Published in Sunday People, New Sunday Times
30 August 2009
Looking digital
FOR the new breed of local film-makers such as Amir Muhammad and the late Yasmin Ahmad, Hardesh Singh is the go-to guy for music scoring.
The composer-technopreneur has worked on films such as Amir’s Lelaki Komunis Terakhir, Yasmin’s Gubra and Deepak Menon’s Chalanggai.
Hardesh recently founded Popfolio which includes the Popfolio.net social music network, the PopTopus widget, and web TV network PopTeeVee, which has been garnering a lot of attention in the online world.
Hardesh attributes the success of Popfolio to the contributions of all people, and sustained by teamwork and passion.
“Everyone attached to Popfolio Sdn Bhd is there purely on the value they contribute, both as an individual and as a team member,” says Hardesh.
“We have a fair mix of Malays, Chinese and Indians, not that it matters to me, but it does go to show that everyone can compete on even ground, and that intelligence and passion has nothing to do with race.”
A multi-talented musician who has studied Indian classical music under Ustad Ali Akbar Khan in San Francisco, Hardesh believes that long-term policies are needed to support the creative industries which are driving towards the digital economy.
“The music industry has seen significant shifts, and is basically divided into two camps. Those who believe the glory days are over and are trying to cut their losses, versus the upstarts who focus on the digital economy and have a keen eye for new opportunities.
“Compared to five years ago, local music content is now so much more viable and the few acts who have embraced the new economy have shown that they can actually create decent careers out of it.
“If the government is serious about generating local content to drive the multimedia sector, then we must start acknowledging our local artists and creatives as a major part of that ecosystem.
“It’s fine to have a focus on the technologies that enable the digital economy, but it is worthless if there is no content to monetise.
“There are various content development grants, but what is lacking is a long term mechanism to develop and track the contribution the creative industries provide for our economy.”
So what does Merdeka and 1Malaysia mean to you?
“Merdeka is about acknowledging our past for what it is, and creating our future for what we want it to be. It is the next 50 years that really matter, not the past 50 years.
“I see no need to change the Malaysia that I know and love. She has many different layers, and we celebrate that by ensuring every individual has the right to be the best that he or she can be.
“I hope that the government will acknowledge the immense talent we have in the music sector and develop the appropriate mechanisms to foster its growth.” — By MAX KOH
30 August 2009
Looking digital
FOR the new breed of local film-makers such as Amir Muhammad and the late Yasmin Ahmad, Hardesh Singh is the go-to guy for music scoring.
The composer-technopreneur has worked on films such as Amir’s Lelaki Komunis Terakhir, Yasmin’s Gubra and Deepak Menon’s Chalanggai.
Hardesh recently founded Popfolio which includes the Popfolio.net social music network, the PopTopus widget, and web TV network PopTeeVee, which has been garnering a lot of attention in the online world.
Hardesh attributes the success of Popfolio to the contributions of all people, and sustained by teamwork and passion.
“Everyone attached to Popfolio Sdn Bhd is there purely on the value they contribute, both as an individual and as a team member,” says Hardesh.
“We have a fair mix of Malays, Chinese and Indians, not that it matters to me, but it does go to show that everyone can compete on even ground, and that intelligence and passion has nothing to do with race.”
A multi-talented musician who has studied Indian classical music under Ustad Ali Akbar Khan in San Francisco, Hardesh believes that long-term policies are needed to support the creative industries which are driving towards the digital economy.
“The music industry has seen significant shifts, and is basically divided into two camps. Those who believe the glory days are over and are trying to cut their losses, versus the upstarts who focus on the digital economy and have a keen eye for new opportunities.
“Compared to five years ago, local music content is now so much more viable and the few acts who have embraced the new economy have shown that they can actually create decent careers out of it.
“If the government is serious about generating local content to drive the multimedia sector, then we must start acknowledging our local artists and creatives as a major part of that ecosystem.
“It’s fine to have a focus on the technologies that enable the digital economy, but it is worthless if there is no content to monetise.
“There are various content development grants, but what is lacking is a long term mechanism to develop and track the contribution the creative industries provide for our economy.”
So what does Merdeka and 1Malaysia mean to you?
“Merdeka is about acknowledging our past for what it is, and creating our future for what we want it to be. It is the next 50 years that really matter, not the past 50 years.
“I see no need to change the Malaysia that I know and love. She has many different layers, and we celebrate that by ensuring every individual has the right to be the best that he or she can be.
“I hope that the government will acknowledge the immense talent we have in the music sector and develop the appropriate mechanisms to foster its growth.” — By MAX KOH
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