1. 110 ELLE.MY
E
lla arrives at the shoot with a smile on her face, obviously
in her element at the retro-themed Mr Brooks bar in
Bangsar. While known as the Malaysian Queen of Rock,
she’s one of the least diva-ish rock stars you’ll meet.
Norzila binti Haji Aminuddin, or Ella as we know her,
made it big in the local rock scene back in the ’80s after
she was discovered singing in the band Ella and the Boys. She
later went on to sell the highest-grossing EP by a female artist
in Malaysia when her album Ella USA sold over 300,000 copies.
The petite rock star has been busy collaborating with the likes
of acclaimed local musicians Datuk M. Nasir and Sam Bunkface
on her highly anticipated album (due out this month). The album
is a more mellow take on her music. “It’s all about the quality of
the music, the lyrics, the meanings behind the songs,” she says.
MUSIC MAKERSMalaysia’s music scene is a thriving soundscape. We speak to
a legendary hitmaker, freshly minted songstresses, a musical
maven and a raucous band. Photography by Kim Mun. Styling
by Andrea Wong. By Samantha Joseph and Noor Amylia Hilda
When asked about how she has evolved since her heyday, she
says, “When you get older, you get wiser, you start to see things
differently. You’ll know what to focus on and what to ignore.”
She adds that she’s thankful for the opportunities that have come
her way, “I thank God as I’ve always had loyal fans, and even in
the digital age we live in now, I still have new fans, so I’m really
happy with the way things are.”
Obviously, Ella is still as passionate about music as ever, but
music isn’t the only thing on her plate; she’s recently launched
a line of health and beauty products called Lameya.
Does she have any fashion advice? “Not really, I’m always
willing to be a fashion victim, I know the trend doesn’t suit me
but I’ll still wear it just for the sake of it!” she laughs. We disagree.
She looks more like a trailblazer from where we’re standing.
Ella wears: Jacket,
Mulberry. Shirt, Michael
Kors. Trousers, H&M.
Shoes, Ella’s own
THE ROCK LEGEND
ELLA, 48
ELLE. MY 111
PEOPLEFEATURE
D
asha Logan is a busy girl. Perched on the makeshift hair
and make-up area we’ve fashioned out of a table at the
back of Pisco Bar for the day’s shoot, she lets us in on
what she’s been up to since her self-penned song and
surprise hit Cleverly claimed the No. 1 spot on the UK
Soul Chart late last year.
After this shoot she has a sound check at five; on Friday,
she has a gig at Calavera and on top of that she’s a regular at
No Black Tie, singing smoky jazz. That’s in between running back
and forth from KL to UK, recording music for her first album
(hopefully out this year, she says).
Dasha chatters about her work in London along to the buzz
of the hairdryer before talk turns to New York, upon which she
snaps her fingers and declares, “Once I get my visa, I’m there.”
You have to hand it to her: the girl knows what she wants.
The 27 year old proved it on her first trip to London, where
her passion for jazz led her to haunt Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club —
once the stage for Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone and Prince — for
two months, in the hopes that they would let her sing.
“They kept saying no because they didn’t know who I was
and if I was bad. They didn’t want to tarnish their reputation.
Finally on my last Wednesday there, they said they would give
me a shot.” That night, she jammed with Amy Winehouse’s
guitar man, Robin Banerjee.
Born into what can only be described as Malaysian music
royalty, with a singer grandmother, and her father and uncle both
members of the local legendary band Alleycats, Dasha is more
than comfortable talking about music as a way of life.
When asked what her music favourites are, she recites almost
automatically: John Mayer, John Legend, Amy Winehouse. Dasha
is clearly in her element and talks about singing the songs of
Winehouse and Janis Joplin, and discusses Jeff Buckley, the rock
singer who died of an accidental drowning in 1997 and is best
known for Hallelujah and Lover, You Should’ve Come Over.
Although she claims she sings other genres (“I sing a lot of
rock,” she insists), her first love is jazz. “Jazz is a bit more…
unforgiving,” she contemplates. “When people listen to you sing
jazz, they listen to every single note that you sing and how you
express the song. With jazz, even with a very soft voice, you have
to hit every note correctly and deliver the message of the song,
all eyes and all ears on you.” That would be something Dasha
should get used to from now on.
Dasha wears: Jacket, RM1,879,
Michael Kors. Top, RM499 and
skirt, RM499, both Michael
Michael Kors. Shoes and
accessories, Dasha’s own
“When people listen to you sing
jazz, you have to hit every note
and deliver the song’s message, all
eyes and all ears on you.”
THE RISING STAR
DASHA LOGAN, 27

2. 112 ELLE.MY
PEOPLEFEATURE
B
il Musa is a name to watch this year. The indie singer has
been signed under local singer turned international star
Yuna’s eponymous record label, Yuna Room Records.
But Bil, (short for Nabila) still hasn’t come to terms with
this fact. “It’s kinda amazing. It hasn’t really sunk in yet
— that Yuna is my boss.”
Although Bil is still in a dream state and pinching herself,
things have already been looking up for the 22 year old. After
making headlines at the Laneway Festival in Singapore earlier
this year, where she performed with fellow Malaysian band
Enterprise, Bil went on to launch her new EP in April, and there’s
no sign of her slowing down anytime soon.
Bil describes her sound as, “sort of an indie-folksy vibe with
a touch of electronic,” and adds that she owes her taste in music
to her parents. “I listened to a lot of oldies. I love ABBA, but my
mum says it’s embarrassing for someone my age to like that kind
of music,” she laughs.
When she’s not singing or writing music, you’ll find her
practicing languages. “When I was younger, I realised I could
pick up languages pretty quick. I took some time off to learn
intensive French and that’s why some of my songs are in French.”
The soft-spoken singer went on to add, as if still in disbelief
of her newfound fame, “you know, before this I never thought
about music as a career, but after Yuna’s manager approached
me, I gave it a long, hard think and thought why not?”
Listen to Bil’s Soundcloud stream at soundcloud.com/nabilahmusa
Bil wears: Jacket, shoes and
necklaces, Bil’s own. Dress,
RM949, Michael Kors. Belt,
stylist’s own. Rings, RM49.90
for set of three, H&M
“I haven’t come to terms with it.
It’s kinda amazing. It hasn’t
really sunk in yet — that
Yuna is my boss.”
THE INDIE INGÉNUE
BIL MUSA, 22
ELLE. MY 113
A
s you might expect from an actress and singer, Ida
Mariana is all about poise and charm. The former
lawyer found her true calling in theatre and went on to
obtain a master’s degree in theatre studies in Australia.
Ida, who recalls childhood memories of singing
into a hairbrush and being deeply engrossed with her
performance in front of the mirror, will be taking part in Pan
Production’s staging of Cabaret this month at KLPAC. “I will
be playing a Kit Kat girl in this one, and as I love a challenge,
I’m looking forward to the dance routines by the amazing
choreographer, Suhaili Michelline,” she says.
The ‘Jazzbird’ (as she’s known in local music circles) also
sings on the side, performing in various nightspots. But she’s
most well known for her role as Bayan in the acclaimed stage
Dress, Michael Kors.
Earrings, Ida’s own
musical production of Puteri Gunung Ledang. She describes
performing in theatre as a drug. “I fell in love with the rehearsal
process, searching for the character and digging for emotions and
the realities within you,” she adds. “I’ve learnt that acting isn’t
really acting, but about being real.”
Ida also has a surprising confession, “I’m obsessed with
essential oils,” she says as she pours a minty liquid on her hands.
“They’re so relaxing, and I love mixing my own scents.” The
mixing of things, in a way, sums up her career. “[Acting and
singing] exist at the same time. The need for one is equal to the
other. Perhaps that’s why musical theatre comes naturally to me.”
Catch Ida in Pan Productions’ Cabaret, May 6–15, Kuala Lumpur
Performing Arts Centre; klpac.org
THE THEATRE DARLING
IDA MARIANA, 40S

3. 114 ELLE.MY
I
t just happened,” says guitarist Melissa Wong of the band called
Crinkle Cut. “We were eating at Ninja Joe’s in Mid Valley and
we looked at the fries.” She laughs raucously and then adds,
“they closed down that Ninja Joe’s. It’s very sad.”
This irreverence bubbles throughout as we speak to the
band. Although keyboardist Grace Foo and Melissa Wong have
been playing together occasionally four years ago, the current
iteration of Crinkle Cut has only been around for two years.
“We all met at university. It started off with Grace asking
me for gigs. Sometimes I’d call Frances for help, so she’d sing
the main vocals. Then we thought we needed some percussion,
a beat. Ashley was the only percussionist we knew at the time,”
Melissa says. And so Crinkle Cut was born.
At first, the band attempted to create a buzz doing covers on
YouTube. Melissa admits they “got lazy” and didn’t post up often
enough to sustain a following. The band’s YouTube channel is
still up, but the girls are now focused on gigs, school and work.
THE ALL-GIRL BAND
CRINKLE CUT
Frances Thomas, 22, lead vocals; Melissa Wong, 22, guitarist; Grace Foo, 22, keyboardist; Ashley Choong, 24, percussionist
Electro-acoustic may just be a whole new genre, and how
the girls got there was a slow evolutionary process. “We played
acoustic stuff in the beginning, just acoustic [guitar], keyboard
and cajón [the drum],” explains Grace. “We decided to create a
sound that’s uniquely ours.” With the help of effect pedals, vocal
processors and iPad percussion apps, a new sound was born.
You can see the combination of these otherwise disparate
instruments in a performance of Pretty Boy that a fan uploaded
to YouTube. Ashley Choong is perched on the cajón, tapping
away at the screen of an iPad, every tap an electronic sound
that merges with the guitar, keyboard and lead singer Frances
Thomas’ raspy vocals. The end product is strangely captivating,
the sound effects of an arcade game let loose in a smoky club.
Crinkle Cut is working on their EP, which they aim to release
this year. In the meantime, they’ll be playing gigs at La Bodega.
Catch Crinkle Cut at La Bodega Bangsar, May 22 and 24
From left to right
Grace wears: Dress, RM149, sunglasses, and rings, RM49.90 for set of three, all H&M.
Belt, Michael Kors. Boots, stylist’s own. Melissa wears: Coat, Mulberry. Scarf (worn
around head), RM960 and boots, RM3,610, both Gucci. Dress and accessories,
Melissa’s own. Ashley wears: Dress, RM199, bangle, and ring, RM49.90 for set of three,
all H&M. Boots and necklace, Ashley’s own. Frances wears: Vest, RM199, jumpsuit,
RM99.90 and hat, RM79.90, all H&M. Shoes, Michael Kors. Jewellery, Frances’ own
ELLE. MY 115
PEOPLEFEATURE
HAIR:MESHSUBRA/A-SALOON.MAKE-UP:JOEYYAP;WANNING.STYLINGASSISTANT:FLORENCESONG.
SPECIALTHANKSTOPISCOBARANDMRBROOKSFORTHELOCATION
W
hen asked about her niche career choice, Jessica
Cho protests: “I didn’t want to be a musician
growing up. I wanted to be a doctor. My family
runs a fish ball noodle soup restaurant, and after
having to help out every day when I was young,
I wanted to do something else entirely.”
Hence the decision to become a doctor. Instead, she became
a composer and contemporary pianist, a path no less complex
than that of a surgeon. “I still help out on Sundays, though.”
In videos of her performances, Cho is a dynamo on the piano.
Sounds crash out with the intensity of her playing, the music
discordant, tense and mysterious, her whole being focused on
her instrument. Face to face, she’s quiet and soft-spoken, her
voice rising only when she talks about music.
Starting a little late with piano lessons at the age of eleven,
she went on to take the third prize at the 2011 Asian Composers
League Young Composers Competition at the age of 23, the
youngest composer there. Her winning composition, Five Little
Pieces for Piano premiered in Sheffield during her postgraduate
days, and was played in a Viennese music festival as well.
After completing a master’s degree in performing and
composing at the University of Sheffield, she came back
to Malaysia to a commission from the Malaysian Philharmonic
Orchestra (MPO). For the MPO, she composed a modern music
score for scenes from the film Merong Mahawangsa — her first
time creating music for a complete orchestra. This month,
Cho will be heading to Kyoto to perform at the International
Contemporary Music Festival.
Lamenting the little exposure that contemporary classical
music is given, she’s nonetheless set in her musical path.
“When it comes to contemporary music, you feel lonely because
no one understands. But when you hear the outcome of the whole
music when it’s played, it’s like hearing your mind projected
out. You feel so…” Here she flaps her hands and says “ahh”
softly. She grins. “And you feel even happier when people clap.
You know they appreciate it.” 
Sweater, RM4,790,
Mulberry. Pants and
watch, Jessica’s own.
Necklace, stylist’s own
“You feel lonely because
no one understands
classical music. ”
THE CLASSICAL PIANIST
JESSICA CHO, 27