MALAYSIANS first got to know a petite Bajau girl with a powerful, soulful voice back in the second season of 8TV reality talent show 'One In A Million Season 2' in 2008.
Hailing from Kampung Ketiau in Putatan, Sabah, she was 19-year-old Norayu "Ayu" Damit, who consistently wowed the show's strict judges Datuk Syafinaz Selamat and Paul Moss in every weekly concert.
Ayu emerged the winner, taking home RM1 million which she has wisely invested in her singing career.
BACK IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Sixteen years later, Ayu -- now a mother of four -- is back in the spotlight, particularly after she finished third in Astro reality talent show 'Gegar Vaganza' in 2020.
The 34-year-old Sabahan vocal powerhouse whose best known song is her first hit single 'Hanya Di Mercu' is currently pursuing a Performing Arts (Vocals) degree at the National Arts, Culture and Heritage Academy (Aswara) and is expected to graduate next year.
INSPIRED BY SYAFINAZ
"After I became a mother for the fourth time, I chose to take time off but I'll resume my studies later this year, and it will be my third and final year of study," said Ayu in a recent interview.
Ayu enrolled in Aswara in 2021, and was inspired by Syafinaz who is a well-known music lecturer.
"Some of my contemporaries did further their studies in performing arts, and successfully graduated.
"It is never too late to further your studies in what you like most, and in fact it makes you an educated entertainer who is bankable," said Ayu, who has attended weekly classes at Aswara in Jalan Tun Ismail, Kuala Lumpur and also participated in online classes during the Movement Control Order (MCO) from 2021 to 2022.
"It is not an easy course, but it is fun as the performing arts is my passion."
RIGHT PLATFORM
Ayu chose to join 'Gegar Vaganza' as it was "just the right platform" for artistes to stay relevant in the music industry.
"The music industry is always changing, with new faces emerging every day. In order to stay in the limelight, 'Gegar Vaganza' is the right stage."
She added that the show exposed her to new musical arrangements and new musicians, and introduced her to the new generation of music lovers.
"It has taught me how to go beyond my comfort zone. It has helped make my vocals sound better by having me master new and better singing techniques based on the constructive criticism of the judges.
"The most valuable lesson I have learnt from this show is to never stop improving and always learn new things in music."
SECOND HAT
Ayu is getting used to a new 'hat' these days -- that of a songwriter and composer.
Late last year, she co-wrote and co-composed 'Kejam' with Khairul Daniel, as well as lyricists Slen and Jay. Her newest single is getting good airplay in all major radio stations.
"'Kejam' is my first experiment in songwriting and composing. I plan to increase my self-penned and self-composed works slowly, and one day I hope to come up with an album where the majority of my songs are my own creations," she said.
'Kejam', which took two years to complete, tells the story of unfaithfulness in a relationship, but on a deeper level, it tells how she has overcome hiccups to emerge stronger and wiser.
"Khairul, Slen and Jay have guided me well. I would love to work with them again later. As for 'Gegar Vaganza', my participation in it has led to more singing engagements around the Klang Valley," said Ayu whose first major music award was Best Vocals in Anugerah Industri Muzik (AIM) 2008.
SOLO CONCERT
Ayu would love to have her very own solo concert, but she is in no hurry as she is still new in the music industry.
But Ayu has not only performed in Malaysia but overseas too.
"A year after winning 'One In A Million 2', I performed in Indonesia and won an award there.
"In the years to come, I hope to entertain fans in Singapore, Brunei and even the United Kingdom and the United States."
HULU LANGAT FARM
Ayu and her husband, Syed Fauzi Syed Baharuddin, are the proud owners of a 1.6-hectare chilli farm located in Pangsun, Hulu Langat, Selangor.
"We started this farm in 2016 and business has been great. We decided to plant chillis as this vegetable is a favourite of Malaysians. But we also plant long beans and cucumbers," said Ayu.
Besides singing and farming, Ayu also excels in making cakes.
"If I didn't become a successful singer, I would have opened my very own cake shop. It is great to wear more than one hat, that of an entertainer and entrepreneur, an enter-preneur!"
