Malaysia’s soul queen, Atilia Haron, is back on the music scene with the release of her latest single “Rekah”, a song about finding light through imperfection. She also recently shared the stage with her mother, the legendary Salamiah Hassan, in a joint concert that, from our experience, was nothing short of spectacular.
We caught up with the artist during the launch of Fashionably Modest Asia at Pavilion Damansara Heights earlier this week, where we spoke about fashion, her latest single, and her upcoming album. Here’s how our conversation went:
First, let’s talk about the [Fashionably Modest Asia] event since we’re here. What does the word “Modest” mean to you?
For me, modest means being very sophisticated, very regal, and very divine — sophistication in its truest sense. Like a woman, a lady — a real lady. It’s totally different from how I usually am, you know? I’m a bit more… well, you know how I am [laughs]. Those who know me will know what I mean.
So, modesty to me is about being in control, but not in a restrictive way. It’s a kind of control that makes you look elegant, graceful, and very feminine. Something I still need to learn, honestly.
FMA is also a platform for young designers to showcase their skills and build their brands. As someone who has worked with designers and stylists throughout your career, what do you personally look for when collaborating with these creatives?
For me, it’s all about comfort — anything that makes me look and feel good. Sometimes you’ll see a beautifully designed outfit, but it doesn’t necessarily look good on you. That’s why I love working with people who truly understand what suits you and know which pieces best reflect not just your image as an artist, but also your personality.
Take Afiq M., for instance. He really knows his craft. I’ve known him for years, and he has this incredible ability to make women look stunning in his designs. They’re never over the top, simple, but with amazing material and flawless cutting.
Now let’s talk about your new single “Rekah”. What inspired you to write the song?
“Rekah” is about me reflecting on my life at this age — the things I’ve done, the things I haven’t accomplished, and why I’m different from everyone else. It’s me pondering questions like, “Why do people say it’s not good to be different? Why is being conventional or unconventional seen as wrong?” So, I needed to take a step back and really listen to myself.
I’ve come to accept that there’s nothing wrong with being different. It’s perfectly fine for someone like me to still be working and hustling at 51. And it’s okay not to have children — no one’s life is the same. Of course, it would be lovely to have the things or experiences that others do, but it’s not the end of the world if they never happen for me.
There are cracks, the “rekah” in life that I see as the glimmers that make my journey beautiful. There are things I’m good at and things I’m not — all humans are like that, right? We all have our good and bad sides, but I believe that’s what keeps us balanced. So, I may be different from you, but that doesn’t make me a bad person.
Was there a specific moment or experience that made you want to express these thoughts and emotions through “Rekah”?
Oh, it was mostly because of social media. A lot of times, people would say negative things about me, especially as a Malay singer who also teaches yoga. It’s not seen as conventional, but that’s exactly the message I want to share: it’s okay to be different. And, like I said, it’s through those cracks that you find glimmers of hope. It’s through those experiences that you grow stronger and become better.
You previously mentioned that you’re working on a new album. Is there anything about the record that you can share with us? The concept? The overall feel?
There are 10 tracks on the album. The vibe is still very Atilia. It’s adult contemporary, but now it feels more mature and a little darker. I’m going back to that old-school ’90s sound — jazz, R&B, feel-good city pop kind of stuff. I think that’s also the trend these days, with music starting to sound more nostalgic. Like Doja Cat’s latest record, it’s full of old-school inspiration, and I wanted to bring that into my new album as well.
Out of the 10 tracks on the upcoming record, why was “Rekah” chosen as a single?
First, I’d like to clarify that “Rekah” isn’t actually the first single off the album — that would be “Cinta Sampai Mati”. But since it was released quite a while ago, I can understand the confusion. I’m self-funding the record, which is why the release process has been taking some time.
Anyway, the reason I chose “Rekah” as the follow-up single is that people often say that I always make songs with Indonesian producers and writers. So, for this one, I wanted to work entirely with Malaysians. I’m also hoping that with this new track, I’ll be eligible to submit it for the Anugerah Industri Muzik, since one of the conditions is that the songs must be produced in Malaysia. So, we’ll see how it goes!
Listen to Atilia Haron’s latest single “Rekah” below:
