MERDEKA season is great for us musicians. As with any independence day celebration the world over, it’s party time with a capital P – concerts, parades, sales, promotions, product placements… you name it. Just slap on the Merdeka hashtag for indisputable proof of patriotism.

There are gigs galore in conjunction with Merdeka, and not only on the day of. Last year, I played at an independent cinema in Taman Desa on August 28, followed by Merdekarya in Petaling Jaya on Merdeka eve, partied, hit the road the next morning to perform in a forest reserve in Kulim, partied, headed to George Town on September 1, and then back to Kuala Lumpur to, of course, party some more. This time around, I’ll have my first coronavirus-era, SOP-compliant live show in Kelana Jaya. We’ll see how that goes.

Aside from its obvious historical significance, Merdeka is an important public holiday (and we Malaysians do love our public holidays, don’t we?) as it’s secular in nature, a celebration for all citizens regardless of creed or colour, age or gender, or political affiliations. Almost everyone has the day off and can attend should you decide to host a gathering, unless it falls on a Monday or Friday, making for a three-day weekend that some will use as an opportunity to balik kampung or go on vacation.

It’s also a “combo holiday” with Malaysia Day, which comes a little over two weeks after August 31. Malaysia Day wasn’t really celebrated until about 10 years ago – strange that it was hardly a thought as I was growing up, but this just goes to show how peninsula-centric our idea of the nation remained in the decades that followed September 16, 1963.

I see a parallel between the formation of Malaysia and that of a band: four like-minded musicians with their own talents and idiosyncrasies meet, hang out (a lot), chat into the wee hours, cook up plans (and meals, for sure – we indeed love our food!), jam, and hang out even more before finally deciding to formalise their “union”. All for one and one for all!

The world is the band’s oyster, with plenty of opportunities ripe for the taking. And take they do with gusto, like any young group with a lust for life. Records are made, songs are sung, and as individuals, they grow, not just in terms of maturity, but also more weary, after spending so much time together travelling from one dead-end town to the next, playing the same songs to different crowds night after night, rollin’ and tumblin’ like a rollin’ stone. Their different tics and habits start to become irritating, glares and glances are given and stolen, sharp remarks are uttered, and cracks appear as each person’s confidence builds, and so, too, his hopes, dreams and ambitions. The clashing of values and opinions is inevitable. It doesn’t help that the members all have strong personalities.

Fed up with the squabbles, one of them – luckily not the vocalist – quits. The remaining three decide to soldier on; they still function well as a unit and appreciate the band’s worth. It already boasts a commendable following and a strong brand, so the band’s name stays. A three-legged dog is still a dog, as Michael Stipe of alternative rock legends R.E.M. said when drummer Bill Berry left.

The singer, who is also the chief songwriter, has other plans, however. He leverages his frontman image and lyrical prowess to propel himself ahead of the other two members, and the band’s photos and marketing materials begin to feature him more prominently. With great visibility comes great star power, and he releases a couple of solo albums on the side. But they tank despite his team’s best promotional efforts, while the band remains the successful enterprise it is. His bandmates, aware of their strength in numbers, put their foot down – rightfully so – and remind him that the band comprises all three; they’re not merely his backing band. All of them compose, record and perform together, and above all, the fans have spoken, reaffirming their adoration for the group as a whole, not its individual members.

The singer eats humble pie, and the trio stay intact. They get back on the road, going from one dead-end town to the next, playing the same songs to different crowds, rollin’ and tumblin’ like a rollin’ stone.

Like most good bands that survive, we’ve stuck together through thick and thin because we know what we can achieve as one, building on our unique strengths and talents. As a collective, we’re greater than the sum of our parts. Yes, we have our differences, but they’re also the source of our dynamism.

Selamat Hari Merdeka and Malaysia Day, everyone. And remember, when indulging in this combo holiday, don’t forget the SOP! – August 28, 2020.

* Azmyl Yunor is a touring underground recording artiste, and an academic in media and cultural studies. He has published articles on pop culture, subcultures and Malaysian cultural politics. He adheres to the three-chords-and-the-truth school of songwriting, and Woody Guthrie’s maxim “All you can write is what you see”. He is @azmyl on Twitter.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.