Staying power: Malaysian rock queen Ella, 59, on why there is no Gen Z heir to her crown

SINGAPORE – Today, Malaysian singer Ella is the undisputed “Rock Queen” of Malay music.

But as a female singer in a then male-dominated rock scene, her early days in the entertainment industry were often filled with doubt.

“Back then, I didn’t know what I would get out of it. I thought maybe it was a waste of time,” the 59-year-old says of her beginnings in Kuala Lumpur’s club circuit in the early 1980s. “But actually, it wasn’t. It gave me strength and success in my career as an artiste.”

That perseverance has paid off four decades later.

In February, she performed to a crowd of about 55,000 at Bukit Jalil National Stadium in Kuala Lumpur. The landmark concert, titled Majlis Tertinggi (Supreme Ceremony) Rockqueen Ella 2026, underscored her drawing power.

On May 9, she will bring a similar concert to Singapore at The Star Theatre. Fans can expect a celebration of her legacy in music, with a set list comprising her biggest hits.

Her last two gigs here in 2023 and 2024 were held at the same venue.

Speaking to The Straits Times at a Hari Raya fan event at local restaurant The Malayan Council at The Fullerton Waterboat House on April 1, Ella says she has never taken her longevity for granted.

“I never imagined it would go this far,” she adds, reflecting on a career that has spanned over 40 years. “The sweetest moments are when I perform and the fans sing along. That feeling is really amazing.”

It is a sentiment that captures the enduring bond she shares with audiences in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei long after many of her contemporaries have faded.

Born Nor Zila Aminuddin in Penang in 1966, Ella rose to prominence with popular rock band Ella & The Boys before launching a solo career in the late 1980s that would cement her status as Malaysia’s rock royalty.

Known for her powerhouse vocals, commanding stage presence and signature jeans-and-leather-clad image, she became one of the most recognisable figures in the regional rock scene.

Her catalogue includes enduring hits such as Pengemis Cinta (Beggar Of Love, 1988) and Sepi Sekuntum Mawar Merah (The Loneliness Of A Single Red Rose, 1990), songs that continue to resonate with fans across generations.

Her 1994 album Ella USA, recorded entirely in the United States, achieved six-platinum status with over 300,000 copies sold. It made her the first Malaysian artiste to produce a full studio album abroad.

In 1998, she sang the official song for the year’s Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, and in 2017, was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at Malaysian awards show Anugerah Bintang Popular Berita Harian.

Her connection with fans, a key factor behind her staying power, remains central to her approach. She recalls how Singaporean supporters have greeted her over the years with thoughtful gestures, from home-cooked food to specially prepared gifts.

“There’s a group here. Whenever I come, they bring me all sorts of things,” the singer says with a laugh, recalling in particular a delicious cake that left a lasting impression. She married Malaysian pilot Azhar Ghazali, now 45, in 2012 and they have a nine-year-old adopted daughter.

She also recalls Singapore fans once bidding $3,000 for an abaya – a modest full-length robe – that she had designed herself, with proceeds going to charity.

On the state of Malaysian rock music, Ella acknowledges that things have changed, but pushes back against the idea that it is in decline.

“It’s not that there aren’t good artistes, there are,” she says, citing singer Amir Masdi, 29, as an example of the new generation finding its voice. “There’s more variety now. But at the base, the root is still there.”

As for a Gen Z heir to her rock queen crown, she is hopeful but measured. “I wish there were one, but it’s different now. It depends on individual preferences and what audiences want.”

The music industry has evolved, and today’s artistes operate in a very different landscape, shaped by technology and shifting tastes.

“Technology has changed a lot; it’s easier to work now,” she says of writing and recording songs in the studio. But the fundamentals have not changed much. “You have to know what you want.”

Book It/Majlis Tertinggi Rockqueen Ella 2026

Where: The Star Theatre, 04-01 The Star Performing Arts Centre, 1 Vista Exchange Green
When: May 9, 8pm
Admission: From $69 to $249 via Sistic (go to sistic.com.sg or call 6348-5555).