PENAMPANG: Singer-songwriter Lyron Felix and his team were named overall champions at the second season of the SabahVfm Song Awards with their Kadazan ballad Hangadon Zou, to their surprise.
The State Sugandoi Kaamatan 2022 winner said the win felt like the result of years of dedication, though he did not expect it given the strength of the other finalists.
The ballad, co-written with Pontius Otigil, Raymond KSTV Stephen, and Elvine Ng Nyuk Vui, was originally planned in Malay and reworked into Kadazan.
window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []};googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.defineSlot('/22826383987/dailyexpress_inline', [1, 1], 'gpt-passback').addService(googletag.pubads());googletag.enableServices();googletag.display('gpt-passback');});Describing the piece as a song about longing and sincere love in a long-distance relationship, Pontius said it stood out for its challenging structure and blend of local identity with international influences.
The song’s final arrangement was a significant departure from the original, incorporating Korean ballad elements and tailored to Lyron’s vocal range.
Lyron expressed hope that the award would encourage young Sabahans to embrace ethnic languages and preserve their cultural heritage through music.
Hangadon Zou was among 12 finalists in the biennial competition, with other category winners including Boros Ginawo (Dusun), co-written by Marcolate Viola Marcus and Jairah Marcus and performed by Norzizi Safira Iddy; Simpatataan (Murut), written by Jati Ampasok and performed by Syamson Tingkalur and Afiezal Fahmi Inggu; and Selekat Kiti Mitu (Bajau), written by Nurul Fadzilah Noordin and performed by Mohd Rozaimi Rozali.
