KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 13 — In the ever-evolving world of entertainment, few artistes manage to remain relevant beyond three decades.
For singer and versatile entertainer Sharizan Borhan, 51, his talent and passion have been the driving forces keeping him going strong.
Known as Malaysia’s ‘King of Swing’, Sharizan — who won the Best New Male Artiste award at the 1997 Anugerah Industri Muzik — has never truly stepped away from the spotlight.
“After more than 30 years, I’m still part of the industry. I’ve never disappeared, just shifted behind the scenes. Even so, singing will always be my first love. As long as there’s an opportunity, I’ll continue working,” he told Bernama recently.
Although he does not perform on stage much these days, Sharizan, who rose to fame with the song ‘I Am No King’, continues to do voice-over work, hosting and corporate performances.
“I’m an all-rounder. When it’s not the season for singing, I take on other jobs that are still within the industry. As artistes, we must be adaptable.
“The entertainment world changes fast… if you disappear for a while, people might forget you. That’s why I stay active. I also use social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram to stay connected with my fans,” said Sharizan, who has lent his voice to major brands such as KFC, Mercedes-Benz, Malaysia Airlines and Polident.
Sharizan still receives many invitations to sing and was even offered to join Gegar Vaganza, a popular music reality show produced by Astro. However, he turned it down due to time constraints and personal principles.
“Many people encouraged me to join Gegar Vaganza, but I just didn’t have the time. The show requires a lot of commitment, and since I work independently, taking a long break would affect my other projects.
“Not every artiste needs to enter competitions to stay relevant. For me, it’s more of TV marketing… I want to stay relevant through my own work,” he explained.
After more than a decade without releasing new songs, Sharizan is back with a fresh single titled ‘Setiap Detik’, part of the Inspirasi 2025 project, which is a collaboration with renowned composer and producer Helen Yap.
Produced by Magic Nova Productions with the support of MyCreative Ventures and the Ministry of Communications, the project also features an English version of the song titled ‘The Only One’.
“This song isn’t just about love, it’s about appreciating every moment in life. It’s an uplifting piece, and I hope listeners can feel its positive energy,” he added.
For Sharizan, both songs represent his unwavering spirit to remain relevant in an industry now filled with young, emerging talents.
“The competition today is healthy. I’m happy to see so many talented new artistes. As a veteran, I need to keep learning and find new ways to stay connected with listeners,” said Sharizan, who is also open to collaborating with younger composers. — Bernama
