Title: The Ethical Troubadour: Sustaining Socio-Cultural Critique through Musical and Transmedia Collaborations in Malaysia

 

Speaker: Mr. Azmyl Yunor (Seniro Lecturer, School of Film & Performing Arts, Sunway University)

 

Time: 4:30 - 6:00 pm

Venue: LG01, Hui Yeung Shing Building, Chung Chi Campus, CUHK

 

Delivered in English, all are welcome

 

Synopsis:

As a singer-songwriter who started recording and performing in the music underground from a distance in the late 1990s - I was a student and a busker in remote Perth, Australia - I have come to learn that adaptation is an important element of sustaining not only one's creative practices but also important in keeping oneself relevant to your audiences, no matter how niche. As I adapted to various changes in the medium of how music is distributed and consumed (and never being signed to a label) - from cassette, to compact disc, to streaming - the musical artist now has a lot more work cut out for them: they also have to be engaging video makers and social media personalities which is the norm in our present global culture. As a non-commercial and independent artist, I have the freedom and agency to choose how to adapt, decide which medium works for me best, and whom I collaborate with. More importantly, I have to leverage on the best resources I have at my disposal - also as a parent, a husband, an artist-researcher, an academic, a writer and a video maker - in order to make it financially sustainable for me to keep on doing what I do. As a solo artist, I have never sought funding from corporations, sponsors, or even government grants since I started my journey in the late 90s. I will be sharing how the DIY punk ideology shaped my creative practices and ultimately argue that it is the best form of sustainability for both my wallet and my soul.