Selamat Ulang Tahun by Nadin Amizah

By: Muhammad Hanif bin Adzmir, Malaysia

Nadin Amizah's debut album, Selamat Ulang Tahun (Happy Birthday), washes over you like the scent of a fresh soft blanket, the lingering warmth of a childhood day well-spent echoing through her music. Delicate strings and piano keys provide the perfect backdrop to the echoes of joy of a peaceful Southeast Asian village. Yet, Nadin's vocals become the heart of the album, painting vivid portraits of the experiences, characters, and people that have shaped her worldview in this beautiful coming-of-age record.

Among the album’s first tracks, “Intro,” “Paman Tua (Old Uncle),” and “Kereta Ini Melaju Terlalu Cepat” (This Train is Running Too Fast) set the scene. Like entries from a personal diary, Nadin transforms seemingly mundane observations into poignant reflections on the passage of time. In the fifth track, "Beranjak Dewasa" (Getting Older), Nadin's repeated refrain of "pada akhirnya" (in the end) initially evokes ambivalence and uncertainty as she contemplates closing the door on childhood. However, the song takes a triumphant turn as she concludes with "pada akhirnya ini semua / hanyalah permulaan" (at the end, all of this / is just the beginning), transforming it into a celebration of new beginnings and a powerful embrace of the journey ahead.

Selamat Ulang Tahun then shifts inward as Nadin delves into the love for her mother, the bittersweet pang of lost opportunities, and the complexities of past romances. The album concludes with a triumphant rework of her previously released single, “Sorak Sorai” (Cheer). This time, a chorus of children joins her, transforming her coming-of-age story into a celebration of resilience and a hopeful embrace of the future.

The album cover for Selamat Ulang Tahun, released under Sorai.