KUALA LUMPUR: For more than three decades, Aubrey Suwito has been the name behind some of Malaysia's best music - writing, arranging and producing songs that became part of the soundtrack of Malaysian pop.
This month, the spotlight finally turned his way. The 60-year-old became the first local composer to be honoured with his own National Symphony Orchestra concert through “NSO with Aubrey Suwito: Pop Meets Symphony”, held at Panggung Sari, Istana Budaya, on Oct 2 and 3.
Sixteen of his compositions, including “Gemilang”, “Seribu Impian”, “Memori Tercipta”, “Gemuruh” and “Lebih Indah”, were reimagined with symphonic arrangements, giving familiar songs a new scale and sweep.
For Aubrey, being chosen still feels like a dream. “My first question was, ‘Is this for real?’” he told FMT.
What moved him most, he said, was not simply being feted as an individual, but seeing recognition extended to the people whose work so often happens away from the stage.
“I feel proud because it’s not only the people in front of the stage who are being celebrated, but also those behind the scenes,” he said.
“This honour is not just a celebration of my artistic journey, but also a symbol of appreciation for the many composers, arrangers and producers who have contributed to the industry without receiving much attention.”
Aubrey knows that world well. A recipient of 26 Anugerah Industri Muzik (AIM) awards, he has worked with artistes including Siti Nurhaliza, David Foster and Brian McKnight. His training at Berklee College of Music helped shape a career built as much on craft as instinct.
Preparing for the concert itself was no small undertaking. Aubrey said the symphonic arrangements took almost three months to complete, with each song requiring between four and six days of work.
To him, that level of discipline is simply part of being a musician. He likened it to a pilot accumulating thousands of flight hours: experience and constant practice, he said, are what sharpen instinct and confidence over time.
The concert also gave audiences something entirely new: “Jodoh”, Aubrey’s latest composition, performed publicly for the first time by Shiha Zikir.
Even after decades in pop, Aubrey remains curious about where music can take him next. He is now especially interested in exploring traditional sounds and finding ways for different musical worlds to meet.
“My hope is that pop, symphonic and traditional music will no longer be seen as separate, but will develop as one musical landscape that complements itself,” he said.
That spirit of openness shaped the production itself. Performance director Fairuz Tauhid, better known as Cikgu Fee, said working on the concert allowed him to discover a side of Aubrey he had previously known mainly through his compositions.
He described Aubrey as generous with ideas throughout rehearsals and discussions, despite his decades of experience.
“The biggest challenge was not producing a symphonic performance, but finding the balance between pop music, which is close to the public, and orchestral music, which is often seen as exclusive,” said Fairuz, who was working with the NSO for the first time.
For singers Syamel and Ernie Zakri, the concert was a fitting tribute to someone whose contribution to Malaysian music has long been heard, even if he has not always been seen.
Shiha felt much the same way. Being entrusted with “Jodoh”, she said, was more than simply another performance - it was a chance to work directly with a composer she had long admired.
“I really hoped I would get the chance to work with Aubrey because every song he creates has spirit and soul,” she said.