KUALA LUMPUR: For the first time in history, Anugerah Juara Lagu 38 (AJL 38) is going to see artistes perform on three-level stages.
The annual music awards show's executive producer Shazreena Mohd Kassim and production manager Russell Mark Rodrigues revealed this at the show's rehearsal held at Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil today.
"The three-level stages do not have lifts, only stairs and this means the artistes have to climb them rather fast during their performances," said Shazreena.
"Nevertheless we have all the necessary security precautions in place for them," said Rodrigues.
Shazreena added that the production team was 90 per cent ready for their big day on Sunday.
"The stage is a bit bigger than usual, and the number of musicians in the orchestra has been trimmed a little from 60 to 50," she said.
For the first time, musician Genervie Kam will serve as the music director, having played assistant music director to Datuk Ramli MS for 20 years.
Rodrigues said: "The singers' stunts and gimmicks remain but we screen all of their ideas to make sure that these stunts are 100 per cent safe.
"For instance there will still be artistes harnessed to cables and lifted in the air but artistes hanging upside down are a 'no'."
Last year Naim Daniel performed on stage upside down.
While there will only be a single host for the show, Sherry Alhadad, there will still be co-hosts for the red carpet segment held between 8.30pm and 9pm, half an hour before the concert.
"Fizi Ali and Fiza Saad or Fiza Frizzy will handle the artistes' arrivals on the red carpet this year.
"However there will not be any backstage coverage by them unlike last year," said Shazreena.
Kam said that it was an honour to be AJL 38 music director, and her mentor Ramli had congratulated her on her appointment.
"Working with him all these years was my practice made perfect. He fully supports me and has confidence that I will do my best," she said.
The 12 songs competing in AJL 38 are Jangan Mati Rasa Itu performed, written and composed by Aina Abdul, Astana (Ernie Zakri/Omar K, Syamel Fodzly and Syazriq Azeman), Bintang (Hael Husaini), Sutera (Aisha Retno), Santai (Naqiu/Faizal Tahir), Inilah Jalan (Masdo/Noh Salleh), Darah (Marsha Milan Londoh/Naim Daniel and Firdaus Rahmat), Kalam (Shiha Zikir/Iqie Hugh, John Jeeves and Firdaus Rahmat), Hasrat (Amir Jahari), Kucuma (Wany Hasrita and Afieq Shazwan/A. Ramlee and Ezra Kong), Waktu (Ziana Zain and Hasif Upin/Iqie Hugh, John Jeeves and Firdaus Rahmat), and Selagi Ku Ada (Khai Bahar and Nabila Razali/Amylea Azizan).
The annual song competition will be broadcast live from the Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil at 9pm on TV3.
Since its inception in 1986, AJL has honoured the year's best songs, composers, lyricists and vocalists based on the weekly chart show Muzik Muzik.
