KUCHING: Celebrated Bidayuh artiste, Carrie Geres, marked a significant milestone in her musical journey with the release of ‘Dayung Bidayuh’ (2026 Remix), a refreshed take on one of her most beloved songs, accompanied by an official music video nearly a decade in the making.
The single, now available on major streaming platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, and Tidal, as well as on Carrie’s official YouTube channel, arrives ten years after the song was first written and five years after its last remix.
Originally composed in 2015 in the wake of Carrie’s successful debut single ‘Tenggie Ku’’, ‘Dayung Bidayuh’ was crafted as a tribute to Bidayuh womanhood in its entirety.
Though certain lyrics reference Dayung Biperoh – a nod to the Biatah sub-group of Padawan – Carrie is keen to stress that the song’s message extends far beyond a single community.
“This song represents Bidayuh women as a whole, whether from Padawan, Bau, Serian, Lundu, or even West Kalimantan, Indonesia,” she said.
The song went on to claim top honours at the Wai FM Bidayuh Song Chart Awards (ACLB2019) at RTM Kuching, cementing its place as an anthem within the community.
Behind the music is a deeply personal creative partnership.
The song was written, composed and produced by Carrie’s brother, Lester Geres, drawing on the Biperoh dialect laced with modern language and slang from their parents’ home villages of Kampung Garung and Kampung Jambu.
It was recorded, mixed and mastered by another brother, Bernie Joel Geres, at the family’s own studio, Tsitra Music.
Lester explained that the deliberate choice of hip-hop and rhythm and blues(R&B) as the song’s genre was driven by a desire to reach younger audiences whilst keeping the Bidayuh language alive and relevant.
“It may not be entirely pure Biatah or Biperoh dialect, but that is how we ourselves speak nowadays. This song is our authentic selves,” he said.
Musically, the 2026 remix retains the haunting quality that made the original so distinctive – dark undertones punctuated by the sound of bells and muffled gongs – whilst introducing a restructured drum and bassline for a more contemporary, energetic feel.
For this latest version, Carrie herself has stepped into new creative territory by contributing an original English-language rap verse.
“I wanted to show everyone that I’m not just a singer – I can rap as well. Many people don’t know that about me,” she said.
Perhaps the most striking aspect of this release is the official music video, directed by Director GX, which was filmed across three separate phases spanning nine years.
The earliest footage dates back to 2018, captured along a riverside near Kampung Annah Rais – a location that has since taken on a poignant significance, as the large tree that once stood at the water’s edge was lost to flooding in subsequent years.
Further scenes were filmed in 2023 at Carrie’s home in Kuching, with the final phase completed in early 2026 at Semadang and Kampung Garung, with additional support from Que River Retreat in Kampung Bunuk.
The video is a visual celebration of Bidayuh identity, showcasing an eclectic blend of traditional, contemporary, couture and streetwear fashion.
Designs by MG Couture and HafizDressmaker weave in ethnic motifs from the Bidayuh community and other Dayak groups across Sarawak and Kalimantan.
A particularly moving feature of the video is the appearance of Dashin Ngalong, understood to be one of the last Bidayuh women to wear traditional copper bangles from Kampung Semban – a quiet but powerful reminder of a fading cultural practice.
The video also includes special appearances by local artistes, Pearl and Rendall, of the group Swaiv, Jasmine John and Michael Gayut MG.
‘Dayung Bidayuh’ (2026 Remix) is available now on all major streaming platforms. The official music video can be viewed at youtube.com/CarrieGeres.
