By : HIZREEN KAMAL
Bukhari (left) with Fazliniza.
A new reality show, Akademi Nasyid, will come on air next month over TV9. HIZREEN KAMAL finds out what it entails.
WITH reality programmes still popular with television viewers, TV9 is introducing a new show called Akademi Nasyid.
Chief operating officer Bukhari Che Muda said the station is constantly searching for interesting show concepts or ideas that will “delight and entertain” its audience.
While the other TV stations expand their efforts to find talents and musicians, TV9 is looking at nasyid, “primarily because nasyid is universal.”
“Akademi Nasyid will highlight the fact that nasyid is not limited to traditional music but is actually diverse, ranging from contemporary to poetic a capella.
“What is of greater importance is the message delivered through the lyrics which are creative, fresh and enlightening.”
For Bukhari, this is the main difference.
“Akademi Nasyid suits TV9’s image as a station that is more inclined towards Islamic programmes, all of which are chosen to instil cultural values in our viewers,” he added.
Bukhari is confident that there are many young and talented individuals or groups out there who are waiting for such a reality show.
He urged them to step forward and share their talents with the rest of the country.
“We are confident that this reality programme will receive encouraging response from our viewers. Through this show, we will be able to find new talents in what is known as ’contemporary musical nasyid’ based on religious and humanitarian values. By having this programme, we are also helping to promote popular nasyid music.”
Auditions will begin on Sunday and roadshows will be held a day before. They will be held at Primula Beach Resort Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu (Sunday); Selesa Hotel Johor Baru, Johor (May 11); Sri Pentas, Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya (May 18); Vistana Hotel, Kuantan, Pahang (May 25); Cinta Sayang Club, Sungai Petani, Kedah (May 31) and Mahkota Hotel, Malacca (June 8).
Akademi Nasyid is open to both solo and group acts (of not more than five members per group).
Contestants must be Malaysians aged 18 years old and above (but not more than 35).
Group entries must consist of members of the same gender. Participants must be amateurs and not signed any album contracts with any recording company.
For the auditions (and for the convenience of each contestant), the producers have prepared a list of songs to pick from. They are Intifada (Rabbani), Permata (Kopratasa), Al-Iktiraf (Raihan), Permaidani (Aris), Doa (Rahimah Rahim), Sesungguhnya (Raihan) and Berita Kepada Kawan (Akil Hayy).
On the jury panel during the audition sessions will be Yusof of Kopratasa, Rabbani, Raihan and Hijjaz as well as other popular artistes.
There will be three levels of auditions. The prize money and other prizes will be announced later.
On the format for the show, executive producer Fazliniza Zakaria said Akademi Nasyid, which will come on air on June 21, will run for 11 weeks.
It will have its weekly concerts every Saturday, to be beamed “live” from Sri Pentas 2, Shah Alam between 8.30pm and 10pm.
Elimination rounds will only be introduced from the second week onwards, with the finale scheduled on Aug 30.
Only four individuals/groups will make it to the finals.
As for the jury members, Fazliniza said there will be two permanent judges and a guest judge.
“We are also in the midst of finalising the themes to make the show more interesting. Among them are ‘Popular Nasyid Songs’, ’70s Nasyid Songs’, ‘Contemporary Nasyid’ and ‘A Capella’,” he said.
There will also be a weekly diary slot featuring each contestant.
In Akademi Nasyid, TV audiences will have the chance to vote for their favourite group or groups via SMS. These votes will account for 50 per cent of the judging votes, with the other half determined by the jury panel.
