What's there not to like about our first Idol? With his long-lashed eyes, bright personality, and sensitivity, he's every mum's would-be son and every girl's dream date. The great singing voice helps of course.
"You sound sleepy, are you sleeping at work?" Not exactly the kind of first impression I wanted to make but Taufik Batisah sure did leave a lasting one on me. Waiting an hour into the scheduled time for the interview, I was getting restless, but Taufik's cheeky sense of humour perked me up, and more than made up for the wait.
Affable and relaxed, Taufik chided me yet again when I asked him how the response to his debut album had been so far. "You didn't do your research girl! Its only in the pre-sale stages." He went on to explain that fans were allowed to buy Taufik items, in this case, a calendar and place an early order for the album before its official release on the 14th of January.
Clearly passionate about his music, Taufik shares that the experience of recording his first album with BMG under such a tight deadline was physically and mentally gruelling. But he gritted his teeth and soldiered on in spite of the long hours.
"This is the career path I chose, so I have to see it through. Thank God I managed to pull through and finish the album." His contribution on the album extends beyond just showcasing his vocals. He also co-wrote a couple of songs on it, his favourite track being One Last.
Born to sing
"It's a song that's very "me", and I really enjoy it." But it's hard to pin Taufik down to any one genre of music. He confesses himself that when it comes to music, his ambition knows no bounds and the sky's the limit. Thus his debut packs in a wide range of musical genres and influences from jazz, R&B, pop to soul.
"When I was in my teens, I listened to everything from Green Day, Silver Chair, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson to R. Kelly. My elder brother was my greatest musical influence as I used to follow whatever music he was listening to."
It was while imitating the likes of Michael Jackson when he was a child that Taufik realized that not everybody could hold a tune, and hold it well and that he was blessed with a good singing voice.
But, of course, it was not just his honeyed vocals that captured attention. The media took a shine to his gregarious persona and the number of fans shot up. Taufik is grateful to all the Singaporeans who've stood by him and provided him with the moral support he still needs in order to survive in this industry.
All growed up
What lasting impressions has being on Singapore Idol left?
"I've matured a lot in my thinking and I feel more responsible as a person now. Take the recent tsunami disaster for example. In the past, I didn't care about things that didn't affect me. But now I see the donation boxes and I donate even though I might not have much money."
The laughter aside, a more serious Taufik emerges. He says that the whole Idol experience has made him more conscious as a person, to not take things for granted and to live his life to the fullest.
Had it not been for the competition, the nation would have lost a talent as Taufik reckons he would have completed his National Service and then headed up to KL to work for a labour company.
When asked how it felt to be in the hot seat right now, he cheekily replied, "Warm!" and quickly apologized for the "corny phase that I'm going through". Ever the joker, he ended the interview whispering these wise words to me when I asked if he had anything else he wanted to add.
"Don't sleep in the office!"
*We tried, and tried to fix an interview with Sylvester Sim but to no avail!
"This was taken on my first day of kindergarten. My mom took this picture of me and my brother Mustaffa outside our home as we were about to leave for school."
Taufik remembers not always being as suave and cool as he is now. "Me? I'm cool? Thanks a lot for saying that. I was always "guai" and reserved as a kid, the goody-two-shoes among my brothers, trying to act naughty but not succeeding!"
"My dad took this picture at home to commemorate my first Ngaji session (reciting the Koran). I think I was about 8-years-old."
As a child, Taufik's dream was to take off in a red cape as Superman. After that phase passed, he decided he wanted to become a businessman instead. "I didn't know what business I wanted to do. All I wanted was to become a businessman, sit in one of the offices in Raffles Place and look out at the views through the window!" He might not have the outfit, but he's surely flying high.
"I was 12 years old and on holiday in Medan, Indonesia with my whole family. This picture of me and my mom was taken in the lobby of the hotel we were staying at."
Although, obviously pressured and tired with long recording hours and innumerable public appearances, Taufik reveals he's not one to open up and confide in anyone about his feelings or problems, not even to his mother. Rather, he prefers solitude and internalizes his worries, describing himself as reserved.
"I'm not good at pouring my heart out, I prefer to be alone. I'm close to my mother, and when I'm stressed I like to be by her side but I don't confide in her."
