SUBANG JAYA: “Who says you can’t play ‘Hotel California’ on a sape?”
That was the question posed by Musicians for Musicians (MfM) president Francis Danker as he called for the government, hotel industry and corporate companies to work together to create sustainable performance opportunities for local musicians.
Danker said five-star hotels could provide regular performance opportunities for Malaysian musicians while giving tourists a chance to experience the country through its music, food and culture.
His vision is for performance spaces where traditional instruments meet modern sounds – where the sape can accompany a jazz trio, traditional percussion can be woven into contemporary music and familiar Malaysian melodies given new life.
“We need to give these musicians a lifeline. We need to give them a place they can depend on,” said Danker, a famed drummer who has performed with bands including The Poor Boys, Electric Orgasm (later renamed Electric Organism) and Memories.
“The problem is not a lack of talent but a lack of opportunities.”
Danker was speaking at the launch of this year’s MfM benefit concert, Rocking for a Cause, at Kelab Golf Negara Subang on Oct 10.
He said the music industry needed solutions that provided musicians with sustainable employment rather than short-term assistance.
“When I was playing in the 1970s, Malaysia had a thriving live music scene, with Filipino, Indonesian and Singaporean bands working alongside musicians from as far afield as Jamaica,” he said.
“The reason was simple: there were more clubs and more bands.
“Today, many of those venues have disappeared, leaving musicians dependent on occasional gigs, sometimes with no guarantee of regular income or timely payment.”
Danker, who met Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil in January, said the government could help develop the framework and provide incentives, while hotels, tourism bodies and corporate sponsors could support a nationwide programme.
“I gave him some suggestions. The aim is not to exclude international performers, but to ensure that Malaysian musicians have a meaningful place in the country’s hospitality and tourism landscape. Tourists can experience Malaysian music alongside the country’s food and hospitality,” said Danker, who also made his mark in event management.
Danker says traditional instruments like the sape, could be combined with guitars, drums, keyboards, bass and other modern equipment.
At the heart of Danker’s proposal is fusion.
Traditional instruments such as the sape, a string instrument associated with the indigenous peoples of Sarawak, could be combined with guitars, drums, keyboards, bass and other modern equipment. The same approach could be applied to the rebana, sitar and other traditional instruments.
“Why can’t we play with the sape and combine it with the rebana?” Danker asked.
“The idea is not to preserve traditional music but to give musicians the freedom to reinterpret it.”
He said the result could be a distinctly Malaysian sound that respects tradition while appealing to contemporary audiences.
“We could offer tourists more than background entertainment – we could provide a window into Malaysia’s cultural identity.
“Music could also be presented alongside Malaysian cuisine, handicrafts and other cultural experiences, creating a more complete tourism proposition.”
Danker also suggested a nationwide programme bringing musicians from different backgrounds together through regional showcases and competitions leading to a national grand final.
The best performers could then be offered opportunities to work in participating five-star hotels around Malaysia.
He said this would help address the uncertainty faced by musicians who move from one gig to another, sometimes struggling to earn enough for basic living expenses.
It could also help retain young talent in Malaysia.
MfM’s role in supporting musicians facing illness, hardship and old age remains vital. But its larger challenge, said Danker, is to ensure today’s young musicians don’t face the same uncertainty tomorrow.
The proposal comes as MfM prepares for its annual benefit concert, which promises eight hours of live performances spanning jazz, contemporary, pop, retro and country.
Ten acts – Electric Orgasm, Datuk Francissca Peter, Goblokes, Heavy Machine, Datuk Leonard Tan, Lighthouse, Os Pombos, The Polymaths, The Studio 10 Experience and Royston Sta Maria – will perform from 4pm at Kelab Golf Negara Subang on Oct 10.
The event will be hosted by current and former radio announcers Radha Krishnan, Neubert Ambrose, Nigel Green and Simon D’Cruz.
Danker also revealed that 20 artists will be honoured with the Icon Award but declined to reveal their names.
“Let it be a surprise on the day.”
Tickets for ‘Rocking for a Cause’ are available on the Ticket2U website.
Image: Musicians for Musicians committee members pose with some of the acts performing on Oct 10.
