A Night with DUKES: A Band Still on Their Quest
- Naema
- 3 hours ago
- 8 min read
Naema chats with rising local indie-rock band DUKES at their first standalone gig about songwriting, a possible Chinese track, and the very serious question of who would survive being stranded on an island.
On 7th February, I found myself at Hartamas Asia watching five Malaysians who, somewhere along the way, decided that jamming together occasionally wasn’t enough — they were going to be a band. Meet DUKES: an indie-pop rock band with Ziyad on vocals, Rayyan on lead guitar, Jimbo on rhythm guitar, Umar on bass, and Tyler on drums. Active since 2023, they’ve already released nine singles (with more on the way), steadily carving out their place in the local indie scene.
Saturday night marked their first standalone gig. At first, calling them “rising stars” felt like a big title to live up to — until they hit the stage and you suddenly find yourself thinking: okay, these humans are actually kind of cool…
6:14 pm | Meeting the band, I found each of them proudly wearing medieval-themed costumes for their “Dukes Quest” concept. Rayyan rebelled with just a tie, perhaps his signature move. Everyone looked relaxed, like they’d done this a thousand times before, even if it was actually their first headline show. They carried themselves like people ready to rock a stage and survive a medieval battle. I had the luxury of just observing, taking in the pride and the subtle moments where they exchanged grins, clearly enjoying one another’s company. It was impossible not to smile along.
6:31 pm | When asked about the difference between DUKES’ first standalone gig and their previous performances, Ziyad summed it up simply: “For other gigs, you don’t have to think of anything.” Before this, they were simply given a slot and told when to play — all they had to do was show up and perform. This time, the responsibility was entirely theirs. They had to plan the set, think about the flow, and shape the whole experience themselves. Umar chimed in, making sure to give a shoutout to Mathew, owner of Hartamas Asia, who had their backs the whole way.
“Since it’s only us, we had to think about how to make it interesting; that’s why we have costumes and a storyline,” Ziyad explained. In just a month of planning, the band turned a simple gig into a carefully crafted performance.
“Well, let’s just do our own show,” Rayyan recalled. Before this gig, the boys even ran a quick poll to figure out who their real crowd was, because up until then, they had always played alongside other bands and honestly had no clue if anyone was actually there for them. While they’ve been building a following on social media, particularly TikTok, the turnout still caught them off guard. “We sold out in just 10 days,” Umar said, pride and gratitude shining through. With a growing fanbase and their growing curiosity, fans were already clamouring for more of DUKES.
6:37 pm | When discussing who’d survive stranded on an island, Jimbo confidently declared he’d make it; after all, he’s from Sabah. Ziyad, on the other hand, admitted defeat. Rayyan tried to back him up, insisting he knows how to light a fire. Umar just shrugged and said maybe they’d all die at the same time. It was hilarious and strangely heartwarming, taking a peek into their friendship. Their ultimate conclusion was that they’d all just go together… probably laughing the whole way.
6:39 pm | “Someone will generate an idea, someone will propose it to the group, and we’ll work from there,” Tyler explained that for some songs, each member works individually on their upcoming album. Usually, they meet at Jimbo’s house to jam and find melodies, letting the music evolve organically.
Then Rayyan jumped in. “It’s not that straightforward,” then the room erupted into a hilarious torrent of unfinished songs, messy ideas, and confessions about what works and what doesn’t.
When he muttered, “It’s not always nice,” everyone burst out laughing, partly at the truth of it and partly at the way he said it. He admitted that if a song isn’t good enough, he might not send it to the band at all (maybe just to Jimbo). “You can tell from their reaction if it’s true or not,” Rayyan added. “Might be fake, but at least the thought counts.”
“Sometimes an idea may not align,” Jimbo said. Then, as if sealing the deal, he added, “It doesn’t matter, because at the end of the day, it’s our song.” You could feel the pride in his statement, the kind that comes from making something together.
6:43 pm | Ziyad joked about how he keeps pestering Tyler to write Chinese songs, but the request has so far only been met with laughter. Will it ever happen? Only time will tell. Ziyad proceeded to share his take on songwriting in both languages: “Malay is very melodious and poetic, while English is more upbeat, fun, and simple.” The choice of language also affects how a song sounds, as Rayyan described: “Some songs just work better in English than Malay, and vice versa”.
When the topic of comparisons to established singers came up, the band responded easily. “We don’t take offence,” Jimbo shrugged. “We see it as a compliment, like — if people are comparing us to huge singers, technically we made a good song.” Tyler chimed in, noting that there are only so many notes on the guitar, while the piano and drums are usually the same, so some overlap is inevitable. The rest of the band agreed. “But execution is always different,” he added.
6:50 pm | The band teased one of their upcoming tracks, “Kisah Kita,” a duet between Jimbo and Ziyad, that will make its live debut during the show. The conversation then turned to their upcoming album, where everyone contributed their own songs, and will definitely showcase each member’s individual style and personality. They expressed hope that everyone enjoys their music after the show and help build a small but close-knitted “Dukie family” community. (PS: Dukies is the unofficial name of their fan base!)
7:05 pm | The studio was starting to get busy as more people trickled in for the gig. The band chatted with fellow Dukies while I soaked in the atmosphere. Merch tables were set up, and the band was just starting to promote to everyone. The room buzzed with anticipation as they ran through a few brief soundchecks.
When the lights finally dimmed, the chatter faded, and the first notes rang out, the energy in the room shifted instantly. The night kicked off with an opening act by Laisa, who waved to the audience, guitar in hand, and filled the room with her solo performance.
As the applause followed after Laisa’s last song, everyone was ready for what was next.
“Whether a fluke or a Duke, the choice is yours.”
The lights went out and the screen lit up. Before the instruments began playing, a mini-movie started playing instead: two warriors clashed, and when one fell, a young boy watched in awe and, without hesitation, picked up the fallen sword. The words flashed across the screen – “A Duke is born.” The crowd leaned in, anticipation buzzing like electricity. Then, just like that, the band exploded into action. Lagu Tiga ripped through the room.
The story on the screen continued, the boy has now grown into a Duke, fighting for glory and greatness, and with that, the band launched into their next song, Melangkahi Aku. The crowd didn’t just react — they lost all chill, clapping and cheering like caffeine had been banned for a week. The video shifted again: our Duke had met a young maiden, and the atmosphere softened as the band moved into Laila. Romantic, if only for a moment.
Benci Jadi Cinta debuted live, a moment that felt both new and personal. With smiles, small gestures, and playful interactions, the band made the audience feel part of the music. They flowed seamlessly into Girls, a fun, energetic track that had a touch of nostalgic pop energy. Then came the long-teased Kisah Kita, performed live at last. The duet between Jimbo and Ziyad had everyone vibrating with excitement.
They continued with their classic hits, keeping the momentum high all night. Rayyan stepped forward for a guitar solo, and the crowd went absolutely wild. At one point, he almost fell into the mic, a hilarious reminder that they were just having fun, living the moment. My favourite part came when Ziyad cheered Tyler on for a beat, and the rest of the band, Rayyan, Jimbo, and Umar, layered their instruments around him, the crowd matching every rhythm. As the night began to wind down, the band followed with Bila Kau Datang Menangis, another crowd favourite, and the audience sang every word, heart and soul.
That was supposed to be the last song, but the chants for one more were impossible to ignore. They returned to Girls, this time with everyone knowing it was truly the finale. The crowd turned into a wriggly-wormy conga line, the band joined in, and laughter, cheers, and music blended into a shared celebration.
Finally, with thank-yous, shoutouts to other local bands who came to support, and countless photos with their supportive Dukies, the night ended feeling less like a performance and more like a casual afterparty with everyone just enjoying the music and each other’s company.
Coming in with zero expectations and a non-indie fan, I walked out genuinely enjoying myself. Malaysia’s indie music may still be finding its groove, but nights like this prove it’s alive, messy, and full of surprises. From themed costumes to playful storytelling and a sold-out crowd cheering along to every beat, it was an insightful glimpse into a scene experimenting, connecting, and growing in its own unpredictable way.
Talent alone doesn’t make a show; dynamics and a little delightful chaos do. DUKES’ first standalone gig proved they know their quirks and aren’t afraid to flaunt them. Five friends on stage, laughing, improvising, and just doing their thing, made the night feel alive precisely because it refused to be overly polished. The kind of alive that makes everyone in the room jump, shout, and smile.
So, go to your next local gig, and you might just find yourself swept up in the same joy.
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