A SONG that is out of the ordinary, "Tera Tari" combines the unique cultural elements of Nusantara, and is performed as a first-ever collaboration by three versatile singers from Malaysia and Singapore.
The Asli song, which combines traditional melodies with modern pop showcases Sundanese and Javanese culture and is presented to music lovers by Malaysia's Bob Yusof and Singapore's rising stars Diana Nazyra and Dhwan Abu.
With powerful lyrics by Razzaq An'Arddzy and music by Diana and Omar K., "Tera Tari" promises to be a "feast for the ears" with a melodious sound that derives from the traditional dance of the Sundanese and Javanese people, "Jaipong Karawang", which depicts a man's life journey.
Dhwan said he had always been a fan of traditional music and he was moved by songs that had haunting melodies.
"Such melodies stir the soul. When I heard the sounds of the "Jaipong Karawang", I was mesmerised and magnetised.
"Seldom do we hear such enchanting music these days. I instantly became a 'believer' and wasted no time in recording the song," he said in a statement recently.
Bob, whose real name is Yusrizan Yusof said he, too, fell in love with the song's melody.
"Nusantara music is beautiful and puts you under its spell very fast. This song is a breath of fresh air. I love it because it is an uncommon, magical tune that has great potential to win the hearts of listeners in Malaysia and Singapore," he said.
Bob added that he was honoured to work with Dhwan and Diana, whom he described as a "complete package".
"Both of them have superb vocals, fresh ideas and great work ethic. We had a great time recording this majestic and beautiful song in the studio."
Bob said the biggest challenge in performing "Tera Tari" was "navigating the dance-like lyrics" from start to finish.
"The lyrics move in tandem with the percussive music, with a lot of unexpected twists and turns. We have to be like vocal acrobats at times.
"I'd consider this song a lyrical and musical adventure. It's always good to undergo a challenge like this once in a while," said Bob.
Diana said it was "quite a task" to sing a traditional Javanese and Sundanese tune that was fused with modern pop elements.
"Nevertheless, I am always ready for a good musical challenge, especially one that I have embarked on with two very talented musical collaborators," she said.
"'Tera Tari' is an innovative single that helps me grow vocally and takes my music to a higher level."
Bob, who is known for his powerful and soulful voice, was discovered in the second season of Astro's reality talent show "Akademi Fantasia Season 2" in 2004, where he finished in the top five.
From Limbang in Sarawak, he excels in Asli songs, such as his first single, "Cinta Seorang Teman", and "Hantaran Hati", which he performed with the late Asli singer Rosiah Chik.
Bob is also famous for serenading Malaysians with the National Day 2013 theme song, "Di Sini Lahirnya Sebuah Cinta", written by Ahmad Fedtri Yahya and composed by Sharon Paul.
He is also a talented actor, who has appeared in various dramas and films, such as "Hotel Mania", "Cinta Fotokopi" and "Cinta Kura-Kura".
In "Anugerah Juara Lagu 34" held in 2020, Bob performed the hit song "Anta Permana" as a duet with pop queen Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza, who originally sang it as a solo number.
He competed in the Astro reality talent show "Gegar Vaganza Season 9" in 2022 and finished second behind popular singer Jaclyn Victor.
Diana came up with her debut single, "Hawa", early this year as a moving tribute to her late grandmother.
She wrote and composed it with her husband, Abdul Razak Johar, as well as composer and lyricist Omar.
"Tera Tari" is available on all major music streaming and online platforms such as iTunes, Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Tidal and Deezer.
