Veteran singer advises new artists to spend 800 hours in studio when recording album

Malaysian singer and composer Akim Ahmad is urging aspiring artists to dedicate more time to studio work, emphasizing that thorough preparation is crucial for releasing polished music. Akim, also known as Afiq Hakim Ahmad, believes that new singers should emulate the discipline of past artists like Datuk Zainal Abidin, who reportedly spent up to 800 hours in the studio to perfect an album.

"So, new singers need to be in the studio a lot more to be more 'cooked' and know what needs to be done during recording sessions," Akim stated, referencing advice from Datuk Ramli MS to put in extra effort during recording. He noted that some debut singles exhibit vocal performances that still need improvement.

Akim highlighted Hussain's two-day vocal recording process for his single, which resulted in a more progressive performance with distinct character. He encouraged artists to invest more time in vocal recording to enhance their sound and make their singles more appealing.

Beyond recording, Akim, who also writes lyrics under the name Hang Nadim, urged new creators to explore songwriting. He stressed the importance of artists being proactive in creating opportunities to advance their careers, rather than solely relying on management plans. "Put in the effort to write lyrics too, don't just wait for Rocketfuel. You need to act fast for your career so you don't get left behind in this era," he advised.