There is a definite change in the Malaysian music scene now as more artistes are making a name for themselves independently without the help of music labels. These independent artistes are taking things into their own hands by writing the music, recording it, printing CDs and marketing their own product.

Notable bands like Seven Collar T-Shirt, Furniture and Love Me Butch have taken this road, while solo artistes like Shelley Leong and Azmyl Yunor have also delivered indie releases.

The latest to join the fray is 22-year-old Selangor-born lass Saer Ze (pronounced Saa-Zay).

Saer Ze: "The indie scene is becoming very challenging and competitive."

“There are a lot of opportunities now (for independent artistes) and there is more access to getting your music out. With the Internet, the indie scene is also becoming very challenging and competitive. It definitely pushed me to become better at my music,” said Saer Ze in an interview recently.

Saer Ze (real name Sarah Zainal) has just released her debut album, Shameless, which consists of 10 songs and the fashionista-looking singer describes her music as “electro-pop”. And if you wondering why the term ‘fashionista’, then just check out her album cover – she sports a pink Afro wig, pink tube top, jeans shorts, colourfully striped stockings, a pair of red and white laced heels and a sky blue sash with the album title on it.

“My sister, my friends and I came up with the idea for the album cover and I had the sash over me like a beauty queen but the words on it were Shameless instead. My sister helped me design the album cover,” said the petite singer/songwriter.

Saer Ze’s sister Yasmeen or better known as osixnine (oh-six-nine) and her have formed their own music label – Sassysupasta Records – which will concentrate on both their efforts.

“My sister raps so I may be doing something with her next year. Our record label is a private thing, just between my sister and me. We’re not looking for other artistes or anything like that to join our stable. We’re just doing our own thing.”

As for the album title, Saer Ze said it has to do with self-promotion.

“Well, being on your own, you’re the one who has to promote your own stuff, so people have said I’m shameless for promoting myself (laughs).”

Saer Ze began song writing just three years ago while she was studying recording arts at the School of Audio Engineering (SAE) in Subang Jaya. Her repertoire would culminate over the years and she ended up recording the entire album at Byron Bay, Australia last year where she was doing her practical. Shameless was completed with the help of her Belgian boyfriend, Ruben Debusschere, who served as co-producer of Shameless, and an inexhaustible list of musicians cum students.

As for Saer Ze’s biggest influence, she attests to local rap trio KRU and besides enjoying their music, she admires them for “the way they went against the flow” of popular music at the time. Now, Saer Ze digs Britney Spears, Jamiroquai, Madonna, Moloko, Morcheeba, Tracy Chapman and Sarah McLachlan among others. With such varied musical tastes, Saer Ze’s album showcases all the different types of music she listens to.

As a lyricist, Saer Ze has written one song in Japanese and one in Malay while the rest are in English. When asked why she used different languages for her lyrics, she replied: “I didn’t tell myself what language I could or could not use when I was writing. It just depended on the songs themselves and what was appropriate.”

The release of the album, however, took time as Saer Ze focused more on her studies before setting out with a music career. She graduated a few months ago and then proceeded to have the songs mixed and mastered locally before launching her album. When it comes to distributing the album, Saer Ze said, at the time of the interview, that the album would be available at Tower Records outlets nationwide.

Negotiations for nationwide distribution are being ironed out. Resourceful as a true blue indie act, she has also enlisted her family to help sell her album.

“I’m selling the album mostly by myself. My parents are helping me sell the CDs as well and so is my boyfriend who is selling it in Belgium.”

Of course, being an independent artiste does come with a price.

“It gets very stressful. It’s hard work and you have to set your own deadlines otherwise things just won’t get done.”

Well, Saer Ze’s hard work has paid off so far. Her first single Too Sexy made it to Hitz.fm’s English Top 10 charts and she has already decided what her next single will be – Room for 2, and she has a video prepared for that.

So for all budding artistes and musicians who thought taking the DIY route was not an option, think again. Saer Ze did more than think though, she just went ahead with it ... rather shamelessly.

Browse www.saerze.com for more details.

• 
• 
• 

• Plugged in, baby
• Hong Kong studio behind 'TMNT,' 'Astro Boy' shuts down
• Rapper Lil Wayne to be sentenced in NYC gun case
• Michael Jackson's doctor pleads not guilty
• 'Dear John' delivers No. 1 debut with $30.5M
• Kris Allen wows Malaysian fans
• Day of love