Multilingual singer Layla Sania embraces cultural curiosity and Malaysian identity in new release

LAYLA Sania recently launched her self composed Chinese New Year (CNY) single Xin Nian Re Nao, marking what she described as a deeply personal milestone in her career.

The 24-year-old singer, who began learning Mandarin at the age of two, said releasing her first CNY song came with mixed emotions.

“Honestly, I felt a mix of excitement and nervousness before recording it. I wanted to make sure I approached it with respect and sincerity,” she said.

She added that the response since its release has been encouraging.

“After recording it, I felt relieved and proud. And after releasing it, I feel incredibly grateful. Seeing the positive response and support from people of different backgrounds has been very humbling. It reminds me why music is such a powerful bridge between cultures,” Layla said.

Layla, who went to Chinese schools and continues to study Mandarin at university, said CNY has always been more about people than performance.

“For me, it is just like any celebration. It is a time where everybody gathers together and meets their relatives. Sometimes people from far away come back and it is a time for you to share,” she told theSun.

As a Malay artiste active in the Mandarin music scene, she said the festive season gives her a chance to reconnect with friends and experience culture up close.

“I honestly feel like it is a time for me to meet people that I have not seen in a long time. Because I am Malay and many of my friends are Chinese, going to their celebrations, seeing their culture and eating together is such a fun thing,” she said.

Xin Nian Re Nao was co-composed and co-written with her father, making it a family collaboration. While many festive songs lean heavily on familiar formulas, Layla said she wanted to try something different.

“It is my first CNY song. If I release something that sounds the same as everyone else, it will not stand out. So I tried something cooler, something different from my usual image,” she said.

Layla also revealed the track incorporates Malay musical elements.

“In this song, we actually put a few Malay instruments inside. I feel like it is such a fun thing if we can include Malaysian culture. We are not just Malay or Chinese. We are Malaysians,” she said.

The launch also highlighted her growing presence within the Mandarin market, locally and abroad. Layla said curiosity often follows her performances in Taiwan and China, but not discrimination.

“Mostly it is curiosity. They will ask, are you Malay, are you Muslim, but you can speak Chinese? It is a language. Anybody can learn Chinese,” she said.

Looking ahead, she expressed hopes that the song will carry a message beyond festive cheer.

“My hope is, if this song can make even one person feel seen, included, or curious about another culture, then I feel I have already succeeded,” she said.

Xin Nian Re Nao is now available on digital streaming platforms, with a Hari Raya follow-up planned as part of a two-part festive project.

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 The Sun Malaysia