After more than 25 years in music, former Kamikaze frontman T-Rex has finally written the song he always dreamed of creating. More than a new single, ‘Anak Borneo‘ is a heartfelt love letter to the island that shaped him – and to every Anak Borneo who still calls it home.
Home has a curious way of finding us
SOMETIMES it arrives in the scent of rain drifting through an open window. Sometimes it hides in the familiar taste of mee kolok, the rhythm of an old dialect, or the chorus of cicadas as dusk settles over the rainforest.
For those who have left Borneo in search of work, education or new beginnings, home is rarely just a place. It lingers in unexpected moments – when a friend mentions Sarawak, when a traditional melody fills the air, or when photographs of mist-covered mountains and winding rivers suddenly appear on a phone screen.
Distance may change where we live, but it rarely changes where our hearts return.
Perhaps that is why, after more than 25 years in music, former Kamikaze frontman T-Rex found himself returning to where his own story began.
Not through another rock anthem. Not through another concert.
But through ‘Anak Borneo’ – the one song he had always dreamed of writing.
More than simply a new single, it is a musical love letter to his birthplace, Sarawak, and to the wider Borneo region that has shaped his identity since childhood.
“I’ve always kept the desire to create a song that truly represents my homeland.
“I wanted a song that, whenever people hear it, they would immediately think of Borneo, our culture and the hometown that always remains close to our hearts,” he said.
For T-Rex, whose real name is Terence Law, the song marks the fulfilment of a dream that quietly accompanied him throughout a career spanning more than two decades.
Long before audiences knew him as the charismatic frontman of legendary rock band Kamikaze, before the band won Best Rock Album at the Anugerah Industri Muzik (AIM) in 2001, there was simply a young boy growing up in Kuching, absorbing the sights, sounds and spirit of the island he proudly calls home.
Throughout the years, he continued evolving as an artiste. After embarking on his solo journey, he explored different genres through projects including the EP ‘Kembali Menyala’, the Chinese New Year single ‘Rock in the Horse Year’ and the Hari Raya song ‘Memori Hari Raya’.
Yet despite the different musical directions, one idea remained close to his heart.
It waited patiently for more than 25 years.
The dream that waited 25 years
Born into a family of mixed Chinese and Bidayuh heritage, T-Rex grew up surrounded by the rich diversity that has long defined Borneo.
Growing up in Sarawak meant culture was never something reserved for festivals or museums. It was part of everyday life – heard in the many languages spoken among neighbours, tasted in family recipes passed from one generation to the next, and seen in communities where people of different races and faiths celebrated together.
His childhood was coloured by towering rainforests alive with birdsong, rivers that carried both boats and stories, and the warmth of longhouse hospitality, where visitors were welcomed like family.
Those memories never faded. Instead, they quietly found their way into ‘Anak Borneo’.
Rather than simply celebrating the island’s natural beauty, the song reflects something even deeper – the people whose cultures, traditions and shared values have long been the heartbeat of Borneo.
According to T-Rex, the title itself carries a meaning that extends far beyond geography.
‘Anak Borneo’ represents everyone who was born, raised or has ties to this land, regardless of race or religion.
“For me, it symbolises togetherness and unity, which have always been the true strength of the people of Sarawak and Sabah,” he explained.
The lyrics tell the story of someone who journeys far from home but never forgets where they came from.
It is a sentiment familiar to countless Sarawakians and Sabahans who have left the island for education, careers or new opportunities, yet still find themselves instinctively referring to Borneo as “home”.
Perhaps that is why the song resonates beyond its melody. It reminds listeners that home is not measured by distance, but by the memories and values we continue carrying with us.
More than a place called home
For T-Rex, creating ‘Anak Borneo’ meant more than writing lyrics.
It meant finding a way to transform decades of memories into something listeners could both hear and feel.
That required more than a melody. It required storytelling.
To bring his long-held vision to life, he reunited with songwriter, producer and creative director, Melissa Ng, whose creative partnership with him stretches across several previous projects.
Together, they approached Anak Borneo not simply as another song, but as a story with its own soul.
Melissa penned the lyrics, composed the melody, produced the music and shaped the project’s overall creative direction – from its visual identity to the incorporation of traditional ethnic costumes that honour Borneo’s rich cultural heritage.
“I truly appreciate Melissa’s talent. She not only writes lyrics and creates melodies but is also responsible for the entire creative concept of this project.
“From the original idea and message of the song to music production and music video concepts, everything was carefully planned and crafted. To me, she is an incredibly talented woman in the creative field,” T-Rex said.
He added that every heritage element featured throughout the project had been carefully envisioned from the very beginning.
Although the accompanying music video was filmed at several natural locations in Selangor due to logistical considerations, thoughtful cinematography and creative direction successfully recreated the essence of Borneo through sweeping landscapes, cultural symbolism and traditional attire.
The result is more than a music video. It is a visual tribute to the island and the people who continue preserving its identity.
A love letter to Borneo
Since its release, ‘Anak Borneo’ has received an overwhelmingly positive response from listeners across Malaysia, particularly among Sarawakians and Sabahans who say the song stirs a deep sense of pride and belonging.
For T-Rex, that response has become the most meaningful reward of a musical journey spanning more than 25 years.
“No matter how far I go, Sarawak will always be my home. I hope ‘Anak Borneo’ will continue reminding us of our roots, culture and pride in being children of Borneo.
“I dedicate this song to all the people of Sarawak and Sabah who continue carrying the spirit of Borneo wherever they go,” he said.
In an era when music is often measured by streaming numbers, chart positions and viral moments, ‘Anak Borneo’ offers something different.
It reminds listeners that some songs are created not merely to entertain, but to preserve memories.
Some become reminders of where we come from. Some help us rediscover who we are. And some simply help us find our way home again.
Perhaps that is why ‘Anak Borneo’ feels so deeply personal. It is not simply a song about rivers, rainforests or beautiful landscapes. Nor is it only about nostalgia.
It is about identity. Belonging. And the quiet truth understood by every Anak Borneo (Bornean), whether they live in Kuching, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur or halfway across the world.
You can leave Borneo. But somehow, Borneo never leaves you.
