New Song Sparks Discussion, Firdhaus Cries Until He Can't Sing

Malaysian Malay singer-songwriter Firdhaus makes his debut acting appearance in his latest single's MV, "Maybe This Is the Last Song I Write for You," playing the role of a delivery guy. Though he admits to lacking acting talent, this filming experience unexpectedly piqued his interest in acting. He candidly stated that if the opportunity arises, he is willing to take acting classes to systematically hone his skills.

The MV is personally directed by Malaysian director Tan Seng Kiat, who won Best Film and Best Cinematography in the Asian New Talent section at the Shanghai International Film Festival for the movie “Shuttle Life,” and has been a Golden Horse Awards nominee multiple times. The cast features seasoned Singaporean actress Chen Liping, joined by emerging Malaysian actress Moka in the roles of a mother and daughter.

During the press conference, Firdhaus said that he casually mentioned wanting to give acting a try and unexpectedly landed the role. He originally thought it would only involve a simple scene of standing outside a door delivering something, but to his surprise, he had to act opposite Liping-jie, leaving his inexperienced acting skills at a loss. He felt even more nervous when acting alongside the female lead. On watching the final cut, Firdhaus humorously remarked that he hoped he “didn't look too chubby on camera.”

Firdhaus revealed that "Maybe This Is the Last Song I Write for You" was the last track to be included on his new album, and was inspired by the true story of a friend. The original name was "Goodbye," but he felt it sounded too plain and decided to change it. He shared that he was deeply moved during a trip at the beginning of the year with a long-time friend, which inspired him to write this song.

This friend lost his mother at a young age and has mourned her in his own way over the years. During the trip, he bought a keychain at a souvenir shop engraved with his own birthday and the date of his mother’s passing. That night, under an exceptionally bright starlit sky, he was especially elated, simply because the twinkling stars represented his loved ones watching over him. This scene was deeply imprinted in Firdhaus' memory, and once back at the hotel, he turned these feelings into melody and lyrics.

He also confessed that the process of creating and recording this song was extremely agonizing. After its completion, he often found himself breaking down in tears and unable to sing whenever he attempted to perform it for several weeks. He later even became numb to the song and once discussed with his boss, Luo Yishi, whether to scrap it from the album. Not until he spontaneously sang it for local staff while working in Taiwan and saw them moved to tears did he reconsider the significance of this song and ultimately decided to include it in the album.

Firdhaus also admitted that, for a somewhat selfish reason, he hopes that after watching the MV, his friend will feel that his mother would definitely be proud of him. When the media inquired about the friend’s gender, Firdhaus made a point to clarify that the friend is, in Chinese, the “he” with the “person radical.” When asked whether he would personally send the MV to his friend or let him find it online, he laughed and said, “Let’s just leave it to fate.”

"Maybe This Is the Last Song I Write for You" is now available on all major digital platforms. The MV will officially premiere at 9pm on the 17th on Firdhaus' official YouTube channel.