A talented mother-and-son team aims to help people overcome hardship and achieve their dreams through music.
‘Sulit’ – a single by singer-songwriter An Kayzee, 42, and her 19-year-old son Akid – promotes mental health awareness while inspiring listeners to fearlessly pursue their passions.
An Kayzee, or Adura Kamarul Zaman, and her son composed ‘Sulit’. The song is a snippet of An Kayzee’s life.
Hailing from Ampang, Selangor, An Kayzee shared that she was sent to live with her aunt in Taiping in the northern Malaysian state of Perak when she was 16, as her parents were posted abroad for work.
“Some of the students at the school I attended did not give me an easy time, and I ended up being a victim of bullies,” she said.
“I chose to release ‘Sulit’ on Aug 12, which not only is my birthday, but it’s a date that serves as a powerful reminder of a pivotal moment in my past.”
She said she received a rubber frog on her 17th birthday – a ‘present’ from a group of ‘friends’. It was to insinuate that her singing was subpar, after she failed to qualify for a talent competition in school.
“That basically helped fuel my determination to embrace my lifelong passion, and nurture my love for music.”
An Kayzee, who penned the lyrics to ‘Sulit’, is also a mental health advocate. She hopes the song can also help those suffering from depression.
“The pain is there but we must move past it. Singing, to me, is the best way of overcoming pain, including anxiety.”
The mother of four, who is also a professional trainer specialising in MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator) describes ‘Sulit’s’ genre as uplifting and inspiring.
“It’s meant to support and motivate listeners, as we want to spread positivity.”
While some may think releasing a single in her 40s is a bit late, An Kayzee said she chose to do so as she was inspired by award-winning actress Tan Sri Michelle Yeoh.
“Michelle had, at the 95th Oscars in March this year, said: ‘Ladies, don’t let anybody tell you you are ever past your prime’.”
“Her words resonated deeply and ignited a fire in me,” said An Kayzee, adding that she penned the lyrics to ‘Sulit’ in May, and recorded the song in July.
Meanwhile, her son, Akid or Zulkhaifie Akid Zulkifli, hopes ‘Sulit’ can touch the lives of others and remind them that they are not alone in their struggles.
“I hope the song will also help people overcome obstacles, regardless of their age and the stage of life, just like what my mum did,” said Akid, who is pursuing a degree in marketing.
With music arranged by Hadi Hassan, aka Hadi Carefree, and produced by Fat Cat Pro Sound Studio, ‘Sulit’ is available on all major digital platforms, including Spotify, and Apple Music. The official lyrics video can be viewed on YouTube.
