Dato' Mohamad Nasir bin Mohamed (born 4 July 1957)[2] is a Malaysian poet, singer-songwriter, composer, producer, actor and film director also known as a Sifu in the Malaysian music industry.


M. Nasir

Nasir performing during the 2008 Anugerah Juara Lagu
Born
Mohamad Nasir bin Mohamed

(1957-07-04) 4 July 1957 (age 66)
NationalityMalaysian
Other namesMohamad M.N.(briefly in 1979)[1]
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter, composer, writer producer, actor, film director
Years active1979–present
Spouses
Junainah Johari
(m. 1981; died 1998)
Datin Marlia Musa
(m. 2000)
Children6
Musical career
Genres
  • Nusantara
  • R&B
  • etnik kreatif
  • Irama Malaysia
  • pop tradisional
  • Heavy Metal
Instrument(s)Vocals
LabelsLuncai Emas
Websiteluncaiemas.com.my

Early life edit

M. Nasir was born on July 4, 1957, in Bukit Panjang, Singapore. He is the fourth of nine siblings. His father, Mohamed Sam, came from Pagoh, Muar in Johor and emigrated to Singapore. After Singapore was expelled from Malaysia in 1965, his family obtained Singaporean citizenship. After studying at the Boys Town Vocational Institute[3] he attended the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts and graduated with a diploma in Western painting in 1978.[4]

Career edit

 
Nasir performing at the Konsert Alam Muzik M. Nasir at Istana Budaya in 2009.

M. Nasir had been deeply exposed to music not only through listening to the radio but also through his elder brother who had brought him purchased records of bands such as Bob Dylan, Queen, Al Stewart and Led Zeppelin while they were growing up in Singapore in the 1960s and 1970s.[5]

He was roped into music making in 1978 when a friend of his Wan Ibrahim, then executive producer of PolyGram Singapore, invited him to write song lyrics for the band Alleycats, who were rising in popularity at that time.[4]

Nasir decided to venture into singing, releasing his debut album Untuk Pencinta Seni under the name of Mohamad MN in 1979, which ended up being a flop. He moved on to form the folk rock act Kembara in 1981 with A. Ali, S. Sahlan and siblings Abby and Eddie Ali. The Ali siblings however left the group in its infancy due to disagreements on picking the band's genre.[1]

Kembara released their own self-titled debut album, which became a commercial success with 25,000 copies sold.[4] The band went on to release six albums and before disbanding in late 1985.[1]

After Kembara disbanded, Nasir went solo again. In 1989, he released his second solo album, S.O.L.O under PMC/BMG. This was his first solo album in 10 years since Untuk Pencinta Seni (1979) and the first to be registered under his present name. He went on record five more solo albums – namely Saudagar Mimpi (1992), Canggung Mendonan (1993), Srikandi Cintaku (1999), Phoenix Bangkit (2001) and Sang Pencinta (2006), all of which became commercial successes. Though Nasir announced that he will release an 8th studio album, it did not materialise.

He also dabbles in the art of painting, particularly abstract art. He has conducted several exhibitions on his canvas works; the first being Tanda in 2014 and Tanda II in 2015, both in Shah Alam.[6]

Personal life edit

Nasir moved with his family to Malaysia in 1984, where he became a naturalised citizen in 1989.[4]

He married Junainah Johari, who was the lead singer of Ideal Sisters, Singapore's earliest girl group on September 12, 1981.[7] Their relationship – from which they have five children namely Ilham, Yasin, Hidayat, Syafi'i and Nurnilam Sari – lasted until Junainah's death on 8 August 1998[8] due to asthma. Nasir's second marriage not long after was with actress Marlia Musa, and they both have a daughter named Suci Musalmah.[9][10][11]

His children are also involved in music making: Ilham, Yasin and Hidayat make up the band Pitahati while Syafi'i is a member of the psychedelic rock band Ramayan.[5]

His father, Mohamed Sam, died on 28 January 2021 due to natural causes at the age of 96. Nasir was unable to return to Singapore to attend his father's funeral due to COVID-19 restrictions.[12][13][14] This was followed by his mother, Aesah Yahya who died on 26 March 2023 at the age of 88.[15]

Partial discography edit

With Kembara edit

Solo albums edit

Duet album(s) edit

Compilation albums edit

  • Best Of Kembara (2001)
  • Best of M. Nasir Dengan Kembara (2001)

Filmography edit

Film edit

Year Title Role Notes
1986 Kembara Seniman Jalanan Bujang Also as writer and composer
Balik Kampung Album Producer
1990 Fenomena Azlan
1992 Selubung Kamal
1993 Balada Desa
1994 Simfoni Duniaku Iskandar
1996 Merah Hassan Also as director and writer
1999 Perempuan Melayu Terakhir Stage Actor
2001 Putih Prince Aftus Voice only
2004 Puteri Gunung Ledang Hang Tuah
2010 Magika Naga Tasik Chini (the Chini Lake Dragon)
2014 Yasmine Datuk Raja Nan Hitam Brunei movie
2017 Tombiruo: Penunggu Rimba Tan Sri Berham
2022 Rajawali Komang
2023 Imam Haji Mihad

Television edit

Year Title Role TV channel Notes
2005 Akademi Fantasia (season 3) Himself (Principal) Astro Ria Reality TV show
2017–2021 Omar & Hana Atuk Astro Ceria
2020 Sepahtu Reunion Live Cameo Astro Warna Episode: "Cinta Si Tukang Kasut"

Television series edit

Year Title Role TV channel
2000 Salam Taj Mahal Master Ji TV3
2018 Dosa: Sacred Sin Latif Astro First Exclusive
2023 Special Force: Anarchy Umar Disney+ Hotstar

Awards and achievements edit

Year Award Category Nominee(s) and recipient(s) Results
1984 Malaysia Film Festival Best Song "Sandarkan Kepada Kenangan" – from the movie Azura Won[16]
1990 Malaysia Film Festival Best Song Istana Menanti
Best Original Film Score Fenomena
1994 Anugerah Juara Lagu Best Irama Malaysia Song "Bonda" Won
Best Pop Rock Song "Tanya Sama Itu Hudhud" Won
Best Performance Won
Overall Best Song of the Year Won
Malaysian Video Awards Silver Award "Mentera Semerah Padi" Won
1995 Anugerah Bintang Popular Most Popular Artiste Won
1997 Anugerah Skrin TV3 Best Film Merah Won
2001 Anugerah Planet Muzik Popular Male Artiste Won
Best Male Artiste Won
Best Album Phoenix Bangkit Won
Anugerah Bintang Popular Most Popular Male Singer Won
Anugerah Industri Muzik Best Male Vocal Performance Srikandi Cintaku
Best Rock Album Producer AKU – by Amy Search
2002 Anugerah Indusri Muzik WIRAMA Award – honorary award for great contributions towards the Malaysian music Industry Won
2012 Angerah Juara Lagu Best Song Awan Nano – performed by Hafiz Won

Other honours edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Adly Syairi Ramly; Sheryl Stothard (November 2001). PHOENIX BANGKIT: BACK TO ROOTS?. TONE. pp. 46–49. Archived from the original on 7 August 2017. Retrieved 1 February 2017 – via Prahara Seni.
  2. ^ "M.Nasir". www.facebook.com. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
  3. ^ a b "M. Nasir terima ijazah kehormat doktor falsafah dari UUM" (in Malay). Astro Awani. 8 November 2014. Archived from the original on 23 April 2017. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  4. ^ a b c d "M. Nasir: Traditional music meets Western sounds". The Straits Times. 4 June 2015. Archived from the original on 1 February 2017. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  5. ^ a b "Wavelength: The Journeyman". BFM 89.9 (Interview). Interviewed by Ali Johan. BFM 89.9. 20 February 2016. Archived from the original on 8 March 2017. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
  6. ^ Goh, Daryl (29 April 2015). "M. Nasir: He sings, he writes, now he's making art". The Star. Archived from the original on 9 August 2015. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  7. ^ Eunos Asah (13 September 1981). "M. Nasir memilih Junainah untuk jadi teman hidup" (in Malay). Berita Minggu. p. 7. Archived from the original on 30 May 2019. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  8. ^ Ku Seman Ku Hussein (13 August 1998). "Apabila irama terhenti seketika". Utusan Malaysia (in Malay). Archived from the original on 5 February 2017. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
  9. ^ "Marlia & M. Nasir hanya tunggu hari". Utusan Malaysia. 21 May 2000. Archived from the original on 21 February 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  10. ^ Ku Seman Ku Hussein (13 August 1998). "Apabila irama terhenti seketika". Utusan Malaysia. Archived from the original on 5 February 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
  11. ^ "M. Nasir, Marlia Musa dapat anak perempuan". Berita Harian. 7 December 2001. Archived from the original on 13 May 2021. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  12. ^ Georgie Joseph (28 January 2021). "Bapa M. Nasir meninggal dunia". Harian Metro. Archived from the original on 5 February 2021. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  13. ^ "Ayah M. Nasir meninggal dunia". Berita Harian Singapura. 28 January 2021. Archived from the original on 29 January 2021. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  14. ^ Mumtaj Begum (28 January 2021). "Singer M. Nasir's father passed away at 96 in Singapore". The Star Online. Archived from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  15. ^ Farihad Shalla Mahmud (26 March 2023). "Ibu M. Nasir meninggal dunia". Berita Harian. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
  16. ^ Begum, Mumtaj (18 November 2011). "Mahawangsa triumphs". The Star. Archived from the original on 19 November 2011. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
  17. ^ "Semakan Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat". Archived from the original on 19 July 2019. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  18. ^ Zaidi Mohamad (8 November 2014). "M. Nasir terima Ijazah Kehormat Doktor Falsafah" (in Malay). Berita Harian. Archived from the original on 17 May 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2015.

External links edit