#SHOWBIZ: AJL40: 8 out of 10 finalists created their own songs

Four decades after Anugerah Juara Lagu (AJL) commenced, a consistent aspect remains unchanged: the pursuit of the finest song. Among the 10 finalists chosen for AJL40 on August 15, eight had singers who penned the very compositions they performed. Ryenald Guntabid crafted "Lumangad Oku Dika," Aina Abdul penned "Kamu," and Aisha Retno co-composed "Tak Adil" with Radi, alongside writing its lyrics.

Amir Masdi shared composer and lyricist duties for "Nurcinta" with Edry Abdul Halim. Marsha Milan composed "Tangisan Seorang Pendosa," while Hazama penned lyrics for "Semacam Pandora" and co-composed the song, performing it himself. Kmy Kmo and Luca Sickta composed "Ke Mana Ni" and co-wrote the lyrics with Salam from Salammusik.

K.O.I's "Tiwikarma" saw the majority of its creators belonging to the group, with Hemo Globin co-composing the track with Zai Hamzah, and K.O.I members Achoi Floor 88, Khaza Raflex, Tuan Nicky, and Mya Nana contributing lyrics alongside Sapik Sam. Long before the phrase "singer-songwriter" became synonymous with moulding an artiste's identity, AJL had already witnessed champions who participated in both realms of creative work.

In 1994, Datuk M. Nasir made history with "Tanya Sama Itu Hud Hud" as the first AJL winner to compose the music, write the lyrics, and perform the song crowned champion. Seven years later, Yasin Sulaiman achieved the same feat with "Mimpi Laila" at AJL16. In 2007, Itu Kamu by Estranged included Rich Gimbang among its composers and lyricists.

A year later, Meet Uncle Hussain's "Lagu Untukmu" had Taja as one of its composers and writers, despite Taja not being the band's lead vocalist. Yuna secured the title with "Terukir Di Bintang" at AJL27, credited as the sole composer and lyricist; however, Aizat Amdan took over performing the song on the final night due to Yuna's prior commitment in the United States.

Recently, Aina Abdul won AJL37 with "Terus Hidup," a song she both composed and wrote. Amir Jahari replicated the feat a year later with "Hasrat" at AJL38. Today's artists seek a musical identity intertwined with their own, rather than merely having a recognisable voice. As most finalists in AJL40 are creatively involved in the songs they perform, it demonstrates how the concept of "singer" is evolving.

Contemporary artists don't wait for the perfect song to come to them; they seek it out or create it. Increasingly, they want to fashion the musical world they desire listeners to connect with them. For most AJL40 finalists, they are not merely bringing a song to the stage; they are presenting works incorporating their own songwriting, melodies, and identities.