Shila Hits the Right Notes

Able to sing in 10 different languages, the multilingual Shila Amzah explains how she affects those around her and their effect on her as well

- Aaron Pereira

“China will always hold a special place in my heart; it’s the country that helped to launch my career,” shares Shila Amzah, who began singing at the age of 10. Shila went on to join a couple of Chinese singing competitions; emerging victorious in Asian Wave, she went on to become a finalist in the second season of I Am A Singer—which happens to be the same competition that British singer Jessie J also took part in, albeit in a different season. “They accepted me for who I am, what I believed in, and didn’t care where I came from... they just wanted to listen to my music and supported me by giving me that boost which I needed,” she explains.

It was mainly because of this deep affinity and connection that Shila Amzah felt with China that the Tatler Malaysia team decided to photograph her where else but in Chinatown, Kuala Lumpur. Utilising the scenic setting of Kwai Chai Hong, and thanks to the generous team behind Four Points by Sheraton KL, Chinatown, the backdrop was a nod to the country which shot Shila to fame.

“The fact that I sing Mandarin songs also gave me the opportunity to travel around the world. As you know, many other nations also have a Chinatown or some area with a similar concept, and where there’s a Chinatown, I’ve fans there. Indirectly, wherever I go for a gig, I will have my crowd, I’m quite lucky in that sense,” shares Shila, when asked about her international appeal and reach. So far, the singer has toured and performed in the Lincoln Centre, New York; The Venetian Theatre, Las Vegas; in Perth, and most recently Sydney, Australia on top of covering over 50 provinces in China itself.