Journey of a rising star in Malaysian entertainment

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Growing up, radio announcer Alisa Spencer always showcased her talent through singing. Her strong vocal chords led to many powerful performances. Starting by singing at home, at school, and uploading cover videos on social media, Alisa’s passion for singing never faltered.

Recently, Alisa released her first single under Jyan Entertainment, titled “Semudah Itu”, a song written by Joe Slash and Natasyah that talks about heartbreak and love betrayal. The music video, launched on YouTube on June 16, showcases her display of emotions, marking a professional debut for a beginner in the industry.

In an interview with New Sarawak Tribune, the 27-year-old shares her life’s journey as a singer, her entry into the Malaysian entertainment industry, and her future plans.

Q: Could you tell us about yourself? How did you become the person you are today?

A: Over the years, I have sung behind the camera, made covers, and performed at events in Kuching. Now, I’m pursuing my career as a radio announcer. It’s been a journey to get where I am now. I started singing at four when my late grandfather took care of me. He would sing oldies songs, and I learned a little from him. That’s when I started seeing him as an idol. When I was 12, my friends forced me to join the school’s singing competition. I never knew how to sing, but I won first place in that competition. That’s when I thought, maybe I could sing. After my Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) exam, I made use of my free time by going out to perform. I joined many competitions. My proudest achievement was when we won a championship and were given the chance to perform at the Kuching Jazz Festival.

While I never took vocal classes due to financial and time constraints, I never gave up. Eventually, I learned to sing by ear, listening to many singers, studying how they perform live, and understanding the techniques they use to project their voices. I also picked up tips from singers I met all around Malaysia after I moved to Kuala Lumpur. Before becoming a radio announcer, I worked as a social media executive at one of the radio stations in Malaysia. The Malaysian singers I met were always kind enough to share their tips with me. While working there, I made many connections with people in the industry.

Then, I was offered the chance to work with Indonesian vocalist Adi Priyo from Sixth Sense. He asked if I would like to sing a song composed by him, and being a huge fan, I accepted. During that same week, I was surprised by another offer to work as a radio announcer in Sarawak.

Looking back, I’ve always dreamed of releasing a single. I made a promise to myself to release a single before turning 30, and with the support of my friends, family, and loved ones, I made it.

What life lessons have you learned from your journey?

I learned that no matter how old you get, as long as you have the passion and effort to reach your dreams, nothing is impossible. I’ve always been afraid of my age. What I mean is that I’m scared if I fail to release a song before reaching a certain age, it will be hard to stay relevant. I used to cry in bed thinking, ‘I love singing so much, I’ve performed at many places — when will I have my own single like other singers?’ At times, I get very insecure when I meet people who sing at events; I would think, ‘mesti they have their own song, yet I don’t have any.’ Still, I never gave up. I kept praying every day because I knew that someday people would recognise me and want to do projects with me. When there’s a will, there’s a way.

This journey has allowed me to meet many people. I learned who to trust and to be very careful with those around me. Sometimes people might use us for their own benefit; some want us to sing without paying any fee, or they offer ‘exposure’ instead of proper compensation. That situation hurts. Nevertheless, I learned to be firm because I was someone who seldom said no to things.

Have there been moments of exhaustion with such a busy lifestyle?

To be honest, working as a radio announcer and a singer is tough. People might say we just talk and sing, but they don’t know what we do before going on air. Being a radio announcer requires a broad knowledge of current issues. You have to be fast and energetic, and very careful about what you convey to the public. I work the morning show as a radio announcer, and the first few weeks were exhausting because waking up as early as 3am is not something I was used to. It used to be my sleeping time, but things have changed. People might think that right after my shift ends at 10am, I can go back and sleep, but that’s not the case. I have to prepare my talk sets for the next day, which sometimes means I don’t get home until around 1pm or 2pm. Creating ideas, content, and what to say on the radio is not as easy as it seems. But talking to people is also my passion, and advocating for people is something I love to do! And of course, singing is always at heart.

Since my workplace is quite far away and I face the hectic traffic in Kuala Lumpur, it is arduous. I get sleepy most of the time and sometimes even fall asleep with my coffee beside me. What I do is call my friend to ‘teman me while driving.’ Sometimes, I take naps and stop by a nearby gas station to rest before driving home. It takes me an hour just to get home, so I usually arrive around 3 to 4pm.

I have other jobs as well, such as reviewing products for brands. This is what I do at night after a quick nap at 5pm. Working can be tiring and exhausting, but I’m blessed to work in this field because it is what I love to do. How I keep myself on track is by lying down in bed, listening to music, going shopping, manicures, and massages. That’s how I reward myself for the hectic lifestyle I have. I used to think people who went out alone were lonely, but am I lonely now? No! When you get older, all you want is some ‘me time’ — just you and yourself.