19YO Karipap Seller & Other Talented M'sians Make It To Next Round Of 'One In A Million'
From a 61-year-old retired teacher to university besties, these hopefuls are already leaving their mark on the competition.
By Gowri Chitra — 04 Nov 2024, 05:16 PM
ICYMI, popular local reality singing competition One In A Million is back!
First airing on 8TV back in 2006, the TV show aimed to discover the best young singer in the country through several auditions held nationwide, with the winner walking away with a whopping RM1 million!
One In A Million is responsible for launching the careers of well-loved Malaysian celebs like Faizal Tahir and Alif Satar, both of whom were part of the Final 3 in Season One.
Malaysian powerhouse singers like Dayang Nurfaizah and Shila Amzah were also among some of the contestants who have participated, as the show allows established singers to join as well.
The beloved show came to an end with its third season in 2009, but is now making a comeback, rebranded as Calpis Soda One In A Million, with Calpis Soda as the Executive Producer.
Auditions kicked off at Karnival Jom Heboh 2024 in Johor Bahru on 2-3 November
From 9am to 8pm on both days, hopeful Malaysians sang their hearts out in front of judges Sarah Ismail and AG Coco for the chance to be part of Calpis Soda One In A Million.
Sarah Ismail, affectionately known as Cikgu Sarah, is a Malaysian singer and vocal coach who got her start by participating in Season 3 of reality TV show My Starz LG in 2009, where she placed third.
Meanwhile, AG Coco is a Malaysian record producer, songwriter, and lead guitarist of the rock band Hujan, whose songwriting credits include Yuna's Terukir Di Bintang and Lelaki.
Here's a look at some of the amazingly talented Malaysians who made it through this first round of auditions for Calpis Soda One In A Million:
1. 43-year-old Rikostria has chronic gout, but is determined to take this step to pursue his love of singing
"I've always wanted to pursue singing, but I have a family and my kids were still young back then. Now that they're all grown up, I can really focus on singing. Even though my illness is chronic, it's not an obstacle for me to do what I enjoy," he shared.
The Johor Bahru native waited for his turn from 7am, before finally auditioning for the judges at 2pm. Having consistently taken part in various singing competitions over the years, with each experience serving to teach him valuable lessons and improve his skills, Rikostria's hard work and efforts have finally paid off.
"When I found out I made it through to the second stage, I was so touched and excited. I want to do my best, both for my family and myself," he said.
According to Rikostria, it's not the cash prize that is his driving force, but simply his love for singing and his desire to see how far he can go in this field.
2. Azman, a retired teacher, is proof that age is no obstacle when it comes to chasing your dreams
The 61-year-old used to teach at SK Taman Gembira, Klang and still lives in Klang to this day, but made the trip back to his hometown of Johor Bahru to enjoy the long weekend with his family.
While there, he decided to take his hobby of singing to the next level by auditioning with Teratai by Dato Ramli Sarip. Azman chose that particular song for its meaningful and deep lyrics, as well as its touching and emotional message.
The retiree claims that one of the challenges he could face in the competition is memorising the lyrics of recent songs. Regardless, he is ready to face this challenge with determination and effort, believing that every obstacle is a chance to grow and improve.
"If I win that RM1 million, I will take my whole family on a trip around the world. I also want to take them to Makkah, the holy city, to have a meaningful experience by performing hajj," he shared.
3. As an established singer, Hasif Upin wants to prove he's got what it takes to go the distance
Despite having graced the stage of Anugerah Juara Lagu, where he even sang a duet with the iconic Ziana Zain, Hasif feels like he hasn't accomplished enough, especially since he is often seen as "Ziana Zain's shadow".
He sees Calpis Soda One In A Million as his chance to truly shine bright in the music industry and show what he's got. The 33-year-old considers himself just like any other contestant, and is eager to let his skills speak for themselves.
"Even before I auditioned, I already considered myself just like every other contestant... a normal person, so to say. Even though I'm a singer, but to me, the new talent out there is truly amazing! So, if I'm lucky enough to win, I'll be grateful," said Hasif.
Hasif will be making both mental and physical preparations for the show, taking care of his health and ensuring he gets enough rest. He's even going so far as to temporarily stop is TikTok live sessions to focus on vocal training, which he says is important to ensure he's ready for the competition.
4. Determination drove Mohammad Fateh, a 19-year-old karipap seller from Selangor, to take a bus alone all the way to Johor Bahru to audition
Through Calpis Soda One In A Million, the teenager hopes to achieve his dream of becoming a singer, and is ready to face all the challenges that will come along this path. To him, this is an incredible opportunity to possibly change his future — one that he intends to make the most of.
Fateh, who helps his family run their karipap pusing business in Selangor, is armed with plenty of support and encouragement from his loved ones.
Speaking of his goals, he shared, "I want to receive vocal training from Cikgu Sarah. Seeing her as a judge made me nervous, but the drive to impress her burned in me. I believe her guidance will help me achieve my dream in the world of music.
"I want to change the Malaysian music industry by creating songs that aren't just about love. I want to introduce songs that have deep meanings about the world and life, and craft them in the latest genres to make them more easily acceptable.
"Through my songs, I hope I can get society to be more aware of how important it is to appreciate everything around us. I also want to inspire them to appreciate the beauty of the world."
5. Besties Nabilah and Sharifah made it through together, creating another wonderful memory of their friendship
The duo have been best friends since their days of studying in UiTM Shah Alam, where they were both in the Music Performance programme. Now 29 years old and 27 years old, Nabilah and Sharifah currently work as vocal teachers in Singapore.
When they found about about the auditions from a colleague, who also passed the first round, they immediately rushed to Johor Bahru to shoot their shot, fighting through heavy rain to make it in time. Sharifah even insisted on going despite having just recovered from a fever.
Commenting on their musical inspirations, Nabilah's idol is Ernie Zakri for his vocal prowess and strong stage presence, while Sharifah is impressed by Aina Abdul and Amir Masdi's respective auras when they perform.
"We're honestly so happy and excited to make it through to the next stage, and of course we will improve our vocal and mental preparation so we can advance all the way to the finals!" the girls declared.
Following the Johor Bahru auditions, Calpis Soda One In A Million auditions will be taking place in Sabah, Penang, Pahang, and Kuala Lumpur, every weekend from 9 to 17 November, with specific locations to be announced soon
If you can't make it in person, you can also audition online by uploading a one-minute video of yourself singing. Post your video on TikTok before 17 November with the hashtags #CalpisOIAMTV3 and #SegarRasaSodapSuara.
Auditions are open to all residents of Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei who are aged 15 years and above. Solos, duos, and groups are all welcome. Those going for the in-person auditions will have to bring a minus one of your chosen song in MP3 format, as well as passport and 4R sized photos of yourself.
You can get more info on the official Instagram account.
