

She also has an impressive collection of awards, which include the National Level Poetry and Song Competition 2021 (First Place), Sarawak Got Talent 2021 (Second Place), MCOPA 2023 (Bronze Medal) and most recently, the highly sought title of “Sape Junior 2024 (Champion).

Looking Forward To The Future

Looking ahead, Norfazlina sees a future full with musical accomplishments.

“My goals include releasing sape music albums and collaborating with renowned musicians like Alena Murang and Anderson Kalang,” she said.

“I also aspire to elevate sape music onto the international stage to share our culture with a global audience.”

Her music continues to inspire a new generation of musicians and lovers, ensuring Sarawak’s cultural heritage lives on.