# Alena Murang

Alena Murang (born 1989) is a Malaysian singer-songwriter, sape player, visual artist and educator who sings in endangered languages including Kelabit and Kenyah. She is one of the first women to play the sape, a lute instrument from Borneo traditionally (pre-1930s) reserved for male healers.

## Early life and background

Murang was born in Kuching, Sarawak to her father Datu Ose Murang, of Kelabit heritage, and her mother Dr. Valerie Mashman, who is of English and Italian descent. She started playing the sape at the age of 10, learning from renowned sape master Matthew Ngau Jau. She graduated with a First Class BSc (Hons) management degree from the Manchester Business School, University of Manchester. She went on to work in management consulting at PricewaterhouseCoopers, focusing on environmental sustainability, before leaving to study visual arts for a year in Singapore. Prior to pursuing music full-time, she worked as strategy manager for not-for-profit organization, Teach for Malaysia.
On June 10, 2024, she received a certificate confirming her Sarawakian native status from the Malaysian government, which allows her to inherit native land.

## Career

Murang made her debut as an artiste in 2016 with the release of EP, Flight. She never formally studied music, but has been learning the dance, songs, and music from her elders. She has performed at many renowned world music festivals including the SXSW (USA), Colors of Ostrava (Czech Republic), Paris Fashion Week (France), Rudolstadt-Festival (Germany), OzAsia Festival (Australia), and Rainforest World Music Festival (Malaysia). She was a youth representative at the UNESCO Youth Forum in Paris, and UNESCO Asia-Pacific for her work in intangible cultural heritage.
She was listed in Tatler Asia's list of Most Influential Malaysia in 2021, and Gen.T Malaysia in 2018 & 2019. In March 2023, she held her first painting exhibition Colours of the Highlands at the Hoan Gallery at La Promenade Mall, Kuching.
In May 2024, in collaboration with Sabahan singer-songwriter Velvet Aduk, she released the track "Bejugit Betanda Menari" (Dance Dance Dance) for the annual Gawai Dayak holiday. On September 7, she participated in The Sounds of Borneo, a concert with the Malaysian Symphony Orchestra featuring solo artists such as Murang, Velvet Aduk, and Marsha Milan.

## Discography
### Studio albums

* Flight (EP) (2016)
* Sky Songs (2021)

### Singles
#### Promotional singles

| Year | Title | Ref(s) | Notes |
| 2022 | "Many Tomorrows" | | The song and music video is a collaboration with the Society for Cancer Advocacy and Awareness Kuching (SCAN) in conjunction with World Cancer Day. |

#### Collaboration

| Year | Title | Artist(s) | Album | Ref(s) |
| 2024 | "War Cry" | Marsha Milan and Velvet Aduk | Single | |
| 2024 | "Bejugit Betanda Menari" | Velvet Aduk | Single | |

### Concerts, showcases and tours
#### Solo

* Live in Kuala Lumpur : Alena Murang Sky Songs, Petaling Jaya Performing Arts Centre (PJPAC), Petaling Jaya (2023)

#### As headliner

* Pentas Seni Merdeka: Muzik Dan Tarian Borneo Malaysia, Jalan Raja, Kuala Lumpur (2022)
* Sounds of Borneo (with Marsha Milan and Velvet Aduk, accompanied by Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra), Petronas Philharmonic Hall, Kuala Lumpur (2024)

#### As supporting act

* Rainforest World Music Festival, Sarawak Cultural Village, Kuching (2016, 2021, 2022, 2024)
* The Roar for Life Virtual Concert, Virtual (2020)
* 2021 World Music Festival @Taiwan, Taipei Dajia Riverside Park, Taiwan (2021)
* Te Aratini: Festival of Indigenous and Tribal People, Dubai Expo, United Arab Emirates (2021)
* OH!Tenang with Alena Murang, Gurney Plaza, Penang (2024)
* ESTRANGED Apa Khabar Teman?, Persada Johor International Convention Centre, Johor (2024)
* Ombak Festival, Desaru Coast, Johor (2024)

## Filmography

Film and television :
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2019 | Small Island Big Song: An Oceanic Songline | Herself | A musical cinematographic project featuring over a hundred musicians across 16 island nations of the Pacific and Indian Oceans. |
| 2019 | Iman Untuk Bulan | Bulan | Television movie for Astro First. |
| 2022 | Roads To Our Heritage | Key cast and writer | A six-part documentary journey of the companionship of Sabah rock band Estranged together with Alena Murang and Dr. Nadia Widyawati from Universiti Teknologi MARA music faculty discovering the heritage of traditional instrument across Sabah and Sarawak. |

## Awards and accolades

| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result |
| 2020 | Buenos Aires Music Video Festival | Best International Video | Midang Midang | Nominated |
| 2020 | Buenos Aires Music Video Festival | Best Styling | Midang Midang | Won |
| 2021 | UK's International Music Video Awards | Best Asia & Pacific Music Video | Warrior Spirit | Won |
| 2021 | UK's International Music Video Awards | Best Costume | Warrior Spirit | Honorable Mention |
| 2021 | Los Angeles Film Awards | Special Jury Award | Warrior Spirit | Won |
| 2021 | Rome International Movie Awards | Best Music Video | Warrior Spirit | Won |
| 2021 | New York International Film Awards | Best Music Video | Warrior Spirit | Won |
| 2021 | New York International Film Awards | Best Ethnographic Film | Warrior Spirit | Won |
| 2021 | Buenos Aires Music Video Festival | Best World Music Video | Warrior Spirit | Won |