It’s safe to say that the epidemic which began last year has thrown a wrench into many plans. However, it has also opened up as many doors as it has closed. For 21-year-old Malaysian singer Masya Masyitah, this certainly seems to be the case.
The singer recently released her first solo Chinese single and has been running a home-based cookie business. Surprisingly, the income she’s been making has been enough to buy a second house!
Masyitah explained she started her lucrative cookie business when the epidemic started. As with everyone else, the singer had gotten into baking and turned it into a business when she decided it was good enough to sell. Her business grew exponentially and her cookies sold out consistently. She stated that it was hard in the beginning, however she took everything as a learning experience.
During the online press conference held yesterday (28th June) for her single, her mentor Wang Bing Zhi (王㶧智) shared that Masyitah used to deliver the goods herself. “After the business grew, I told her that if she was too busy, I would ask someone to deliver it!” he stated. The singer shared that she bakes the cookies with her mother to ensure the quality and taste.
Her cookie business wasn’t the only avenue that boosted her income. Masyitah also did live broadcasts during the epidemic where she would sing and interact with fans. The singer shared that she initially had no intention of buying a second house as she had only bought her current apartment in 2019. The apartment in Puchong which cost RM300,000 was paid for in cash. However, after discussions with her family, the singer made the decision to buy a new house in Kajang. She stated the new house was for her family.
“My dad and three younger brothers are in Kulim,” Masyitah shared. “So we (live) separately from them. My current (apartment) is very small and would not be comfortable for everyone to live there.” The singer hopes to share her new living space with her whole family. When asked if she bought the house with cash again, the singer politely declined to answer, saying it was a private matter.
However, she added that she had taken a loan with the bank which contradicted her previous conviction of not taking a bank loan. Apparently, the singer disliked the idea of repaying the interest. Masyitah currently has no plans to invest in property, but has not ruled the idea out completely either.
The singer, although known for performing Malay songs, has always had a keen interest in Chinese songs. She performed for the 45th Malaysia-China Diplomatic Relations campaign in 2019. The singer was supposed to participate in the Chinese talent show “Sons of Tomorrow 3(明日之子 3)” in China that same year, however, she was forced to withdraw due to an image-sensitive issue with her headscarf.
That has not stopped Masyitah from hoping to expand her career in China. Although the past two years have made it hard for her, with the epidemic and failing to obtain a Chinese visa, the singer has not given up hope. Nonetheless, she has made a stepping stone with her latest single, “Jiu Meng Xin Su (旧梦新夙)”. Masyitah is excited to be able to release the song. “The melody of the song is very nice,” she said, “And the lyrics are interesting. It (was) challenging to sing.”
The song was tailor-made by Chinese singer-songwriter Zhao Kaiyi (赵锴羿). Masyitah admitted she struggled to understand the lyrics initially, however, her mentor helped explain it to her. The song only took an hour to record, which impressed her mentor Wang. “The speed at which she learns Chinese, and the pronunciation of her words, (amazes) me as a Chinese,” he stated. “Jiu Meng Xin Su (旧梦新夙)” is only her first Chinese single, there are apparently two more in the works that have yet to be recorded.
Masyitah may not have achieved her dream of going to China yet, however it doesn’t seem impossible for her. We hope she achieves it soon!
Check out her song here:
Sources: China Press, Xuan
