Karina: We wanted to put together a good combination of international, regional and local emerging and established acts across a variety of genres and musical styles for the Ombak Festival (Photo: SooPhye)
Too young to have made it to the original Woodstock and too old for Glastonbury (which was a mega hit this year, by the way), EDM (electronic dance music, if you must know) heaven Tomorrowland or
boho-chic Coachella? It is assuredly a first world problem but where oh where can the modern-day festival-goer — who is not averse to a spot of creature comforts — head to? The correct and most au courant answer right now is Desaru Coast, Malaysia.
An award-winning destination comprising a quartet of hotels from four world-class brands — One&Only, Anantara, The Westin and Hard Rock — Desaru Coast, for those who need to jog their geographical memory, sits on 4,000 acres of pristine land in the southeastern tip of Johor.
It is in this particular patch of tropical paradise that the Ombak Festival will take place from Sept 13 to 15. This three-day coming-together of world-class music, performances, visual arts and craft, and food and drink (since it is, after all, happening in culinary-obsessed Malaysia) will feature international headliners such as Grace Jones, Macy Gray and The Cardigans, backed by 23 local and regional stars who will infuse the weekend with a distinctly Asean flavour. But beyond music, revellers can also look forward to exciting pop-ups by Michelin-starred chefs and critically acclaimed restaurants, a beachfront art trail to explore, curated fashion and design offerings and, for younger visitors, their very own kids’ fringe fest.
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Putting Malaysia on the map
“This is an international festival with a Malaysian soul,” explains Karina Ridzuan, director of Ombak Festival. Its name is, of course, inspired by the Malay word for “ocean wave” and was thoughtfully chosen to highlight the deep connection between Desaru’s community and the long, vast expanse of the South China Sea-facing coastline it hugs.
“A coastal theme for our festival is a natural fit. It brings to mind a vibrant energy as reflected in the selected programming elements for this year’s event and activities. Each one is designed to reflect the rhythm of the tides, creating a seamless blend of high- and low-energy moments, all wrapped in a package of fun and enjoyable stays.”
Those familiar with the local music scene will instantly recognise the eloquent and clearly musically-inclined Karina. If there is anyone who has the richness of experience, chutzpah and chops to pull off something new like Ombak, it would be her. A graduate of Keele University in Staffordshire, the UK, Karina read law and English before kick-starting her career at Petronas, where she spent 16 years working in legal and finance as well as intellectual property, before assuming the position of CEO at both the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) and the Dewan Filharmonik Petronas.
It was under her stewardship that the Petronas-owned musical entities chalked up several firsts, including having the works of Malaysia’s best-loved cartoonist Lat scored to music, and seeing the orchestra off on its maiden tour of Japan. She then joined Destination Hotels and Resorts (DRH) group of companies, which owns and manages Desaru Coast.
“It was a great honour to have had the opportunity to lead the Dewan Filharmonik Petronas and the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra that many years ago. That role opened my eyes to the power great live performances have on people,” she muses.
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Studded with stars
“Music offers an emotional connection that transcends language, age and all the labels that divide us. In this day and age, when so much of our experience is individualistic, and more often than not through the screen of a device, I feel live performances have a way of making us truly connect through special shared moments,” says Karina.
An evocative yet powerful sentence, the words “special”, “shared” and “moments” also carry with them very human sentiments. And despite the great expectations the adjective and nouns — when put together — conjure, one somehow trusts Karina, supported by her stellar team which is currently working round the clock, to come up with a calendar of attractions and activities that is certain to impress.
One of Ombak Festival’s stars is undoubtedly multi-hyphenate singer-songwriter, model and actress Grace Jones. Those old enough to remember Roger Moore’s seventh and final outing in his famed role as slick spy James Bond in A View to a Kill are unlikely to forget Jones, who starred alongside him as Christopher Walken’s villainous henchwoman May Day.
Fans of the striking Jamaican-American star would already know that Jones herself is one of the most influential women in rock ‘n’ roll, inspiring a whole generation of artistes such as Annie Lennox, Lady Gaga and Rihanna with her inimitable style and dancefloor hits like Slave to the Rhythm, My Jamaican Guy and Demolition Man. Not content with a single big name, festival-goers can also expect Macy Gray, the raspy-voiced R&B Hall of Famer and talent behind the seminal 1999 hit I Try, and Swedish rock group The Cardigans, who are known and greatly loved for their high level of audience interaction.
“We are calling this The Ultimate Weekend and to truly deliver on this, we need icons. And we got them,” Karina beams. “We have Grace Jones coming to Desaru Coast for an Asia-exclusive performance, a significant coup for us, while Macy Gray, who has been such a presence in the industry, is celebrating the 25th anniversary of her debut album on the Ombak Main Stage. Add to that The Cardigans rocking out to hits like Lovefool, Erase/Rewind and My Favourite Game, and we have got the ultimate musical stew going.
“We wanted to put together a good combination of international, regional and local emerging and established acts across a variety of genres and musical styles, ensuring that there’s something for everyone at the Ombak Festival. All the key names you read about are performing in Malaysia for the first time.”
Not forgetting the burgeoning Asian music scene, an A-list roster of local stars like Bunga, 60s-esque pop heavy-hitters Masdo, Singaporean songbird Aisyah Aziz and Surabayan trio Thee Marloes have all been neatly slotted into the schedule.
“We have a particularly strong contingent of local female acts, each carving a niche in unique genres,” adds the festival director. “There is sapé songstress Alena Murang, who sings in the endangered Kenyah and Kelabit languages. Bunga, a renowned female rapper across Southeast Asia, notably opened for Coldplay in Kuala Lumpur. We also have The Shang Sisters, who made their mark with their unique brand of Nanyang jazz renditions.”
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Love all, serve all
Not that Ombak is just about music alone. As Desaru Coast’s first major festival, in line with its reputation as an inclusive holiday destination, there is, pardon the cliché, something for everyone.
“With over 50 events on the cards, that’s what festival-goers are gonna get,” Karina assures. “No matter what they are into, guests can mix and match food, art, and music offerings at their own pace, all supported by world-class facilities. I can assure you the festival is a carefully curated programme that guests of all ages can enjoy with the people they love — their partners, friends and children. This, of course, is just the start and we hope to build Ombak up in the coming years, and to place Desaru Coast and Johor on the regional festival map in the run-up to Visit Johor Year 2026.”
Besides music, Malaysia, being the foodie nation that it is, naturally places culinary importance at the core of every event — major or minor. “Expect exciting kitchen takeovers by the likes of Carbon KL and showcases like Andrew Walsh’s Ember Beach Club brunch,” Karina shares.
White-hot Peruvian cuisine will be represented by Feliz, one of KL’s newest and most in-demand dining rooms, while old-world Petaling Street charmer Chocha Foodstore will be serving its unique fusion tapas.
Given its seaside and sun-soaked location, salubrious cocktails need to equally be part of the equation. Mixologists from renowned Malaysian cocktail bars like Reka:Bar and Vér will also descend upon Desaru Coast to proffer festival-exclusive libations. And, enjoy some retail action by exploring smaller fringe shows curated by retail platforms, among them Dia Guild and Lokal Market, offering Southeast Asian lifestyle accessories and fashion.
Art also features strongly in Ombak’s line-up. Abdul Multhalib Musa, one of Malaysia’s top contemporary sculptors, will exhibit intricate installations that celebrate the country and region’s artistic heritage while artist and photographer Ernest Goh of Ayer Ayer is in charge of the participatory Shore Debris Table installation. Young’uns can enjoy a kids’ edition silent disco, Junglewalla eco-adventures, kite-flying, djong-sailing and Mereka Garden games.
“Ombak Festival, with multiple events set in authentic, nature-infused spaces, will appeal to all: those who wish to enjoy a vibrant, high-quality festival at their own pace; those who appreciate Malaysian culture and heritage; and, above all, those who want to share it with their family and friends of all ages. It’s an inclusive escape and one where the fun is not just on but also off the beach,” assures Karina.
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Get me to the party
In order to have fun, one must likewise get to where the action is. Connectivity poses zero problems at Desaru Coast. Besides flying in to Johor Bahru’s Senai Airport, after which it is the easiest of car transfers, Peninsular Malaysians have the equally-easy option of driving (or taking a bus) south. There is ample parking spread out at the destination while those travelling from across the Causeway are best served by the new Desaru ferry service, an effortless 90-minute ride directly from Singapore.Upon disembarkation at the Desaru Ferry Terminal, board the fully-electric buses that provide free shuttle rides.
At press time, the Ombak Festival is expected to draw 2,000 in-destination guests for weekend stay packages while 5,000 more day-trippers are expected each day for the 16 hours of the main stage performances, which have a holding capacity of 8,000. The stay ‘n’ play format, of course, works best and guests can pick from their hotel of choice. All four 5-star Desaru Coast hotels and resorts have neatly packaged stays to tie in with the three-day event and all are within walking distance of the festival sites.
“The main appeal for festival-goers is that they can enjoy Ombak at their own leisure, in whichever way they want to party. If you should stay at any of our resorts, feel free to pace out your activities each day. In between the acts, rest or go for a yoga or spa session. Dip in the pools, walk along the beach or even enjoy our Adventure Waterpark.”
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Despite having her plate full with Ombak Festival, the mother of three boys still finds a way to balance work and family. Karina shares that they, too, have a great love of music.
“It’s just that all have extremely varied tastes,” she laughs. “The eldest is eclectic and listens to alternative rock from the Noughties and the greats like Pink Floyd and Radiohead. The other two are more current and like rock, J-pop and classic bands like Queen, My Chemical Romance, Muse and Keane.”
Experience, as the adage goes, is the best teacher, and it is reassuring to note that Karina is an accomplished festival attendee.
“We have a lively regional festival circuit. I’d like to get to as many as I can but time is what I lack the most. Having said that, I’ve been to quite a few, including the long-standing Rainforest World Music Festival, Java Jazz and the Singapore Sun Festival. I feel the location and diversity of programmes heavily influence the decision to attend a festival.
“Personally, it needs to appeal to my teenagers and me. And, as an older person, I need comfortable amenities and convenience of travel,” confesses the 52-year-old. “My last memorable concert was Elton John’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road in Australia, in the Hunter Valley, New South Wales. And it was three months before the entire planet went into lockdown.”
So, where’s next on her list then? “Ombak Festival, of course.”
We really needn’t have asked.
See here more updates or to book.
This article first appeared on Jul 15, 2024 in The Edge Malaysia.
