March 2025 cover: Firdhaus on creating music, navigating expectations and more

A Malaysian singer who propelled himself to stardom when he performed his Chinese song "Gulf of Alaska" on the Chinese social media app Douyin, Firdhaus is an international success who has taken over the Asian music scene by storm with his powerful vocals and charm.

Having just wrapped up his Hello Again Asia Tour, his first ever and a sold-out success, Firdhaus shows no signs of stopping as he chases after his dream. A hitmaker with many accolades on his belt, including being part of Apple Music’s ‘Here’s to the Dreamers’ campaign that highlights Southeast Asian music talents, Firdhaus steps up his game as our March 2025 "Gimme More" issue cover star where he shows off his dashing looks and charisma in the latest Coach Spring/Summer 2025 collection.

Read on for our exclusive cover interview with Firdhaus now:

Congratulations on your recent concert! How did this one feel compared to your past performances?

Thank you! The past few months have been a rollercoaster, and I’m grateful for every high and low. It still feels surreal to be on an Asia tour in the fourth year of my career, and I don’t take any of it for granted. I cherished every moment from behind the scenes to the stage, bonding with my crew and connecting with everyone who came for the show. I don’t know when I’ll get to do this again, but I hope I can!

Performing live brings a different kind of energy — what’s your favourite part of putting on a live show?

Hearing the crowd sing back to me is something I’ll never get used to. It just hits different seeing their faces, feeling their energy and even catching a few tears. As an artist, nothing is more rewarding than knowing my music resonates.

What’s your earliest memory of making music?

I’ve always known I wanted to make music since I was young. When I was still in high school, around 16 or 17, I met a few musicians in Johor and convinced them to help me record an eight-track album. I made 300 copies of it and sold them during recess. Looking back, that was my first step into music. [chuckles] I was so proud of it!

Was there someone who pushed you along the journey?

Not really. The beginning was pretty lonely. My parents weren’t that supportive, but they didn’t hold me back either. When making the album I mentioned, I had to keep it a secret because I didn’t want them to think I was neglecting my studies. I did have a high school teacher, who’s no longer around, who believed in me. He always saw more in me than my grades and was very proud of my passion. I’ll never forget him telling my parents how proud he was of what I was doing, even before I became anything.

What’s the creative process like for you?

Every song has its creative journey. Sometimes, I come up with the title first, and other times it's a word, a line or a melody that pops into my head. I flow with whatever feels right that day, and if I'm not feeling inspired, I try not to be hard on myself.

Your music is a hit across countries; what resonates most with your listeners?

My songs reflect what I've been through. I translate feelings into straightforward, relatable lyrics, and I believe that's why they resonate with people.

How do you push through creative blocks and get back on the flow?

I rest. I try to inspire myself by taking a break from creating, like listening to music, watching movies, travelling or engaging in photography. I don’t believe in pushing yourself, especially when feeling numb.

What’s been the most rewarding moment of your career so far?

Seeing my family’s pride in me. And whenever my team and I achieve something together.

If you could collaborate with anyone who’s influenced or inspired you, who would it be and why?

Anyone? I can think of many names, but it would be G-Dragon.

You’ve been sharing pieces of your life through music and internet presence. How has being visible and in the public eye changed the way you go about life?

Honestly, I’m still figuring it out. I used to think it was fine to share everything online and say whatever came to mind. I’ve learned the weight of my words and actions — everything has consequences — and keeping the big part of your life to yourself is important. The so-called “fame” was hard for me to grasp; I thought I could just do whatever I wanted. Now, as an artist, I want to focus on telling my story through my music, and that’s it.

With so much attention on you, how do you navigate expectations?

I felt a lot of pressure to keep producing “hit songs.” But now, with a few of them, I feel like I can finally be more experimental. After the things I’ve been through, I don’t want to compromise my music to cater to anybody.

How do you immediately bounce back after experiencing a setback?

It’s a learning curve for me. I take time to be with myself, talk things through and remind myself to let go of things.

Do you have any tips or rituals to stay grounded and keep your clarity?

Praying, meditating and spending time with my family helps a lot. Oh, don’t forget to turn off your device.

And when you meet someone for the first time, who might not know about your public persona, how do you introduce yourself to them?

[Laughs]I was communicating with this bank representative who was very confused about my occupation and fluctuating income. I had to tell him to google my name or search my name on YouTube.

Looking ahead, what message do you hope to share from your work?

Don’t give up. Whatever happens is a gift, even if it’s hard to see it that way. It’s a long journey, be kind to yourself.

Our March 2025 "Gimmer More" issue featuring Firdhaus in Coach will be available in selected major bookstores and newsstands in Malaysia and online on www.magzter.com.

Cover Credits:

Photography: Chee Wei
Creative Direction & Styling:  Colin Sim
Words: Noel Khoo
Makeup: Raeseok / PLIKA Makeup
Hair: Keith Ong
Outfits: COACH