Bringing music to life

Music is a universal language. It is an exercise in human creativity, a mode for expression and storytelling. It is a therapeutic retreat that we all need (often!) in order to get by, and often just a good and fun way to spend your time when you need to unwind. Borneans are no exception and over the centuries have crafted instruments all their own. Here are a few of the more recognisable and popular traditional instruments used by indigenous groups throughout the world’s third largest island.

SAPE

Popular across all Borneo generally, and Sarawak specifically – the Sape – which is carved from a single bole of wood, is a four-stringed member of the lute family. Used by various Orang Ulu groups such as the Kayan, Kelabit, Kenyah, and Penan, it has an elongated body, a short neck, and is often made from durable and lightweight

Meranti. The hollow interior acts as a resonator, and before craftsman started using nylon for the strings, they used strings made from the Sago tree. Its Sabahan counterpart is the long-necked Sundatang lute.

TONGKUNGON/TOGUNGGAK

Belonging to the idiophone class of instruments made of resonant solid material – such as wood, stone, metal – the wooden Togunggak are mainly played solo for personal entertainment. However, in the absence of gong ensembles it can be played for dancing processions and festivals. Used primarily by the Dusun, Kadazan, and Murut groups, a single set can range between 6 to 30 individual pieces.

GULINGTANGAN

Popular in Brunei and often played during events in modern day times, as well as ceremonies, festivals, and royal court functions back in the day, the instrument can either be played solo or assume the lead role as part of the Gulingtangan Orchestra. The lengthy row of brass gongs are struck, producing high to low pitch tones, while the other four instruments – gongs, tawak-tawak, gandang labik, and the canang – act as beat-pacers. Part of the wider Southeast Asia gong-chime culture, Gulingtangan variants across the region have existed for centuries.

PAGANG

Known to the west as the tubular shaped bamboo zither, the Pagang – as it is known in Borneo – is widespread throughout the region. Long suspected to have Polynesian origins, variants have been seen in the Philippines, Indonesia, Korea, Japan, and China. There is a theory that it even travelled along the Austronesian route and ended up in Madagascar, where they are called Valiha. Plucking the strings, which are lifted out of the tube’s skin and held in place by wedges, causes the narrow slit along its length to vibrate as a resonator.

GABANG

Borneo’s resident xylophone, which is called the Gabang and used by the Bajau tribes of Sabah, is technically an import, having arrived on our island from The

Philippines. The top is made of 12 bamboo keys on average (the number varies), which are struck by a beater made of wood and rubber. It is the resonating case that gives extra personality as they tend to be decorated with tribal artwork and designs.

SILINGUT/TURALI

It’s a nose flute! How cool and difficult that must be to play. Known to Sarawakians as the Selengut, and to Sabahans as the Turali, these flutes are often played solo as personal entertainment, and a way to express oneself. Most Lotud Dusuns use it for expressing happiness by imitating their traditional songs, while Kadazan Dusuns often express melancholy by copying the stylised crying of female mourners during a wake. Novice priestesses of the Rungus use them to help memorise the melodies of ritual chants. Different strokes for different folks.

SOMPOTON

The use of the Sompoton is prevalent among Kadazan, Dusun and the Murut societies in Sabah, who often play them as an accompaniment to dancing. Eight bamboo pipes are formed like a double raft and inserted into a gourd. The player blows and sucks air through the gourd while covering and uncovering the ends of the shortest pipes and three small openings cut in the base of the shortest pipe. The front and back pipes of the longer raft are for fingers on the left hand. The result? Think of a cross between a conventional mouth organ and a bagpipe, minus the high-pitch shrillness.

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Beady Eyes

SZR’s beaded bags are handcrafted so delicately that us nonnimble fingered beings can’t help but be in awe at the intricacy of it all. We happen to be nostalgic creatures by nature so we have a thing about “old things made new” and with beading embraced as a traditional art form, how could we not swoon at the sight of these stunning crafts of love? Sleek and sophisticated yet fun and feminine, these beaded bags are easy-on-the-eyes and have been previously released in an exciting range of colours from earthy tones to festive vibrance. Speaking of a love of beads, sole beader and founder of SZR Safiah finds beauty in its versatility, “I can literally draw anything I want with beads. You can get so creative with it, almost like a painting except in a different medium”. An artist and designer in her own right, Safiah envisions her beaded creations as “wearable art” with a lengthy and iterative creative process, spanning from the use of mood boards and sketches to set the aesthetic and tone of each collection. (“It’s the thought and work that goes behind the scenes that makes it a piece of art!”—we couldn’t agree more).

There’s much to be said about the way an artist feels towards their craft and Safiah is no exception, striving for a personal sense of satisfaction when developing defined concepts to create cohesive well-put-together pieces. Exclusivity also plays a hand in the allure with a very limited amount being produced for each collection, so if you want to get your hands on one, even more reason to follow SZR on Instagram for their latest updates! The latest collection Bloom, which, unfortunately for us, sold out within a span of a few days is inspired by “the change of season at this time; the blooming of flowers and fruits—a symbol of growth and beauty”. Beauty indeed is in the eye of the beholder and, in this case, the beaded bag to own. •• IG: @szr.hands

THE SPEARHEAD CHRONICLES

Design & Creative Industries major Sahriz Azim Sahrun, who we first met at the UBD Spectrum Exhibition held in April, struck us with his sheer tenacity in creating a high-fantasy universe as part of his final year project. Whipping up a 166-page storyline over a whopping ten weeks, Sahriz lists his passion for telling stories as his driving force behind his many fields in the creative scene which includes filmmaking and writing. The storyline in question is part of a trilogy series called “The Spearhead Chronicles” and revolves around four individuals hailing from three different kingdoms who face a dark chain of events ultimately unfolding an inevitable millennium-long prophecy. Despite listing Tolkien and George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice & Fire series among his inspirations and references, Sahriz admits to feeling the pinch of the big shoes he has to fill as he anticipates the indeterminate future and reception of highfantasy genre books locally. In building his own literary world from the ground up, the budding author also mentioned his deep-felt appreciation for the intense writing process, from burning the midnight oil right down to the many, many cups of coffee. The Spearhead Chronicles was a gem we were not expecting to find and we can’t wait to see what else he has in store! •• IG: @sahriz.azim.sahrun E: sahriz.sahrun@gmail.com Tel: 673-7156436

Fluff Piece

“Ooh heaven is a place on earth” and for local creative Khaliilah, that is a multi-level craft store jam packed with all the craft materials one could ever want or need. But let’s take it back a notch! If unique, hand-painted pillows are your thing then welcome, you’ve come to the right place. Fluff by Khaliilah makes customizable pillows that beg for a double-take upon first glance with multi-textured designs gracing their faces (our particular favourite being the “Girls’ Night In” pillow collection inspired by traditional dishes and local kuihs available at local street food markets—think nasi lemak cushions and pulut panggang pillows!). The pillows, mainly made with cotton fabric and sometimes felt, aren’t the only thing she’s good at making— Khaliilah also readily accepts commissions for other things such as zippered pouches and tissue box covers, thanks to her affinity for handcrafting and exploring her creative side at arts and crafts’ markets since an early age. As to why she prefers creating her pillows by hand, “I feel that the results are more satisfying when it’s crafted by hand as it becomes more unique or exclusive to that particular Fluff even though the design has been used before”. To get your hands on your own customized Fluff, just shoot her a DM on Instagram and get ready to be fluffed away! •• IG: @FluffbyKhaliilah

Guan Hock Lee

Supporting local businesses is a wonderful cause that we stand by wholeheartedly— but there is also certainly something to be said about our dire love for goodies from abroad. Caramel popcorn from Germany? Don’t mind if we do. Frozen popsicles from Australia? Let’s rush home after this to pop this in the freezer. Unique condiments and sauces that will help to elevate our meals beyond what we’re used to? Heck yes! And when the mood strikes us, Guan Hock Lee is often a beacon of light, beckoning us towards its brightly lit glass storefront and enticing us with hard-to-find goodies. First established in 1950 as one of Brunei’s oldest importers and distributors of gourmet food products, the much-loved store recently opened its newest branch in Setia Kenangan! With its usual impressive range of gourmet food products including seafood, dairy products, snacks and other specially imported items, excuse us while we rejoice at having yet another destination to fulfill our overseas cravings. •• D5-6, Setia Kenangan 2, Spg 150-17-20, Kg Kiarong, Bandar Seri Begawan Opens daily: 11am-8pm Tel: 673-2233452 (Kiulap) / 8831288 (WhatsApp) IG: @guanhocklee

To Be Clad in Strength and Honor

“She is clothed with strength and honor” is the dignified verse that powers sustainable Sabahbased clothing brand, The Honor Clothing, to keep on running fullsteam ahead. With strength and honor literally inspiring the design and ideation process of owner and designer Phylicia and her team— for an aesthetically minimalistic clothing brand, there’s a lot to be said about the handmade pieces themselves. When talking about the sustainable production process, her answer did not disappoint our environmentally-aware selves, “We endeavor to always choose handmade over mass-produced and to resist cutting corners at all costs” she says referring to their garment manufacturer in Bali who shares the same socially-responsible values of paying fair wages, using natural fabrics, and all round, creating a better future with the right foundations—and it is paying off. Their bestseller, the Diana dress, is a dream in neutral linen and a classic, vintage summer piece that’s been restocked three times already since its release. The dress itself came about as a stroke of cultural inspiration from Phylicia and her creative assistant Amanda who wanted the strap detail to replicate the elegance of a Kadazan woman performing a traditional Sumazau dance. When asked about future plans for The Honor Clothing, Phylicia mentions that they are currently working on new clothing material made from waste pineapple leaf fibre—which we think reflects the nature of the brand perfectly and is, therefore, just as profoundly cool. •• W: www.thehonorclothing.com IG & FB: @thehonorclothing

Domes in Sweden

Bringing Little Sweden vibes to North Borneo are four Sabahan friends, who, after a trip to Sweden were struck by the prominence of architecture and design throughout the country. Envisioning a space of modern and contemporary design while having a minimalistic feel that would ebb and flow with the surrounding greenery, the four friends came up with Umea Glam Kundasang and the four domes that have been attracting curious souls from all over. Named Narvik, Abisko, Kiruna and Gallivare after railways spanning beautiful Scandinavian mountains and natural landscapes in between Northern Sweden and Norway, Umea itself is an Eastern Sweden city known for its cultural institutions and museums. While the names itself have nothing to do with the actual location (“we just love it, it sounds magical and beautiful to us”—we absolutely agree!), Kundasang itself knows a thing or two about scenic mountains and dreamy valleys making it a natural choice. The seethrough geodesic domes itself are a wonderful reprieve from the norm, housing four people at each time, each planted on its own platform for full privacy and fully-furnished with a private bathroom and a kitchenette right outside its door. “We were inspired to build something different which is why we combined all the elements of a naturefocused yet modern camping environment for our guests to enjoy the beauty of nature all while being a part of it”, the owners mention. “We want them to make memorable moments with their loved ones while also promoting awareness and inspiring a sense of necessity to preserve and protect beautiful nature”. Great ambitions lead to great results! And not that you’ll need it…but did we mention the domes also come with WiFi and a resident phat cat called “Si Gumuk”? Glamping, here we come! •• Jalan Golf Course, Mesilau, Kundasang, Sabah W: umeaglam-kundasang.com IG: @umeaglam.kundasang FB: umeaglamkundasang