Zack Tabudlo was back in Kuala Lumpur, and we had the opportunity to hang out with him in the SYOK studio.
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00:00I also got a tattoo of Teh Tarik on my hand, on my arm.
00:04You got a tattoo of what?
00:05Teh Tarik.
00:05Teh Tarik?
00:06Yeah, I got it right here.
00:08Tarik that much? Oh, it's bungkus one also, it's like wrapped in the...
00:12Yeah, with the bag.
00:14Yeah, with the bag.
00:22Zach, welcome back to Malaysia.
00:24How have you been since the last time you were here?
00:26It's been a lot of changes.
00:29I think last time I was here, I was like curly-haired.
00:32Yeah, that was a phase.
00:34I met you actually.
00:35Yeah, I was at your showcase.
00:37Yeah, you were amazing.
00:39Thank you so much.
00:40Yeah, okay.
00:41So, is there anything in Malaysia that, you know, that was from your visit before this
00:49that you still remember, has like good memories of?
00:52Um, like the first time we went to Malaysia, that was actually one of the most happiest
00:59moments of me and my band.
01:01Like Malaysia has always been like, oh, should we go to Malaysia?
01:04This is going to be sick type of thing.
01:07We just had a lot of fun eating around, getting all the Milo ice we can get.
01:15I also got a tattoo of Teh Tarik on my arm.
01:19Um, yeah, so just really good memories on Malaysia.
01:22You had a tattoo of what?
01:23Teh Tarik.
01:24Teh Tarik?
01:25Yeah, I got it right here.
01:26Is that?
01:28It's right here.
01:28Do you love Teh Tarik that much?
01:30Oh, it's bungkus one also.
01:31It's like wrapped in the, it's a bungkus one as well.
01:35Yeah, with the bag.
01:36Is this your first time having Milo when you were in Malaysia or?
01:41No, we do have Milo back in the Philippines as well.
01:43It's a bit similar, but the Teh Tarik was like.
01:48The Teh Tarik.
01:49That was it.
01:50Awesome.
01:50Okay, so you met your fans in Malaysia last time you were here and also recently, right?
01:57So I want to know what's the difference, you know,
01:59your Malaysian fans compared to other countries?
02:02Um, different.
02:03I feel like there's a sense of like warmth every time I'm like in Malaysia,
02:08but at the same time in like Asian countries in general,
02:12because like I was in Thailand, they were like super warm as well.
02:16Yesterday, I didn't really expect everyone to kind of like
02:19go out and wait for me going off like the venue.
02:23So I was like going from the venue.
02:25We were like, okay, show's done.
02:27We actually went on a bike riding me and my band and Putrajaya too.
02:32Oh, fun.
02:32We were just everywhere.
02:33We're like sweating so much and stuff.
02:35It's gonna be on my vlog.
02:36So it's gonna be sick.
02:37Oh, you actually explored.
02:39Yeah, we explored.
02:41And yeah, before going to the biking thing, going out of the venue,
02:45everyone was there just like screaming like, oh my God.
02:49Yeah, I love the Malaysian fans.
02:50Really sick.
02:51Yeah.
02:52Talking about your fans, your songs like Pano, Bini Bini,
02:56they all resonate with your fans because I hear them a lot here in Malaysia.
03:02It went crazy on the radio, on TikTok.
03:06How, what inspires you to create, you know,
03:09this type of songs that kind of resonates with your fans?
03:14First of all, that was crazy.
03:16Like just imagining like a Tagalog song, like a fully Filipino language song
03:23memorized by Malaysians in like Southeast Asia.
03:28They've been singing it like super like spot on too.
03:30Like yesterday I was like letting them sing the chorus part
03:34and like they were just screaming it out.
03:37And yeah, just a lot of inspiration draws from like personal experience
03:41and making music for just people in general
03:48with how I kind of like can incorporate it with my personal experience.
03:52Like I tweak the lyrics just so people can relate to it.
03:55And so I feel like a lot of people relate to it
03:59because of the personal part of making music.
04:04I love your music, honestly.
04:05Thank you so much.
04:06I enjoyed it very much.
04:07Yeah.
04:08Even from people here who I work with, they sang your song a lot.
04:14Yes.
04:16So tell us about some memorable moment in your career that you always think about.
04:25I feel like one of the most memorable ones would be
04:30the first time I performed on stage after the pandemic
04:33because I'm a pandemic baby.
04:36And so my songs blew up on TikTok while there was a pandemic going.
04:40Lockdown was everywhere.
04:42And I was just making music and then all of a sudden all my songs blew up.
04:46And performing for the first time after pandemic
04:50because I came from basically making music for six years,
04:56not getting any recognition,
04:58have my acoustic guitar, doing covers.
05:01No one really knew me.
05:02We were begging people to watch my shows and stuff back then.
05:05And then going into the pandemic,
05:07not knowing what the heck is happening in the world,
05:10performing for the first time with thousands of people coming to my first show
05:14was just surreal.
05:16It felt like a dream to me.
05:19Yeah, that was probably the most memorable one.
05:21It's really humbling.
05:22It's just really such a grateful experience.
05:26So you've also collaborated with amazing artists.
05:30We want to know,
05:32is there an artist that you've dreamed of collaborating with?
05:36Like who it is and why?
05:39There's definitely a lot.
05:43I do have one in mind always.
05:45It would have to be Justin Bieber.
05:47Either Bieber, The Biebs, Kid Laroi.
05:50That would be sick.
05:53Or Zayn Malik.
05:54Zayn Malik is always in my mind.
05:56He's in my mind lately.
05:57He's just amazing.
05:58He's amazing.
05:59He's awesome.
06:00Do it.
06:01Good looking man as well.
06:02Do it.
06:04Okay.
06:04So what's something about you that your fans might not know
06:10and they might find surprising?
06:13Spill.
06:15That's the thing, I feel like...
06:17Do you have any hidden talent that we don't know?
06:19I can do this with my hands.
06:22It sounds like...
06:24It's just cracking my fingers.
06:26It sounds like a bubble wrap.
06:28It's just a bubble wrap.
06:30Yeah, I can crack my fingers.
06:31I feel like it's by playing the instruments or something.
06:33I don't know.
06:35I can just crack my fingers like that.
06:36I don't know.
06:37Or you might want to get that checked.
06:40It's been here for a few years so I feel like we're good.
06:43Okay.
06:44So when you're not making music,
06:46what do you enjoy doing in your free time?
06:50Lately, I've been spending my time with my girlfriend.
06:53I was in the States.
06:55I took a...
06:56I actually took a quick break as well.
06:58Like a month, like around...
06:59Was it last month?
07:00Yeah, that was probably last month.
07:03Went to the States.
07:05Went around the States actually.
07:06I was in LA, San Francisco.
07:09I was in Washington as well.
07:11I was just with my girlfriend the whole time.
07:14So it's really nice to offload the whole music thing.
07:18Take your time and just enjoy life from time to time.
07:21We would call that go jalan-jalan.
07:23What was that?
07:24Jalan-jalan.
07:25Jalan-jalan means like...
07:27Travelling around.
07:28Sick.
07:28Jalan-jalan.
07:29Jalan-jalan, yeah.
07:30I'm going to use that one now.
07:32You want to jalan-jalan?
07:33Yes, that's how you ask people to go out with you.
07:36Like, you want to go jalan-jalan?
07:38Cool.
07:40If you could listen to one song,
07:42any one song for the rest of your life,
07:44you cannot listen to any other song,
07:46what would it be?
07:48Tough.
07:52Tough.
07:53One song for the rest of my life.
07:54That's crazy.
07:56You made me think of that one.
07:59For some reason,
08:00I've been listening to this Taylor Swift song lately.
08:04And I've been...
08:06I'm not like the biggest fan of Taylor Swift.
08:07I was there in her concert.
08:09Mainly because of my sister.
08:12But there's this one song from her new album.
08:17It's the next track after the Post Malone track.
08:21I actually want to check it out.
08:23Give me a second.
08:23This is going to give me OC.
08:26I don't know.
08:28It's called The Tort...
08:29Yeah, it's basically the album name.
08:32The Tortured Poets.
08:33Okay.
08:33Tortured Poets Department.
08:35This song has been making me sleep every night
08:39for the past like two weeks, three weeks.
08:41Oh, okay.
08:42Interesting.
08:42Just like last night,
08:44I was listening to this.
08:45But how was her concert?
08:46Concert was crazy.
08:48Lovely.
08:48It was just a bit too long for me though.
08:51Is it four hours, three hours?
08:53Almost four, I think.
08:54Three and a half.
08:54My goodness.
08:56So much people.
08:57And you all know the Singaporean weather.
08:59It's a bit similar here.
09:01Dry, hot.
09:01Super dry, super humid.
09:04It was crazy.
09:04I mean, you had a great time, yeah?
09:06Yeah, I had a great time.
09:06Okay, I'm glad.
09:09It was pretty fun.
09:10But oh, yeah, I remember.
09:11Because like it kind of flipped all of a sudden.
09:14Because my grandmother passed away.
09:17Like the same day as well.
09:18We found out like the night after.
09:21So, unfortunate.
09:22I'm sorry.
09:23I'm sorry for like switching up the pace.
09:28Okay.
09:29Okay, so you said that you've been making music for six years.
09:34And then suddenly your song just like skyrocketed on TikTok.
09:40Okay, then what's your advice for any young musicians
09:47or aspiring artists who look up to you?
09:53Just by mentioning TikTok.
09:55I feel like now at this day and age,
10:01people make music for TikTok in a way of like having that hit.
10:06Because TikTok can like pick it up and stuff.
10:11There's nothing wrong with that at the end of the day if you want that.
10:13But if you're like really digging deep into the craft that you make,
10:19like music in general.
10:20Make music not because of the hits.
10:22Or make music not because of TikTok or like people recognizing it.
10:26Just make music out of like your personal experience,
10:29your stories.
10:30And from those stories, make it as a song.
10:34And don't think about that part yet, at least.
10:38Especially when you're starting off.
10:41Obviously, like it's inevitable thinking about that eventually when you're in there.
10:46Being in this state in a way.
10:47But I kind of navigate away from that as well.
10:52Like back then, I would make music just because I love it.
10:55I would brag about it with my friends.
10:56I would make music.
10:57I would write songs.
10:58I'll be like, I wrote a song about me breaking my own heart.
11:01This is Banna and stuff.
11:04And then yeah, that was the thing back then.
11:07Just make heartfelt good music with real stories.
11:11Nowadays, people and especially aspiring artists
11:14lean towards making music for a TikTok hit.
11:18Which is a bit sad in a way.
11:20But yeah, I feel like one advice would be go back to your roots.
11:25Make music because you love it and just enjoy the ride.
11:29Okay, so back to your music.
11:32What do you want your fans to get from your music?
11:37Like a message that you want them to get?
11:40Um, the music has always been like an inspirational thing.
11:45Like I want people to...
11:47Like that's why I make music as well for people.
11:49Because like the demos that I make are really different
11:53from the official track that comes out.
11:55I would make something really, really personal.
11:58Like for example, Banna was like sounding way, way different back then.
12:02To the lyrics it is right now that you hear from the radio and everything.
12:07Mainly because I make music not for me now.
12:10I make music for the people as well.
12:11And so I want people to get like that sense of feeling
12:17that they're not going through whatever phase it is
12:20or like situation it is alone.
12:23If I go through it, that means everyone goes through it as well.
12:26At least some part of their lives.
12:28Or maybe a different scenario, but something similar.
12:31And I want people to get something from that.
12:34Make someone smile out of a song.
12:37Make someone feel that sadness and make them feel like,
12:40Oh, I'm not alone.
12:41Like Zack's with me right here.
12:44Yeah, something like that, I guess.
12:46That's very lovely.
12:47Thank you for sharing that.
12:48Of course.
12:49Okay, so to end this segment of the interview,
12:52I want you to say something to your Malaysian fans.
12:56A message.
12:56All right.
12:57To the Malaysian fans.
12:58Malaysians, thank you, thank you.
13:00Thank you so much for the love and support.
13:02We always feel your warmness every time we're here.
13:05Literally the weather, but at the same time, the fans as well.
13:09Thank you so much for pulling up in the shows,
13:11singing your heart out with my songs.
13:15And we'll see you guys very soon.
13:16Thank you so much.
13:18Okay, so we want to play a little game with you.
13:20We played this with Killam Scott last time.
13:22Sick.
13:22So it's called shock or tak shock.
13:26So shock basically translates to something great.
13:31You know, if you like something or you enjoy something.
13:33Oh, it's shock.
13:35Shock.
13:35Yeah.
13:36So if tak shock, then it's not shock.
13:38Tak shock?
13:38Tak.
13:39Tak.
13:40Tak shock.
13:41Yeah.
13:41So it's the shock or tak shock.
13:45Okay, so it's just basically like agree or disagree.
13:49Okay, so I'll give you a statement.
13:52Okay.
13:52Then you can say.
13:54Okay.
13:55Use that perfectly.
13:56Okay.
13:57Okay, I give you a statement.
13:59So you're going to decide whether it is shock or tak shock.
14:04Okay.
14:04Okay.
14:05Got you.
14:05All right.
14:06First one.
14:08I think socks with sandals can actually be a fashion statement.
14:14A fashion statement?
14:16I don't know about a fashion statement.
14:20Nah, tak shock.
14:21Tak shock.
14:22Okay.
14:22Tak shock lah.
14:25Perfect.
14:26You're Malaysian already.
14:27I believe ice cream is an acceptable breakfast option.
14:33One of my bandmates did that actually here in Malaysia.
14:36Like 7 a.m.
14:37He was like 7 a.m.
14:39We were like eating breakfast.
14:40He had like a tub of ice cream with him.
14:43Like at the hotel?
14:44Yeah, at the hotel.
14:45You know what?
14:46I don't get that.
14:46Like why he's serving ice cream in the morning.
14:48That's crazy.
14:497 a.m.
14:50He did that 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. too.
14:53I have no idea what he's craving for.
14:55Tak shock for me.
14:56Oh, interesting.
14:58Why?
14:59You can't eat ice cream for breakfast.
15:02I mean.
15:03You can though.
15:05But if you're like, I don't know.
15:07I'm not a breakfast type of guy as well so.
15:09Okay.
15:10Oh, okay.
15:10That's probably why.
15:11Okay.
15:12The next one.
15:13I strongly believe that pineapple doesn't belong on pizza.
15:18But it belongs in cereals.
15:21Pineapple doesn't belong on pizza.
15:24Pineapples?
15:25Tak shock all day, bro.
15:27Like I'm a big fan of pineapples on pizza.
15:29Oh, you are?
15:30Yeah, I am.
15:31So.
15:32So that's shock for you.
15:34Yeah.
15:35Pineapples on pizza.
15:36Okay.
15:37Good to know.
15:39I believe that the best way to eat spaghetti is with spoon, not a fork.
15:45With a spoon?
15:47I see a lot of people do that.
15:49Really?
15:49How do they do it?
15:50I don't know.
15:52Is it like a...
15:53I mean, it depends on the spoon.
15:54Is it like a...
15:55It's just like scoop it.
15:56No.
15:56Is it like a normal spoon?
15:57Yeah.
15:58You can't do that.
15:58That's like, that's horrible.
16:00That's a nightmare.
16:01I know.
16:02Tak shock all day.
16:03Tak shock for you?
16:04Okay.
16:04Tak shock for me.
16:05Okay.
16:05That's horrible.
16:06How can...
16:08It's like saying eating ice cream with a chopstick.
16:11That's like, it doesn't make sense.
16:13Okay.
16:13So I think wearing mismatched socks is cool.
16:20It can work.
16:21Shark.
16:21Yeah, shark.
16:22Okay.
16:23I do that.
16:24I feel like mine are not like even right now.
16:27They're not the same.
16:28Let's not check it out.
16:29Take it off.
16:31Oh, we're good.
16:32We're good.
16:32We're good.
16:33I do it because I cannot find the other pair.
16:36Yeah, exactly.
16:37That's why I do it like most of the time.
16:38And sometimes when I'm doing my laundry as well,
16:40when like everyone's like...
16:42When you're in a hurry.
16:42Everything's all over the place.
16:43I'm just like...
16:44Yes.
16:45Let's wrap it in.
16:46Yeah.
16:47Okay.
16:47So I prefer crunchy peanut butter over creamy peanut butter.
16:52Shark.
16:53Shark go there.
16:54Crunchy?
16:54Yeah, the crunchy.
16:55Does it not like hurt you when you...
16:58Why would it hurt me?
16:59I don't know.
17:00It feels uncomfortable for me.
17:02It's literally...
17:02Peanut butter is literally peanuts, but...
17:05The peanut's uncomfortable.
17:06How is it?
17:07What?
17:08How does it hurt you?
17:09Oh my god.
17:11It's just...
17:12It just feels sharp in your mouth.
17:15Sharp?
17:15Like, obviously you like...
17:17For me, it's shark.
17:20Okay.
17:20But it's a shark for me though.
17:22Okay.
17:22Why would it hurt you?
17:24I'm concerned.
17:27Are you allergic?
17:28I'm not.
17:28Okay.
17:29Yeah.
17:30I just don't like it.
17:31Okay.
17:32Because you put it on your bread, right?
17:34It's like...
17:35I don't know.
17:35It feels uncomfortable.
17:38Something crunchy in your bread.
17:39Is it the same with like burgers though?
17:42What's crunchy in your burger?
17:48I'm sorry.
17:48What burger are you eating?
17:50Fair enough.
17:51Fair enough.
17:52I don't know.
17:52Maybe a lettuce or something.
17:53That's a bit crunchy.
17:54A lettuce can be crunchy.
17:55It's not the same.
17:57Okay.
18:00Okay.
18:00And I think it's totally acceptable to dip french fries in milkshake.
18:05Oh, hell yeah.
18:06Yeah?
18:07Hell yeah.
18:07I do that.
18:08I do that every time.
18:09I do that too.
18:09Okay.
18:10Shark.
18:10Shark all day.
18:11Okay.
18:12Last one.
18:13I think cereal tastes better when soaked in orange juice instead of milk.
18:18What was that?
18:19I think cereal tastes better when it's soaked in cereal...
18:22I mean soaked in orange juice instead of milk.
18:26Cookie?
18:27Cereal.
18:28Cereal?
18:29Yeah.
18:29With orange?
18:30Juice.
18:31Orange juice?
18:33Horrible.
18:34No.
18:34You know when I got that idea?
18:36My sister tried it once and she said it's good.
18:38Who gave these questions to you?
18:40My sister tried eating...
18:41That's so sad.
18:43She just wanted to try and then she said it's good.
18:46It depends on the cereal.
18:48What cereal was it?
18:49It was...
18:50What is the...
18:52The round...
18:53Tiny round things?
18:54There's like Reese's?
18:57Does not have any taste.
18:58So she added orange juice to make it sweet.
19:00That made it like way more weirder.
19:03It's like the...
19:04Okay, now I know what the peanut thing is.
19:06I understand, you know.
19:07You brought it to the family?
19:10Crazy.
19:11Thank you so much for being here today.
19:14I had fun.
19:15Oh, I have one last question.
19:17Okay.
19:17So what do you have next?
19:20Like a new song, a new album?
19:22Is it something that you can share?
19:24Yeah, for sure.
19:25I actually took a bit of a break like I said.
19:27But I am releasing...
19:30I'm not sure when this is coming out.
19:31But I am releasing a song like surprise songs all of a sudden like this month.
19:36So it's crazy.
19:38One is like in a few days.
19:40Two days, three days.
19:41I don't know when this is coming out.
19:43Okay.
19:43We'll talk to your team.
19:44And one is coming out on like the 17th.
19:47So.
19:48Oh, there's two songs.
19:49One surprise one.
19:49I shot it in Singapore too.
19:51Oh, wow.
19:52You've been getting busy.
19:54Secretly.
19:56They think I was resting.
19:57Nah, I'm still grinding.
20:00Thank you so much for being here today.
20:02Nice to meet you.
20:03Thank you so much.
20:04Appreciate you.
20:05Thank you.
20:06I hope to see you again.
20:08All right.
20:08Thank you guys.
20:09Thank you.