Shila Amzah takes stage at Petronas Philharmonic Hall for a milestone show celebrating 25 years of music
Shila Amzah will celebrate 25 years in music with a milestone solo concert at the Petronas Philharmonic Hall on May 9, marking what she describes as a long-held personal dream.
Titled Resonance: Shila Amzah In Harmony – 25 Years of Music & Memories, the one-night show will see the singer perform with her own live band at the 920-seat hall, a venue she said represents a major artistic achievement.
“The Petronas Philharmonic Hall has always been a dream for any singer or musician because the acoustics are unlike any other venue and for me personally, this feels like one of my biggest achievements so far,” Shila said during a media session.
The concert will trace her musical journey from her early years as a child singer to her current work across Malay and Mandarin pop, reflecting a career that spans albums released in the early 2000s to her latest project SA25.
Shila said the setlist is still being refined, with changes continuing as rehearsals progress, describing herself as a perfectionist who wants the show to feel complete and emotionally satisfying.
“There will be songs from different phases of my life, with some performed as medleys because fans from different eras want different songs and the idea is to fit my entire journey into about one and a half to two hours,” she said.
Unlike her recent concerts in China, this performance will feature her own band, The Oms Band, rather than an orchestra. Rehearsals with the band began late last year, with Shila pushing her musicians to memorise parts rather than rely on sheet music.
“This band represents who I am as an artiste and performing with my own band at Petronas Philharmonic Hall is something I have wanted for a very long time,” she said.
The concert will be divided into segments reflecting different stages of her career, blending Malay and Mandarin songs alongside experimental arrangements. Shila estimated the balance would be roughly fifty-fifty, acknowledging her Malaysian roots and her strong following in China.
Her China tour, which runs from January to April, spans four cities and marks her most extensive run there to date. Shila said the experience has shaped her approach to the Petronas Philharmonic Hall concert, though the two productions are fundamentally different.
“In China, I do not always get to choose the musicians or creative team but for Petronas Philharmonic Hall, everything comes from my own vision and this is the first time I feel I have complete creative freedom,” she said.
Shila also reflected on the personal moments that shaped her over the past 25 years, identifying the pandemic period and early motherhood as a major turning point in her life and career.
“That was when I questioned my worth and whether I could rise again and looking at where we are now, I think we did quite well,” she said.
Rather than focusing on ambition or external milestones, Shila said her priorities have shifted towards balance and purpose, especially as a mother.
“Any success from now on will be witnessed by my children and my husband and that changes how you define achievement,” she said.
Tickets for Resonance: Shila Amzah In Harmony – 25 Years of Music & Memories range from RM199 to RM499, with suite seating and a limited meet-and-greet option available. The concert takes place on Saturday, May 9 at the Petronas Philharmonic Hall, KLCC.
