Friday May 8, 2009
Life's on a roll for Tiara Jacquelina
By AZHARIAH KAMIN
While one stint comes to an end for Tiara Jacquelina, another picks up momentum.
TOMORROW the finalists of the seventh season of Akademi Fantasia will be announced and the academy will close its doors for 2009 after the final concert on May 16. But for principal Datin Seri Tiara Jacquelina, things are just getting started, with a single on hand and lots of lofty plans for the future.
“How time flies!” Tiara said in a recent interview. “It seems like only yesterday when I was approached to be a part of the academy and now nine weeks have passed by. Next week we wrap up the season.”
Tiara Jacquelina: ‘I hope to have an academy of my own someday, from where all the best talents and icons in our country will graduate.’ Fortunately, the trim and fit 41-year-old has boundless energy, and tackles everything that comes her way with gusto.
Tiara said that her experience as AF principal for Season Seven has been a humbling one thus far. “It is really a step back for me as it is not about me any more or how good or bad I am. AF has been all about somebody else. It is the first time I’ve entered a project where the framework had been set, people were already in place and I didn’t have my usual team on board; unlike how I worked on the musicals PGL and P. Ramlee and all my other work as a producer through my production house Enfiniti.
“I have undertaken this as the ultimate test for me, to see if I can successfully translate my thoughts and way of working to a new team. And at the end of 10 weeks, I would like to see a few gems ready to shine in this entertainment industry.”
No stranger to Malaysian showbiz, Tiara has acted, sung, hosted as well as produced many large-scale projects and fits the bill nicely when it comes to grooming newbies. Tiara hopes the AF students take what they’ve learnt at the academy and use these lessons as a stepping stone to greater things.
“Before I joined the academy, I was one of those who watched the show from my living room and criticised it to my heart’s delight. But now that I’m a part of the academy, I have come to realise how much work has to be done, and I can honestly say that I have more compassion towards the students and the trainers,” admitted Tiara.
“At the same time I didn’t want to be too aggressive as some of the students came from outside Kuala Lumpur and the whole experience was quite a culture shock for them. I had to accept the fact that each one of them had different levels of exposure to this kind of life and business.
“But, just like with all my previous projects, I always set my own targets. And I believe in setting a visible target and trying to get the student to see that goal.”
After nine weeks of hard work, Tiara believes a transformation in some of the students is already evident.
“But please do remember, we only have 10 weeks to learn what usually takes years to master. The trainers – Ida Nerina, A. Aris Kadir, Acis, Siti Hajar Ismail, Syafizawati Sharif and Fatimah Abu Bakar – have been working so hard with the students. In fact, we also conduct a student support class where each student has a one-on-one session with a trainer (off the camera) to acknowledge their weaknesses and work on them.”
Sing it
While she’s been busy with AF, Tiara somehow found the time to release a single, Katakan, under her Enfiniti label a few months ago. The pop song features a lot of traditional elements such as gamelan, and has received heavy rotation on local radio stations.
“I produced my latest single Katakan to test the market and, hopefully, it will pave the way for a full album. I like being a singer because I can relate and share what I feel with my audience. I hope to use music to take myself to another level in my career, and I’m seriously thinking of taking up guitar lessons so that I can strum my guitar and sing on stage one day.”
Tiara said that her love affair with singing started when she recorded PGL’s theme song Asmaradana and a few singles (a solo and a duet with Stephen Rahman Hughes) to promote the musical, Puteri Gunung Ledang. Tiara played the leading role of Gusti Puteri in the musical which was a critical and commercial success and restaged three times in the country. It was also staged in Singapore.
“Katakan began when I was on a sabbatical for four months in Australia last year. There, I met Australian-based Malaysian producer Chong Lim (who is also the music director for Australia’s Dancing with the Stars). We got to talking about music in general as I was also taking singing classes there as well. So that’s the story behind the single,” she revealed, adding that it would be lovely to record a full album.
“I’m thinking more along the lines of pop-rock with a lot of traditional elements infused in the songs.”
But the album is not all that’s on Tiara’s agenda. She also has plans to set up a performing arts academy.
“I hope to have an academy of my own someday, from where all the best talents and icons in our country will graduate,” she revealed. “It will take some years to build.”
Catch Tiara on Konsert Akademi Fantasia tomorrow at 8.30pm on Astro Ria (Astro channel 104). AF fans can also tune in to Diari Akademi Fantasia (Monday to Friday, 9pm), Diari EXT AF7 (tonight at 10pm), and Diari INT AF7 (Sunday, 9pm).
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