Recently, I had the opportunity to attend a unique sharing session by musician Alif Ahmad, popularly known as ALIFCHIEF. This was an online event via Zoom, organized by Suaseni – a group of people who are creating a space for Brunei’s sound to connect with audiences & opportunities.
For those who have been following my site for some time, you might recall my review of Alifchief’s album back in 2024.
If you missed that, here’s the link to that: Music Review: Eh Banange! by Alifchief
This was a cool session because Alif was sharing his experiences in a casual setting. Besides listening to him talk about his musical journey, it also provided a platform for the attendees to exchange ideas and perspectives.
Personally, it gave me an opportunity to understand more about the Brunei scene and the unique challenges that they face. There was a heavy focus on the importance of building your community, which I agree completely.
The central theme of the session was exploring a practical approach to building a long-term, financially viable music career, moving beyond reliance solely on performance fees.
Alifchief provided actionable strategies and personal experience with crowdfunding, emphasizing the importance of identifying and nurturing ‘superfans’ and maintaining transparent communication.
Strong emphasis was placed on making live shows “unforgettable,” incorporating audience participation, and leveraging personal/cultural identity (e.g., Bruneian elements) to stand out in a global landscape.
The discussion directly addressed the challenge of maintaining creative integrity while ensuring financial sustainability, advising artists to consider both aspects for career longevity. I also shared some of my own thoughts on this, relative to my musical experience in Malaysia and performing internationally.
It also highlighted the necessity of seeking out supportive creative scenes, collaborating with like-minded peers, and understanding the broader ecosystem (including policy and collective management organizations) necessary for growth.
In addition to the actual session, the organizers also invited us to ask further questions via email that Alifchief would answer. I personally responded to this and was happy to get more insights from Alif later on via a reply that he sent to me personally.
All in all, it was a good effort on the organizers and Alifchief to share and discuss these aspects of building a music career. I applaud them and hope there will be more sessions like this.
If you’re interested in future events, follow their social media pages here:
Suaseni Instagram Page
Kitanikreatif Instagram Page
Alifchief Instagram Page
Thanks again Alif for inviting me to attend this session and for the complimentary access. Although I received complimentary access, this review represents my honest thoughts on the event and my experience.
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