A local pop-punk band has recently caught the attention of many Malaysians, with its members’ shared engineering backgrounds making the band stand out.
In an exclusive interview with WORLD OF BUZZ, the band’s guitarist and leader, Hafiz Halim, shared how he and the other members came together to form “After Mdnight“.
How local pop-punk band ‘After M’dnight’ got its start
Hailing from Penang, Hafiz shared how he and his fellow bandmates, Izzah Bashid (vocalist), Mamoru Iwasaki (drummer), Izzat Razak (bassist), and Arfah Azhar (guitarist), first came together to form After Mdnight.
He shared how each band member plays their own part in keeping the band going, with plenty of teamwork happening behind the scenes despite everyone having their own main role.
“Besides our instruments, everyone has their own role in keeping the band moving, whether it’s songwriting, arrangements, production, social media, networking, equipment, logistics or managing shows.
“Penang has a really interesting independent music community, and being part of that scene has shaped us quite a lot.”
Hafiz shared that After Mdnight’s journey began with the release of their first single, ‘I Miss You’, in 2022, which laid the foundation for what they wanted the band to become.
“A big part of it was simply wanting to create something of our own. We grew up listening to different kinds of pop-punk, alternative rock and emo music, and we wanted to bring that energy into our own songs while still telling stories that felt personal to us.
“A lot of our music comes from experiences with heartbreak, betrayal, complicated relationships, friends and family, and the difficult parts of growing up. At the same time, we want to prove to ourselves that you don’t necessarily need to have everything figured out before you start,” he added.
Despite juggling full-time jobs and other responsibilities, Hafiz explained that the band still makes time for music.
“Seeing other people achieve their goals, especially in music, has also inspired us to keep going. That creates a feeling of wanting to inspire others as well, especially people who are like us, who have big dreams,” he said.
“We want people to feel like they’re part of the After Mdnight journey”
When asked about their plans moving forward, Hafiz shared his hope for After Mdnight to continue improving as songwriters and musicians while exploring different sounds.
“We want to continue releasing genuine music that comes from our heart, perform more shows, reach bigger stages and, most importantly, build a stronger connection with the people who listen to us. We don’t want our relationship with listeners to stop at Instagram, TikTok or streaming platforms.
“This way, After Mdnight will have have a good foundation to keep going and stay relevant in the industry.”
Hafiz also had some advice for fellow Malaysians who are looking to make music of their own, encouraging them not to be afraid to start small.
He also admitted that the band didn’t have everything figured out when they first started, and there were, and still are, moments when they doubt themselves, make mistakes and wonder whether they’re doing things the right way.
“Just start. You don’t have to be the best singer, guitarist, songwriter or musician before you begin. You don’t even have to know exactly where you’re going.
“If we had waited until we felt completely ready, After Mdnight probably wouldn’t exist.”
Hafiz encouraged aspiring musicians to take that first step, whether it’s writing down a song idea, picking up an instrument to learn how to play, or finding a small stage to perform on.
He also reminded them that their first step doesn’t have to be impressive and that they don’t have to wait for motivation to kick in. Instead, it’s about keeping going, one small step at a time.
“You never know where that one decision might lead you,” he said.
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