Nurul Ernie Shaheerah Zulkifli, better known as Ernie, is one step closer to stardom. This 25-year-old songstress from Klang is putting her best foot forward in the music industry with a first single, My Only One, which precedes her coming debut album.
More than 200 guests and media were treated to the premiere of this debut single’s music video. Ernie then performed it live together with two bonus tracks, Malay song Semalam Kan Hilang and Mandarin song Fairytale.
This was all made possible by Limkokwing University of Creative Technology (LUCT). The launch of Ernie Shaheerah: My Only One marks Ernie’s success as well as LUCT’s for she is the first artiste they have signed on. Ernie Shaheerah, who is also the University’s Choir Director, will be exclusively managed by the Sound and Music Design Academy (SMDA) of the University. SMDA will produce her following albums, and act as her manager and promoter.
Ernie explained at the launch that her debut single is “the fruit of around five years spent learning and mastering the art of music production at LUCT’s SMDA”. Who knew that undertaking a Diploma in Sound and Music Technology at LUCT in 2006 would reap so much more than just a certificate?
Ernie Shaheerah performing her single “My Only One” to a packed crowd at Hard Rock Cafe, KL.
Her talent was quickly noticed and she soon headlined music performances by the University’s choir, performing in more than 150 events, including the opening of Limkokwing’s campus in London in October 2007. Ernie was also the lead female vocal in the 1 Malaysia and Malaysia Inovatif tracks which are currently getting constant airplay both on radio and television.
The production team consisted of Ernie Shaheerah herself, and SMDA staff, as well as sound and music students who produced and composed the songs. “The actual recording, mixing and mastering of the three songs were done in our studio,” explains Anuar Razak, album producer and head of the SMDA.
While debut single My Only One is very main stream pop, Semalam Kan Hilang featured impressive lyrics about premature loss. Fairytale is the weakest song meanwhile though it’s pretty admirable how she tries to sing in Mandarin.
Nevertheless, it is amazing how LUCT decided to step it up in developing students’ potentials. Their dedication in helping Ernie achieve her dreams certainly tells a lot about the direction of our universities. This brings a new facet to our local music industry and we look forward to seeing more such developments. There are also so many talents out there that need a conducive channel in which to grow and develop. Little did one know that you didn’t have to leave university to find that!