Kenyalang Portraits
By Wilfred Pilo
KUCHING, July 21: Composer of “Kamek Sayang Sarawak” Galvin Patrick is a very proud Sarawakian because his song will be performed at the state-level Sarawak Day celebration in Bintulu tomorrow (July 22, 2019).
Hailing from Sri Aman, the 33-year-old Galvin who is of Iban and Chinese parentage told DayakDaily that the song was inspired by the late Pehin Sri Adenan Satem.
Gavin wrote the song six years ago for a patriotic song contest.
“But I didn’t win that patriotic song competition.
“However, last year, someone from a well-known local radio station in Kuching and Mukah MP Dato Hanifah Taib Alsree asked me to prepare a song for Lan Berambeh Anak Sarawak 2018 to be held at MITEC Kuala Lumpur. So I gave them this song and fortunately it got accepted. It was debuted at that gathering in Kuala Lumpur.
“This song is about the unity of Sarawak and it aims to create awareness especially among the youth to love Sarawak,” said Gavin.
The song was later chosen by Majlis Seni Sarawak to be the theme song for the Sarawak Day celebration in Bintulu. It will be performed by the Majlis Seni Sarawak choir and dancers during the ceremony.
Galvin said the song has two versions — the original version and a rap version — to suit different audiences.
“I am very proud and at the same time, grateful as I can help Sarawakians express their love for their birth place — the Land of the Kenyalang — through the singing of the song.”
Presently, Galvin is an independent music producer. He works with other hip hop groups and rock bands all over Malaysia in song collaborations and remixes, apart from producing instrumental beats for emcees and rappers.
Galvin won the Anugerah Carta Borneo Era FM Sarawak (Best Lyrics) in 2012 for the song ‘Harapan’ and bagged the Silver Award in VIMA (Voice of International Music Award) Malaysia in 2014 (Best Genre Bender) for the song ‘Lagu Ini Hanya Untukmu’.
Retired now from performing live, Gavin decided to continue his music career as a songwriter and is now with a Malaysian multinational music company, focussing on composing songs for other singers and performers.
Galvin is an associate member of Music Authors Copyright Protection Berhad or MACP. — DayakDaily
