PETALING JAYA: After a more than two-year hiatus, nightclub DJs and live music performers are raring to light up the stage again.

       Deejay Melissa-Jo Lim said she was eagerly awaiting the moment and was excited to perform in front of live crowds once more.

       “Throughout the various lockdowns, the scene has gone through multiple changes with many new DJs popping up on social media in addition to ever-changing musical trends.

       “Hence, my preparation for returning to the stage required me to observe these trends to ensure I can cater to patrons when nightclubs reopen,” she said, adding that she has to rebuild her portfolio after such a long hiatus.

       On Tuesday, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said activities under the “negative list” of the National Security Council’s standard operating procedure would be dropped from May 15.

       He said the protocol for these activities was being prepared by the relevant agencies.

       (Nightclub activities are the only ones on the negative list since the first movement control order in 2020.)

       Lim said that she had pivoted towards being a fitness instructor to stay afloat during the peak of pandemic.

       “Fitness was just a hobby prior to the lockdowns but it helped me make ends meet in light of the various restrictions.

       “Although it will be hard to juggle between being a DJ and a fitness instructor once clubs reopen, I will strive to find a balance for both,” she said.

       Another deejay R. Prithiva, 27, said he was happy to perform again.

       “I am eager to play in front of live crowds as spinning in front of a camera does not bring the same feeling,” he said.

       However, he added that he was also worried that clubs might underpay their performers due to the losses suffered over the past two years.

       Prithiva said although the lockdowns were challenging, they sparked his entrepreneurial side.

       He began a startup in late 2020, aimed at creating avenues for upcoming artistes to perform.

       Independent artiste Brendan James de Cruz, 33, said the prospect of once again performing in a band to larger crowds was exciting.

       “With the upcoming relaxations, I am excited to see people crowding venues and having a good time partying to live band performances,” he said.

       He said the pandemic saw him juggling virtual shows alongside freelance writing roles and temporarily doing a home cooking business to make ends meet.

       “When busking was allowed, I jumped at the opportunity and performed at two to four designated locations daily,” he said, adding that he had recently performed at a concert albeit with a 50% audience capacity.

       He said that he was hopeful the industry would bounce back after the long hiatus, adding that he has shows lined up till June.

       Merdekarya co-owner Brian Gomez said tickets for shows at his venue had begun selling since they were advertised over social media.

       “It’s a good sign and I am hopeful that we can return to full houses in the near future.

       “Our artistes are also raring to go and excited at the prospect of performing to larger audiences soon,” he said.

       Gomez, however, noted that the number of bands in the industry had considerably decreased due to the pandemic.

       “When we started booking bands for future shows, we noticed that previous artistes have either dropped out of the industry, moved back to their hometowns, or taken up different jobs to support themselves.

       “Despite this, the future is looking bright as the relaxations may gradually encourage new talents,” he said.