Being a central character is more than having a dynamic presence, it’s also about being able to drive your own narrative and inspire others to live their dreams. You also feel their energy first, and this we did at Pesta Raya with these charismatic people: the striking soulful vocals of Malaysia’s dazzling R&B star Dayang Nurfaizah and singer-songwriter Shazza, the thrilling percussive beats by Nadi Singapura, the evergreen dikir tunes once sung by a legendary leader of the ’80s by Sri Teruna Jaya, and the dynamic combination of Akid Amir, Syed Ahmad and FLQ with their unabashed expressions of heartbreak and life in the city. #pestaraya 2023 filled us with stories of the Nusantara told from the heart—through music, theatre and performing arts. Slide 1: dayangsayangkamu, Malaysia’s R&B stalwart, performing yet another sold-out show at Esplanade Slide 2: nadi.singapura, a multigenerational ensemble of musicians who believe in uplifting traditional Malay percussions Slide 3: Singapo...