Bunga Isme plans musical transition, eyes new ventures

Having established herself as a rapper, Bunga Isme is now ready to explore a more mature musical approach, reflecting her age and the changes in her life.

Bunga, 26, whose real name is Noor Ayu Fatini Mohd Bakhari, said the evolution would involve not only melodies and musical arrangements but also lyrics with greater depth and more meaningful messages.

She said the transition was part of her personal growth, particularly after marrying composer and lyricist Amzar Sabri in October 2023.

“I can’t perform songs that are too energetic, with lots of jumping around. I have plans in place… something that suits my age.

“As we get older, the stories we tell through our songs must also evolve. In the past, my music was more light-hearted and cheerful, but now I want to create works with deeper messages that resonate with listeners who have grown alongside me,” she said.

Speaking to Bernama on the sidelines of the ‘Surprising Selangor: Let’s Glamping – Outdoor Media Gathering’, organised by Tourism Selangor in Hulu Langat recently, Bunga said the move is also aimed at keeping her music relevant and appealing to fans who have followed her journey from the beginning.

The artiste, who has attracted international media attention through a ‘New York Times’ feature and a video produced by Bloomberg, is also open to exploring opportunities beyond singing, including venturing into business.

The ‘Intan Payung’ singer is interested in launching her own baju kurung and cosmetics brands in the future. She also does not rule out taking on a behind-the-scenes role in the music industry, including managing her husband’s career.

“People often say that when female singers get married, their careers come to a halt. If things do not work out for me in music, perhaps there will be opportunities in business. Everything happens for a reason. Perhaps it is time to take stock and focus on opportunities elsewhere.

“However, I cannot leave music behind because it has been part of me since childhood. If the opportunity arises, I would like to support my husband’s career and help promote his work, perhaps even by becoming his manager,” she said.

On plans to start a family, Bunga, who is also an actress, said she and her husband are now ready to embrace parenthood after previously putting it on hold to focus on their respective careers.

The singer, known for wearing the traditional baju kurung during performances and appearing as a guest performer at Coldplay’s concert in Malaysia, had previously said that she and her husband would decide on having children within the next two to three years.

She added that she is not worried about motherhood affecting her music career as she believed that she can also seek opportunities in other fields. – BERNAMA