M. Nasir
- Nusantara
- R&B
- etnik kreatif
- Irama Malaysia
- pop tradisional
- Heavy Metal
Dato' Mohamad Nasir bin Mohamed (born 4 July 1957)[2] is a Malaysian poet, singer-songwriter, composer, producer, actor and film director also known as a Sifu in the Malaysian music industry.
Early life
M. Nasir was born on July 4, 1957, in Bukit Panjang, Singapore. He is the fourth of nine siblings. His father, Mohamed Sam, came from Pagoh, Muar in Johor and emigrated to Singapore. After Singapore was expelled from Malaysia in 1965, his family obtained Singaporean citizenship. After studying at the Boys Town Vocational Institute[3] he attended the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts and graduated with a diploma in Western painting in 1978.[4]
Career
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Konsert_Alam_Muzik_M._Nasir.jpg/220px-Konsert_Alam_Muzik_M._Nasir.jpg)
M. Nasir had been deeply exposed to music not only through listening to the radio but also through his elder brother who had brought him purchased records of bands such as Bob Dylan, Queen, Al Stewart and Led Zeppelin while they were growing up in Singapore in the 1960s and 1970s.[5]
He was roped into music making in 1978 when a friend of his Wan Ibrahim, then executive producer of PolyGram Singapore, invited him to write song lyrics for the band Alleycats, who were rising in popularity at that time.[4]
Nasir decided to venture into singing, releasing his debut album Untuk Pencinta Seni under the name of Mohamad MN in 1979, which ended up being a flop. He moved on to form the folk rock act Kembara in 1981 with A. Ali, S. Sahlan and siblings Abby and Eddie Ali. The Ali siblings however left the group in its infancy due to disagreements on picking the band's genre.[1]
Kembara released their own self-titled debut album, which became a commercial success with 25,000 copies sold.[4] The band went on to release six albums and before disbanding in late 1985.[1][6]
After Kembara disbanded, Nasir went solo again. In 1989, he released his second solo album, S.O.L.O under PMC/BMG.[6] This was his first solo album in 10 years since Untuk Pencinta Seni (1979) and the first to be registered under his present name. He went on record five more solo albums – namely Saudagar Mimpi (1992), Canggung Mendonan (1993), Srikandi Cintaku (1999), Phoenix Bangkit (2000) and Sang Pencinta (2006), all of which became commercial successes. Though Nasir announced that he will release an 8th studio album, it did not materialise.
He also dabbles in the art of painting, particularly abstract art. He has conducted several exhibitions on his canvas works; the first being Tanda in 2014 and Tanda II in 2015, both in Shah Alam.[7]
Personal life
Nasir moved with his family to Malaysia in 1984, where he became a naturalised citizen in 1989.[4]
He married Junainah Johari, who was the lead singer of Ideal Sisters, Singapore's earliest girl group on September 12, 1981.[8] Their relationship – from which they have five children namely Ilham, Yasin, Hidayat, Syafi'i and Nurnilam Sari – lasted until Junainah's death on 8 August 1998[9] due to asthma. Nasir's second marriage not long after was with actress Marlia Musa, and they both have a daughter named Suci Musalmah.[10][11][12]
His children are also involved in music making: Ilham, Yasin and Hidayat make up the band Pitahati while Syafi'i is a member of the psychedelic rock band Ramayan.[5]
His father, Mohamed Sam, died on 28 January 2021 due to natural causes at the age of 96. Nasir was unable to return to Singapore to attend his father's funeral due to COVID-19 restrictions.[13][14][15] This was followed by his mother, Aesah Yahya who died on 26 March 2023 at the age of 88.[16]
Partial discography
With Kembara
- Kembara (1981)
- Perjuangan (1982)
- Generasi Ku (1983)
- Seniman Jalanan (1984)
- 1404 Hijrah (1984)
- Duit (1985)
- Lagu-Lagu Dari Filem Kembara Seniman Jalanan (1986)
Solo albums
- Untuk Pencinta Seni (1979)
- Irama M. Nasir – instrumental LP (1982)
- S.O.L.O (1988)
- Saudagar Mimpi (1992)
- Canggung Mendonan (1993)
- Srikandi Cintaku (1999)
- Phoenix Bangkit (2001)
- Sang Pencinta (2006)
Duet album(s)
- Dia Ibuku – with Yunizar Hussein (1981)
Compilation albums
- Best Of Kembara (2001)
- Best of M. Nasir Dengan Kembara (2001)
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1986 | Kembara Seniman Jalanan | Bujang | Also as writer and composer |
Balik Kampung | Album Producer | ||
1990 | Fenomena | Azlan | |
1992 | Selubung | Kamal | |
1993 | Balada | Desa | |
1994 | Simfoni Duniaku | Iskandar | |
1996 | Merah | Hassan | Also as director and writer |
1999 | Perempuan Melayu Terakhir | Stage Actor | |
2001 | Putih | Prince Aftus | Voice only |
2004 | Puteri Gunung Ledang | Hang Tuah | |
2010 | Magika | Naga Tasik Chini (the Chini Lake Dragon) | |
2014 | Yasmine | Datuk Raja Nan Hitam | Brunei movie |
2017 | Tombiruo: Penunggu Rimba | Tan Sri Berham | |
2022 | Rajawali | Komang | |
2023 | Imam | Haji Mihad |
Television
Year | Title | Role | TV channel | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
2005 | Akademi Fantasia (season 3) | Himself (Principal) | Astro Ria | Reality TV show |
2017–2021 | Omar & Hana | Atuk | Astro Ceria | |
2020 | Sepahtu Reunion Live | Cameo | Astro Warna | Episode: "Cinta Si Tukang Kasut" |
Television series
Year | Title | Role | TV channel |
---|---|---|---|
2000 | Salam Taj Mahal | Master Ji | TV3 |
2018 | Dosa: Sacred Sin | Latif | Astro First Exclusive |
2023 | Special Force: Anarchy | Umar | Disney+ Hotstar |
Awards and achievements
Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) and recipient(s) | Results |
---|---|---|---|---|
1984 | Malaysia Film Festival | Best Song | "Sandarkan Kepada Kenangan" – from the movie Azura | Won[17] |
1990 | Malaysia Film Festival | Best Song | Istana Menanti | |
Best Original Film Score | Fenomena | |||
1994 | Anugerah Juara Lagu | Best Irama Malaysia Song | "Bonda" | Won |
Best Pop Rock Song | "Tanya Sama Itu Hudhud" | Won | ||
Best Performance | Won | |||
Overall Best Song of the Year | Won | |||
Malaysian Video Awards | Silver Award | "Mentera Semerah Padi" | Won | |
1995 | Anugerah Bintang Popular | Most Popular Artiste | Won | |
1997 | Anugerah Skrin TV3 | Best Film | Merah | Won |
2001 | Anugerah Planet Muzik | Popular Male Artiste | Won | |
Best Male Artiste | Won | |||
Best Album | Phoenix Bangkit | Won | ||
Anugerah Bintang Popular | Most Popular Male Singer | Won | ||
Anugerah Industri Muzik | Best Male Vocal Performance | Srikandi Cintaku | ||
Best Rock Album Producer | AKU – by Amy Search | |||
2002 | Anugerah Indusri Muzik | WIRAMA Award – honorary award for great contributions towards the Malaysian music Industry | Won | |
2012 | Angerah Juara Lagu | Best Song | Awan Nano – performed by Hafiz | Won |
Other honours
- 1994:
Awarded the Ahli Mangku Negara (A.M.N.) by the then-Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah ibni al-Marhum Sultan Hisamuddin Alam Shah.[18]
- 2001:
Awarded the Ahli Mahkota Pahang (A.M.P) by the Sultan of Pahang, Ahmad Shah.
- 2011:
Awarded the ‘Darjah Indera Mahkota Pahang’ by the Sultan of Pahang, which grants the title of "Dato'".
- 2014: conferred the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Creative Industries Management) by Universiti Utara Malaysia[19][3]
References
- ^ a b c Adly Syairi Ramly; Sheryl Stothard (November 2001). PHOENIX BANGKIT: BACK TO ROOTS?. TONE. pp. 46–49. Archived from the original on 7 August 2017. Retrieved 1 February 2017 – via Prahara Seni.
- ^ "M.Nasir". www.facebook.com. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
- ^ a b "M. Nasir terima ijazah kehormat doktor falsafah dari UUM" (in Malay). Astro Awani. 8 November 2014. Archived from the original on 23 April 2017. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
- ^ a b c d "M. Nasir: Traditional music meets Western sounds". The Straits Times. 4 June 2015. Archived from the original on 1 February 2017. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
- ^ a b "Wavelength: The Journeyman". BFM 89.9 (Interview). Interviewed by Ali Johan. BFM 89.9. 20 February 2016. Archived from the original on 8 March 2017. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
- ^ a b Nuvich, Alexandra; Burpee, Geoff (27 July 1996). "Nasir Raises Profile of Malaysian Music Biz". Billboard. pp. 1, 109.
- ^ Goh, Daryl (29 April 2015). "M. Nasir: He sings, he writes, now he's making art". The Star. Archived from the original on 9 August 2015. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
- ^ Eunos Asah (13 September 1981). "M. Nasir memilih Junainah untuk jadi teman hidup" (in Malay). Berita Minggu. p. 7. Archived from the original on 30 May 2019. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
- ^ Ku Seman Ku Hussein (13 August 1998). "Apabila irama terhenti seketika". Utusan Malaysia (in Malay). Archived from the original on 5 February 2017. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
- ^ "Marlia & M. Nasir hanya tunggu hari". Utusan Malaysia. 21 May 2000. Archived from the original on 21 February 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
- ^ Ku Seman Ku Hussein (13 August 1998). "Apabila irama terhenti seketika". Utusan Malaysia. Archived from the original on 5 February 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
- ^ "M. Nasir, Marlia Musa dapat anak perempuan". Berita Harian. 7 December 2001. Archived from the original on 13 May 2021. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
- ^ Georgie Joseph (28 January 2021). "Bapa M. Nasir meninggal dunia". Harian Metro. Archived from the original on 5 February 2021. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
- ^ "Ayah M. Nasir meninggal dunia". Berita Harian Singapura. 28 January 2021. Archived from the original on 29 January 2021. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
- ^ Mumtaj Begum (28 January 2021). "Singer M. Nasir's father passed away at 96 in Singapore". The Star Online. Archived from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
- ^ Farihad Shalla Mahmud (26 March 2023). "Ibu M. Nasir meninggal dunia". Berita Harian. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
- ^ Begum, Mumtaj (18 November 2011). "Mahawangsa triumphs". The Star. Archived from the original on 19 November 2011. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
- ^ "Semakan Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat". Archived from the original on 19 July 2019. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
- ^ Zaidi Mohamad (8 November 2014). "M. Nasir terima Ijazah Kehormat Doktor Falsafah" (in Malay). Berita Harian. Archived from the original on 17 May 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- M. Nasir & Luncai Emas Official Website
- Muzik Nusantara – Hamlau
- Musicmoz.org
- Prahara Seni
- M. Nasir at IMDb