“I love how it has brought so many people together. Sometimes there can be division among certain groups here, so to see everyone enjoying this song together has been heartwarming,” the 24-year-old told FMT Lifestyle.
Zubir has risen to prominence in the local music landscape, having released seven catchy Tamil songs including “Per Yen Solle”, “Marainthe Uyire”, “Soga Kathai”, and “Oh My Kadhale”. Combined, they have millions of views on social media.
The singer, who is of Malay-Pakistani parentage, learnt Tamil early on, having lived with his family on an oil-palm estate in Sepang. Surrounded by people of various races and religions, he picked up the language and fine-tuned his fluency through conversations with friends – and by listening to Tamil music.
If this wasn’t impressive enough, the lad is also missing his right hand, owing to an accident with a dough mixer at his father’s bakery when he was just four.
Reflecting on his younger years, he acknowledged that growing up with a disability was difficult, and he struggled to accept it. His loved ones, however, were always there to support and encourage him.
“My family is my backbone. There were many times I said I couldn’t do something, but they pushed me until I did it. They kept reminding me that I needed to believe in myself. Thanks to them, I can do a lot of things today,” he said.
Zubir discovered his love for music at an early age. Beginning – like most people – as a bathroom singer, it was not long before he was performing at weddings and events. He names Indian composer and singer Anirudh Ravichander as his greatest inspiration.
After SPM, Zubir started looking for a job, but many places turned him down because of his missing hand. “I was close to giving up, but one day my friend said to me: since I could sing in Tamil, why not post my songs on social media?”
With nothing to lose, Zubir uploaded videos of his singing online, not really having high hopes. The response, however, was overwhelming: one of his videos hit 500,000 views. Another hit a million.
This kickstarted his singing career, but it was last year’s “Yennode Macha” – with lyrics by Zubir and music by Music Kitchen – that truly catapulted him into the limelight. This catchy song, which means “My Friend”, became a hit in both the Tamil and Malay music markets.
“I had written songs about love, about breakups before. But never songs about friendship. So I figured, why not? And now that song has changed my life,” Zubir said with a laugh.
As for the future, big things are in store. Just recently, he held his first performance in Singapore, which he described as “amazing” as he’d never expected to be singing overseas.
Fans can look forward to some new music soon, Zubir teased, and watch out for a collaboration with an international artiste. He’s coy about who it is, but can’t wait for his followers to check out the song!
His advice to aspiring singers? Build up a fanbase of people who like you, and never stop trying.
“There are many people out there with talent. But they sing for a while and then give up, saying no one supports them. Becoming popular takes a lot of work. You need to keep on trying, even if your stuff only gets 10 or 20 views at first,” he advised.
And looking back on his journey, Zubir is grateful, saying: “Some people may look at you and say, ‘Oh, he doesn’t have a hand, he doesn’t have a leg.’ That hurts; I know because I’ve gone through it.
“But at the same time, we must remember, if God takes something away, He gives you something more in return,” he concluded.
Follow Zubir Khan on Instagram and YouTube.