KOTA KINABALU: Sabahan singer-songwriter Velvet Aduk hopes to spark renewed interest in indigenous languages with the release of her long-awaited Dusun-language album, Ogingol, launched on May 10 across all major streaming platforms.
The nine-track album is a heartfelt tribute to her Dusun and Kadazan heritage, fusing ancestral dialects with contemporary musical arrangements.
Featuring songs such as Nokosuai, Bolintuongon, and Nouyan – a duet with AIM award-winner Arddley Nicholas – the album explores themes of identity, cultural pride, and belonging.
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');});Velvet wrote and composed most of the material herself, with longtime collaborator Brandon Laurie co-producing and Andy O’Mail contributing on lead guitar, while Kaandaman marks Brandon’s debut as a songwriter in Kadazan.
Describing the project as a personal journey of rediscovery and contribution, Velvet said she hopes the album will inspire younger generations to embrace their native languages through music.