#SHOWBIZ: Marsha passionate about amplifying indigenous Borneo sound

New Straits Times

6 days ago

SHE may not have been the top winner of a reality talent show, but Marsha Milan Londoh has established herself as one of Borneo's pop queens of the 2000s and beyond.
While she excels in both singing and acting, and most recently tasted victory when her hit ballad 'Hening Rindu' topped the Anugerah Juara Lagu 39 in February, the Tamparuli-born beauty loves traditional Kadazan-Dusun popular music from her home state most.
HEART
For that reason, 40-year-old Marsha has just come up with a six-track album that pays tribute to the music that is close to her heart, titled 'Misompuru'.
At a recent listening session of the album, which also saw Marsha share the stage with some of her collaborators and perform all six songs, the Akademi Fantasia 3 graduate said: "Misompuru originates from the Kadazan-Dusun language word that means 'gathering'.
"This album is a love letter from me to my motherland, Borneo and it aims to be a work that will always be listened to by the people of Borneo, no matter where they are."
Marsha added: "It is inspired by the rhythms, styles and colours of indigenous music from Sabah, Labuan and Sarawak, also known as East Malaysia.
"And all of the songs in it feature elements of nostalgia, strength, resilience and longing for the homeland."
COMPLETED
Marsha began work on the album late last year and completed it around the same time as her participation in Anugerah Juara Lagu 39.
She said: "Misompuru has been my ticket to go to the international music stage, and rightly so, as I sang for Malaysia at the Round Asean-Korea Music Festival 2025, with artistes from around Southeast Asia in June.
"It was befittingly accompanied by my poster appearing on New York's Times Square billboard as part of the Equal campaign by Spotify in April."
SIX SONGS
Misompuru's six songs are 'Nalan Nalan' which features Sarawakian sape maestro Alena Murang, who also composed and wrote it; 'Lintah Darat' composed and written by Marsha's old friend from Akademi Fantasia 4 Velvet Aduk, who is the guest vocalist; and Pelangi Pasti, written and composed by Akademi Fantasia 9's Amir Jahari.
There is also 'Santai Saja', written by Marsha and composed by Velvet's husband and fellow Akademi Fantasia 4 graduate Rich Gimbang of Estranged; 'Hey Aramai Ti', a duet with Sabahan composer and lyricist Datuk Francis Landong; and 'Sumandak Sabah', Marsha's and Velvet's catchy collaboration which they co-wrote and co-composed.
USERS
Marsha said: "The track 'Lintah Darat' was the most challenging song for me, as it is a subtle critique of users which is meant to be entertaining yet educational.
"It's based on my real-life experiences, and that of Velvet's. I guess all of us have encountered such people in our lives, and they're people we must avoid at all costs."
Marsha said that 'Nalan Nalan' was the song that best reflected her, as it was about being on the move, a metaphor for one's life journey and progress.
"The song 'Nalan Nalan' precisely means a journey, and it's always a joy to have a duet with the magnificent sape, beautifully played by Alena, a world class musician of Borneo," she said.
EMOTIONAL
As for 'Pelangi Pasti', Marsha described it as the album's most emotional song, which often saw her shed tears while singing it.
"It's my first collaboration with Amir, who is one of Akademi Fantasia's and Borneo's most prolific composers and lyricists.
"It may have a rainbow in its title, but actually it contains a lot of sorrowful moments. After completing the entire song, I felt grateful for the many things, good and bad, which have happened in my life thus far."
DECEMBER
Marsha said that 'Nalan Nalan' and 'Lintah Darat' were the first two songs which she recorded, in November and December last year, while 'Santai Saja' was the last one.
Marsha describes 'Misompuru' as her stepping-stone to promote her passion for indigenous music, and in future she would love to record more indigenous music, not just in Kadazan-Dusun but also in other languages of Borneo.
KLANG VALLEY
She admitted that songs in native Borneo languages were not easily received by mainstream audiences in the heart of the Klang Valley.
"Nevertheless, Malaysians are fast becoming more open to diverse types of music.
"More and more Malaysians are beginning to appreciate music that is sung in languages other than English and Malay," she said.
HOPE
She hopes that 'Misompuru' will encourage more of Borneo's indigenous pop singers to "go mainstream" and put the Borneo sound on the world music map.
"This album is also my Kaamatan gift for fans and family. It combines both Malay and Kadazan-Dusun lyrics to make it accessible to Malaysians around the country."
POSTERS
While Misompuru's promotional posters speak of Marsha as the Queen of Borneo Music, she feels that there are many other iconic singers from Sarawak, Sabah and Labuan who are equally talented.
"The title Queen Of Borneo does sound rather flattering, honestly. If there are people who truly deserve this title, they would be Borneo's pioneering female singers such as beloved 1970s legends Uji Rashid and Anita Sarawak," she said.