Penang musicians wary of staging comeback despite sector reopening

GEORGE TOWN – Musicians in Penang remain unenthusiastic about returning to the stage, despite the government’s decision to allow such activities to resume, while many others have switched to other professions due to hardships faced during the pandemic.

Uah Music Culture founder Ang Eng Bok told The Vibes that most musicians are not in a hurry to get back to performing at events and venues, as most have adapted to the new norm and found other sources of income.

“Personally, I don’t feel comfortable performing at the moment.

“Although the government has allowed it, with such high numbers of Covid-19 cases, I would think twice.

“Having said that, I will consider performing if the venue is an open-air space that is not crowded, and with strict standard operating procudures in place.

“Right now, people are more worried about their health and safety than the freedom to perform.”

Music producer and indie artist Kelvyn Yeang, meanwhile, told The Vibes that Penang’s entertainment industry has long been dependent on tourism rather than the support of the local community.

“The entertainment industry thrives when disposable income is at an all-time high. 

“Covid-19 has split the spending demographic into two groups – salarymen with nowhere to spend their money and survivors who have to be careful with their expenditure.

“As soon as regulations are lifted, the people from the first demographic will flood the economy once more. Outlets and establishments will capitalise on this.

“The ongoing debate is on the rate of infections versus the economy. We need to remind ourselves that Penang has a high positive cases-to-population ratio.

“For a small state, the reality of things getting out of hand is not too far-fetched.”

Despite many musicians having since taken up other work in the almost two years since the start of the first movement control order (MCO), Yeang is hopeful that, at some point, the live music scene will return to normal.

“Those who have pivoted their careers since the first MCO have since moved on and found more stable jobs.

“I think the bigger question is, are there any full-time musicians left? If before the MCO, you were only performing as a side gig, it wouldn’t hurt so much financially, but maybe you would miss the stage a little.

Two years with no gigs is a long time. No one would be able to survive that long without doing something else.”

Yeang said that although the pandemic has almost completely crushed the live music sector, indie musicians are known to be hard workers who are a resilient and creative bunch.

“There has been so much digital activity since the first MCO. Indie musicians are releasing plenty of recorded and video material, myself included.

“Part-timers have always powered the indie music scene, so most continued to stay employed or run their businesses. 

“There are plenty of government initiatives to keep this creative industry alive by introducing plenty of grants and recovery programmes. 

“The way one enjoys music might change a little, but at this present time, I do not think there is any substitute for a live experience.

“The live music and entertainment will return... in the meantime, we will all have to learn to live with Covid-19.” – The Vibes, September 8, 2021