Behind every performance is a talent waiting to be discovered. Through a growing partnership, Hello Kuching and Lek. hope to give Sarawakian artists the space, support and opportunities they need to make their mark.
Growing creative dreams in Kuching
Must local artists leave Kuching to make it big? Not necessarily.
A group of homegrown creatives is determined to prove that talent can flourish, careers can be built and opportunities can be created right here in Sarawak.
That belief came together at Hello Kuching @ Lek., a music and arts gathering held at 24, China Street, Kuching, where local performers, creative workshops and different forms of artistic expression shared the same space.
But behind the performances was a bigger ambition: to give local artists more room to grow, connect with audiences and earn a living from their creativity.
For Hello Kuching and Lek. World, the gathering marked a step towards building a stronger creative community, one that does not always have to look beyond Sarawak for opportunities.
Challenging perceptions of local talent
For John-Paul Davis, better known as JP, co-founder and coordinator of Lek. World, one of the biggest challenges is changing the perception that artists have little future if they choose to build their careers in Kuching.
He believes local talent has considerable potential but needs the right environment, support and opportunities to develop.
“We want to challenge that perception and prove that local artists can develop their talents, build careers and earn a good income,” he said.
Through its collaboration with Hello Kuching, Lek. World hopes to draw on available resources, networks and partnerships to support local artists.
That vision is also central to Hello Kuching, whose co-founder Syed Abdul Rasyid wants to develop a space for local subcultures and creative industries.
A quantity surveyor by profession, Rasyid said the platform was established to highlight homegrown artists, nurture their abilities and provide opportunities for them to express their creativity.
He believes local performers deserve greater attention, particularly those who may already have an online following but have yet to perform before a live audience.
“We often see artists from overseas being invited to perform in Sarawak. We also want to give our own local artists the opportunity to showcase what they can do,” he said.
One way is to introduce performers who have gained recognition through platforms such as TikTok to wider audiences through live performances, allowing them to develop their potential beyond the digital space.
For Rasyid, the aim is not simply to put artists on stage, but to give them opportunities to take their work further.
An event with more to offer
Designed as an 11-hour programme running from 4 pm to 3 am, the gathering brought together local music performances and creative activities, giving artists opportunities to showcase their talents while introducing the public to different aspects of Kuching’s creative scene.
Beyond the performances, the programme also featured workshops, including a tie-dye activity and Hot Cues, an all-girl DJ workshop aimed at encouraging more women to explore electronic music.
For JP, such activities are part of a wider effort to nurture local talent through inspiration, hands-on experiences and performance opportunities.
He believes watching fellow artists perform can inspire others to develop their own creativity, while workshops allow them to explore new skills and gain practical experience.
The all-girl DJ workshop, for instance, was intended to encourage greater female participation in a scene that JP believes remains male-dominated.
Making the gathering accessible to the public was equally important. Admission was free, a decision Rasyid said was intended to introduce Hello Kuching to the community while welcoming people from all backgrounds.
“We want people to come, get to know Hello Kuching and see what we are working towards. At the same time, we want to create a space that is open to everyone,” he said.
The organisers also hoped to bring creative experiences closer to urban communities, allowing people to take part in activities that might otherwise require them to travel elsewhere.
A partnership built on shared interests
Bringing the gathering to life was a collaboration between Hello Kuching and Lek., built on an existing relationship and a shared interest in the local creative scene.
For Rasyid, choosing Lek. as the venue felt natural. Having visited regularly and witnessed various events there, he described the place as a second home.
The two parties had also worked together on activities involving art, music and other creative interests.
Under the arrangement, Lek. provides the venue and facilities, while Hello Kuching contributes its services and event-organising expertise. Both hope to grow together through further collaborations.
Behind the partnership, however, is the work of people with different backgrounds and commitments.
“Although Faruqi, Zulkamal and I have known one another for about 20 years, we still have things to learn about each other. We have different commitments and perspectives, but that also allows us to learn from one another,” Rasyid said.
For JP, organising a programme spanning 11 hours also brought practical challenges, particularly in coordinating performers’ schedules and ensuring they arrived on time.
“One of the good things about working with local artists is that they are flexible and cooperative. Even when we face challenges, we can usually work things out through communication,” he said.
The venue itself offers further potential for creative collaborations.
JP said the concept behind the creative space began about four years ago. The previous premises had been in operation for three years before the move to the current location, which had been open for approximately three months at the time of the gathering.
The new premises offer more comprehensive facilities, including a recording studio, a design studio, a second-floor space and a larger event area.
Rather than limiting the venue to dining and nightlife, he hopes to explore different concepts, from music and cultural activities to cocktail-themed gatherings and Halloween events.
With its expanded facilities and space for different activities, he sees opportunities for the venue to serve a wider community of artists and audiences in Kuching.
From Kuching to international stages
For the organisers, keeping the initiative going will require more than creative ideas. It will also depend on public support, partnerships and the resources needed to bring future programmes to life.
Faruqi Jeniri, a Hello Kuching co-founder, brings an entrepreneurial perspective to that ambition. Beyond his involvement in Hello Kuching, Faruqi is active in digital entrepreneurship through Orisa Digital and Orisa Original Sarawak, which provide application development and website design services.
He said the initiative was aligned with Sarawak’s ambition to develop its digital economy by 2030, particularly by helping entrepreneurs generate income through digital platforms and strengthening the local economy.
“We want everyone involved to benefit from this initiative, including artists, entrepreneurs and the local community. For this event, everyone had an opportunity to earn, and we hope this can continue in the future,” he said.
Promoting the gathering also involved reaching audiences through different channels. Faruqi said the team used mainstream media, online news platforms and social media such as Threads and Facebook, recognising that younger audiences often turned to digital platforms for information.
Media partners, including Suara Sarawak, Sarawak Tribune and TVS, supported the promotion, while several individuals also contributed sponsorship support.
He described the response as positive and hoped more sponsors would come forward to support future programmes.
Zulkamal Azman, another Hello Kuching co-founder and photographer, said the gathering gave local artists opportunities to showcase their work and receive payment for their participation, while the public could enjoy the performances free of charge.
He described the response as encouraging, particularly given the venue’s central location in Kuching.
The gathering also served as a pilot programme to gauge public interest and explore further collaboration with local artists.
“Several performers had already approached us about joining future programmes,” Zulkamal said.
Looking ahead, Rasyid said Hello Kuching hoped to organise similar events regularly, potentially every month, depending on public response, financial resources and sponsorship support.
Ideas being considered include programmes during Ramadan and Aidilfitri, music events after Hari Raya, as well as activities involving skateboarding, pickleball and other creative collaborations.
Ultimately, the founders hope to make Hello Kuching part of Kuching’s wider arts, culture and entertainment ecosystem, while attracting more visitors interested in experiencing the city’s creative scene.
For JP, the longer-term ambition reaches beyond Kuching. He hopes local artists will first gain recognition and appreciation from their own communities, creating a stronger foundation for opportunities on bigger stages.
He hopes to see Sarawakian performers represent their home state at international music festivals, believing such recognition must begin with support from their own communities.
“When local audiences appreciate and support their own artists, it creates a stronger foundation for them to grow and reach wider audiences,” JP said.
For the people behind Hello Kuching and Lek., the ambition is to create those opportunities locally — giving Sarawakian creativity room to grow before taking it to bigger stages.
