Exist: The Memento Mori Documentation Experience Is Not Wrong, 35 Extraordinary Years

KUALA LUMPUR: Honestly, the feeling of boredom to the point of yawning as expressed by fans on social media while attending Exists Memento Mori at Unifi Arena Bukit Jalil on 1 August last is not a mistake.

Fans have the right to feel that way when there are songs played in the concert that are not their choice, not popular, and even never heard before.

So, feeling bored is not wrong at all. In fact, frankly the writer says, the writer also never knew of the existence of the song Disendi Dan Nadi; which album it is in, which album number, and it is very foreign, let alone ever played on the radio.

The writer wants to invite you to understand this literature review.

Martijn C. Willemsen and Yu Liang through the literature review Recommending for the Audience: Tailoring a Live Concert Program to the Music Preferences of the Listeners (2025), found findings on developing a system that arranges a set list or song catalogue according to the wishes of the audience or fans, not based on album order or the artist’s wishes.

The researchers also found that audience satisfaction increases when songs are selected according to their preferred patterns.

So boredom, dissatisfaction, emotional disturbance with the selection of less popular songs is not wrong at all.

However, let us examine this situation from the perspective or dimension of Exists, which is already 35 years old, has hundreds of songs from albums produced throughout their struggle in the local and Nusantara music scene.

First, we talk about albums. An album is a representation of the artist’s creative vision at a particular period, while a concert is a live experience that is often shaped according to the expectations, emotions and most desired songs of the audience.

Therefore, not every song in a concert needs to trigger maximum cheers.

Not all songs played are able to satisfy the taste and emotions of all audience members.

For a group with a music catalogue spanning more than 35 years like Exists, it is natural to insert two or three lesser‑known songs to celebrate their entire artistic journey.

The audience may experience a slight drop in excitement when those songs are played, but that situation is normal in a performance lasting more than two and a half hours.

What is more important is the overall balance of the repertoire that combines iconic songs, works favoured by hardcore fans, and songs that have historical value to the group.

In music industry terms, lesser‑known songs or non‑lead singles, even those rarely performed live, are called deep cuts.

Although they are not favourite catalogue songs, they still have artistic or sentimental value to the artist and hardcore fans.

Deep cuts are born from the concept of album culture, where vinyl or CD albums have several songs promoted as singles, while other songs remain as album tracks; fitting for the era of Exists’ emergence.

And that is what happened at Exists Memento Mori, organised by Icon Entertainment.

The concept used is the same as concerts by international artists around the world.

Go and experience the concert experience of international artists such as BTS, Coldplay or Madonna, there will be songs in the catalogue that are deep cuts, among others functioning to control the tempo of the performance.

Second, a concert is not a jukebox. In popular music studies, a concert is seen as a performance narrative, not merely playing songs according to popularity ranking.

So personally, the writer considers that Exists that night, which appeared with six original members including two vocalists—Ajai, Shah, Along, Musa, Ujang, Mamat and Ezad—have the right to celebrate their entire 35‑year musical journey.

The radio concept, vocal quality and production are not complex

Exists ‘did not sin’ when inserting less popular songs, which were then flooded with their iconic songs such as Untukmu Ibu, Dirantai Digelangi Rindu, Mengintai Dari Tirai Kamar, Kapal Terbang Kertas, Julia, Jesnita, Langkah Seiringan, Percayakan Siti, Rahsia Pohon Cemara, Bunga, Seperti Dulu, Anugerah, Hilang Dalam Ramai or Kuman H.I.V (which is on the first album and Mamat was only 12 years old when recording that song).

Third, for a group that has survived for 35 years, Exists also has the right to celebrate their entire musical journey, which is not merely about entertaining the audience but also serves as documentation of the phases of their fame, ‘quiet’ periods and return to active stage performances.

It is not about performing the best‑selling songs, but also works that shaped the group’s identity even if they are less popular.

And fourth, the most important thing in organising a concert is how the artists or musicians are consistent with their performance style.

Exists on stage, built with a radio‑era concept or fully focused on vocal and musical quality, a more static performance with Ezad and Mamat mostly standing at the microphone, lighting and visuals very minimal, the audience came to listen to the music, not to see complex production, with an experience almost the same as listening to a radio broadcast, but live, the Exists Memento Mori concert ran seamlessly.

The musicianship of Exists, who have knowledge and extensive experience, was solid enough. The singing of Ezad and Mamat was balanced and captivating.

Even when delivering two new songs marketed a day before the concert, namely Buih Jadi Permaidani (Malaysian and Indonesian versions sung by Mamat) and Memilih Yang Salah, they easily stuck in the audience’s memory.

With solid playing, vocalists who ‘swallow the cassette’, a stadium packed to the brim ‘touching the roof’, Exists proved that local groups or bands are not village champions whose songs are only popular on the radio, but symbols of a struggle towards a memento mori that should be remembered for eternity.

Well done to the organiser, congratulations to the production, long live Exists, and thank you to the audience for enjoying Exists Memento Mori in their own way and appreciation.

What is lacking, improve; what is good, enhance, because in the end it is not about ‘prestige’ but the dignity of the Malaysian entertainment industry.

Astro Awani