Hanif Arip, the director at Cre8wave and a prominent content creator with over 1.3 million followers on TikTok and Instagram, launched his single debut music on February 19. The launch took place at the Tabby Bar and Restaurant, located on the 23rd floor of the Sheraton Kuching, offering breathtaking views of the city’s waterfront — a perfect backdrop for the pre- and post-launch celebrations.
During the lift ride up, we encountered some of Hanif’s Instagram followers, all who are very young people who expressed their admiration for his interesting social media content.
Hanif is born and raised in Kuching City. Recently turned 23, he has a rich cultural heritage, being of mixed parentage — his father is Melanau, and his mother is Teochew Chinese. His father passed away when Hanif was just three years old, and he was raised by his mother, with whom he shares a fluent command of Mandarin. He also fluent in both Bahasa Malaysia and English.
His single, “Parallel Universe”, is classified as Mandopop and is now available on major streaming platforms like Spotify, YouTube, Tik Tok. Instagram, Apple Music and iTunes Store. The accompanying music video is visually stunning with the opening scene of him coming out from the sea and stumbling onto a beach, and with lyrics that explore themes of parallel dimensions and alternate realities.
Hanif’s journey into music is part of a broader narrative that spans various passions. Known as a go-kart racing champion locally, and a popular content creator, he first entered the entertainment industry during the 2020 lockdown when he started making TikTok videos.
After the lockdown, his following grew rapidly, eventually surpassing 1.3 million on TikTok. In 2022, his talent caught the eye of an entertainment industry manager, leading him to pursue acting, where he starred in several dramas and shows.
In 2023, Hanif was introduced to individuals who encouraged him to debut as a solo artiste in South Korea’s entertainment scene, with plans for a 2024 release.
However, following a fallout with the management team in early 2024, Hanif decided to take a break from the industry, feeling disheartened and betrayed. Despite the setback, by mid-2024, support from peers in the industry reignited his passion for music.
“I knew deep down that it is what I have always wanted to do. I had just been neglecting that feeling because of what happened with my former management. Eventually, I made the decision to return,” Hanif shared.
Reigniting his passion, Hanif began practising again, and by September 2024, he released his first cover song. He followed up with two more covers in October. By December 2024, he was ready for an original track.
After several demos and discussions with his music producer, he finally found the sound he had been searching for. The song was recorded by January 2025, and the music video was shot two weeks later. His debut single delves into the complex emotions and memories of past relationships.
Looking ahead, Hanif has already mapped out his 2025 song releases. “I want each of my songs to tell a different part of my life. I hope that listeners can relate to them and find their true selves through my music,” he said.
His newly released single received positive feedbacks, and we have already received the good news that his next single will be released in April 2025.
Now if you are wondering where his inspiration come from, this is what he shared.
“My musical inspiration comes from my childhood love of Western pop music, but as I entered my late teens, I became drawn to Mandopop. The diversity of emotions and stories conveyed through the genre captivated me, ultimately leading me to fall in love with it.“
Hanif describes his singing style as having a warm tone with a powerful delivery, yet he can switch to a softer tone depending on the emotions the song evokes. His voice’s versatility reflects the range of feelings he wishes to convey in his music.
Creating any single or album is a monumental achievement for any artiste, marking their arrival as a serious and committed musician. Producing one demands extensive planning, dedication, and hard work. It has been a while since we have heard of any Kuching native launching a single so we extend our heartfelt best wishes to Hanif Arip as he embarks on this exciting journey in the music industry.
Hanif’s music is currently available on all major streaming platforms such as Spotify, Youtube Music, TikTok, Apple Music, iTunes Store and various others.
