Alena Murang Explained

Alena Murang
Native Name:Malay: Lipang[1]
Birth Name:Alena Ose’ Murang[2]
Birth Place:Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
Years Active:2016–present
Education:University of Manchester (BSc)
Module:
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Background:solo_singer

Alena Murang (born 1989) is a Malaysian singer-songwriter, sape player, visual artist and educator who sings in endangered languages including Kelabit and Kenyah.[3] [4] She is one of the first women to play the sape, a lute instrument from Borneo traditionally (pre-1930s) reserved for male healers.[3]

Early life and background

Murang is born and bred in Kuching, Sarawak to Kelabit father, Datu Ose Murang and mother of English and Italian descent, Dr. Valerie Mashman.[4] [5] She started playing the sape at the age of 10, from renowned sape master Matthew Ngau Jau.[5] She graduated with a First Class BSc (Hons) management degree from the Manchester Business School, University of Manchester. She went on to work in management consulting at PricewaterhouseCoopers, focusing on environmental sustainability, before leaving to study visual arts for a year in Singapore.[6] Prior to pursuing music full-time, she worked as strategy manager for not-for-profit organization, Teach for Malaysia.[6]

Career

Murang made her debut as an artiste in 2016 with the release of EP, Flight.[5] She never formally studied music, but has been learning the dance, songs, and music from her elders.[5] She has performed at many renowned world music festivals including the SXSW (USA), Colors of Ostrava (Czech Republic), Paris Fashion Week (France), Rudolstadt-Festival (Germany), OzAsia Festival (Australia), and Rainforest World Music Festival (Malaysia). She was a youth representative at the UNESCO Youth Forum in Paris, and UNESCO Asia-Pacific for her work in intangible cultural heritage.

She was listed in Tatler Asia's list of Most Influential Malaysia in 2021, and Gen.T Malaysia in 2018 & 2019.[5] In March 2023, she held her first painting exhibition Colours of the Highlands at the Hoan Gallery at La Promenade Mall, Kuching.[7]

Discography

Studio albums

Singles

Promotional singles
Collaboration
YearTitleArtist(s)Album
2024"War Cry"Marsha Milan and Velvet AdukSingle[9] [10]
"Bejugit Betanda Menari"Velvet AdukSingle[11]

Concerts, showcases and tours

Solo

As headliner

As supporting act

Filmography

Film and television
YearTitleRoleNotes
2019Small Island Big Song: An Oceanic SonglineHerself[22] A musical cinematographic project featuring over a hundred musicians across 16 island nations of the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
Iman Untuk BulanBulan[23] Television movie for Astro First.
2022Roads To Our HeritageKey cast and writer[24] [25] A six-part documentary journey of the companionship of Sabah rock band Estranged together with Alena Murang and Dr. Nadia Widyawati from Universiti Teknologi MARA music faculty discovering the heritage of traditional instrument across Sabah and Sarawak.

Awards and accolades

YearAwardCategoryNominated workResult
2020Buenos Aires Music Video FestivalBest International VideoMidang Midang[26]
Best Styling
2021UK's International Music Video AwardsBest Asia & Pacific Music VideoWarrior Spirit[27]
Best CostumeHonorable Mention
Los Angeles Film AwardsSpecial Jury Award
Rome International Movie AwardsBest Music Video
New York International Film AwardsBest Music Video
Best Ethnographic Film
Buenos Aires Music Video FestivalBest World Music Video[28]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: #Showbiz: Celebrating indigenous art and her roots . 2022-08-24 . New Straits Times. Tahir Alhamzah. 2022-08-23.
  2. Web site: Ep 22: Alena Murang (Sarawakian Sape Player, Visual Artist & Heritage Advocate). 2022-08-24 . So This Is Why. 2020-11-01.
  3. Web site: Artist Profiles: Alena Murang . 2022-08-24 . World Music Central. Angel Romero. 2022-05-24.
  4. Web site: Sarawak's mixed-race children struggle over 'native' identity . 2022-08-24 . Free Malaysia Today. Wong Pek Mei. 2022-01-05.
  5. Web site: Alena Murang. 2022-08-24 . Tatler Asia. 2022-01-05.
  6. Web site: In pursuit of the magical sape' . 2022-08-24 . The Borneo Post. Joash Kong. 2015-06-21.
  7. Web site: Alena Murang hopes 'Colours of the Highlands' well-received by art lovers. The Borneo Post . 23 July 2023. 16 March 2023. Matthew Umpang.
  8. Web site: Watch Alena Murang's uplifting music video for 'Many Tomorrows'. NME . 5 January 2024. 7 February 2022. A. Azim Idris.
  9. Web site: 'War Cry' song celebrates Malaysian Borneo's heritage. The Borneo Post . 24 September 2023. 16 September 2023.
  10. Web site: "WAR CRY is now available on all streaming platforms! Don't miss the music video premiere at 12PM today. This is brought to you by the Ministry of Communications and Digital via MyCreative Ventures. Thank you for supporting and building the creative industry through Dana Kandungan Digital.". Velvet Aduk's Instagram . 5 January 2024. 5 January 2024.
  11. Web site: #Showbiz: Alena Murang, Velvet Aduk release 'Bejugit Betanda Menari' in conjunction with Gawai celebrations. New Straits Times . 13 June 2024. 29 May 2024.
  12. Web site: Alena Murang's first solo sape concert is inspired by elements of the sky . The Star . 23 July 2023. 7 June 2023.
  13. Web site: Weekend for the arts: FreedomFilmFest returns, music from Borneo in downtown KL. The Star. 23 July 2023. 9 September 2020.
  14. Web site: Female sape player comes home to Rainforest World Music Festival . The Borneo Post. 23 July 2023. 23 July 2016.
  15. Web site: Alena Murang, At Adau, Nading Rhapsody, Mathew Ngau and more to perform at virtual Rainforest World Music Festival 2021 . Bandwagon. 23 July 2023. 15 June 2021. Terry Ng.
  16. Web site: Local icons Alena, Bamboo Woods to perform at RMWF 2022. The Borneo Post. 23 July 2023. 19 May 2022.
  17. Web site: Join local artists at the Roar for Life Virtual Concert to save Malayan tigers. Malay Mail. 23 July 2023. 25 August 2020. Arif Zikri.
  18. Web site: Sarawak Ulu Culture Will Hit The Big Stage At Taiwan World Music Festival . The Rakyat Post. 23 July 2023. 29 October 2021. Maya Suraya.
  19. Web site: Alena to perform at Te Aratini Festival in Dubai . The Borneo Post. 23 July 2023. 17 November 2021. Antonia Chiam.
  20. Web site: OH!Tenang with Alena Murang. Ticket2u. 12 March 2024. 13 January 2024.
  21. Web site: Tiket Konsert Estranged Apa Khabar Teman? murah. Suara Merdeka. 12 March 2024. 17 January 2024. HASNURUL MOHAMED.
  22. Web site: Small Island Big Song: An Oceanic Songline . IMDB . 28 August 2022.
  23. Web site: Iman Untuk Bulan . Movie Fone . 28 August 2022.
  24. Web site: Local band Estranged, Alena Murang explore traditional musical instruments in documentary . New Straits Times . 22 September 2022.
  25. Web site: ROADS TO OUR HERITAGE. Film Freeway . 22 September 2022.
  26. Web site: Alena Murang wins award at Buenos Aires Music Video Festival. 2022-08-24 . The Sun Daily. 2020-10-12.
  27. Web site: With her sape, Alena Murang will always find her way home. 2022-08-24 . Free Malaysia Today. Karmun Ng. 2021-09-01.
  28. Web site: Alena Murang's 'Warrior Spirit' bags award at Buenos Aires Music Video Festival 2021 . 2022-08-24 . Dayak Daily. 2021-12-17.

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