Sabahan Band Tuni Sundatang to Launch Debut EP Celebrating Indigenous Heritage

21 January 2026

KOTA KINABALU: The award-winning Sabahan band Tuni Sundatang is set to officially launch their highly anticipated debut EP, Alunan dari Tanah Tinggi (“Echoes from the Highlands”), on 30 January 2026 at 7pm. The event will take place at Ruang Tamu Ekosistem, Alamesra, Kota Kinabalu.

Inspired by their native Ranau highlands, the EP is more than a collection of songs; it serves as a cultural archive. It features traditional instruments such as the sundatang and toburi, which were once on the brink of extinction. Tuni Sundatang aims to raise awareness about the importance of preserving Sabah’s rural traditions and cultures through their music. The band also incorporates instruments like kulintangan gongs, the sompoton mouth organ, bungkau mouth harp, tuntug drum, and suling and turali flutes.

“This EP isn’t just music, it’s memory. It’s our archive,” said Gindung McFeddy Simon, founder and sundatang maker of Tuni Sundatang. “Before the band was formed, I began researching and recreating the sundatang. I spent years travelling across Sabah, and even to other parts of Borneo, meeting elders, learning from masters, and collecting stories about the instrument, which is now nearly extinct. I wanted to bring its sound back before it vanished entirely.”

Alunan dari Tanah Tinggi reflects that journey, a living archive that keeps Sabah’s heritage alive. The band emphasises that this archive can exist in various forms, including recordings, films, live performances, and through the hands of future generations who will continue to play these traditional instruments. Their aim is to ensure the sundatang never falls silent again.

The launch event will also feature a special screening of the band’s recent music videos, Sayau Rondom (released 31 October 2024) and WarCry (released 22 December 2025). Media representatives are invited to learn more about Tuni Sundatang’s story and journey. Fans will have the opportunity to purchase exclusive merchandise, including T-shirts, stickers, posters, and the band’s debut EP.

Formed in 2021, Tuni Sundatang is a six-member folk-rock ensemble from Ranau, Sabah, dedicated to revitalising Dusun cultural heritage through innovative instrumental music. Their unique sound blends endangered indigenous instruments, the sundatang boat lute, sompoton mouth organ, and kulintangan gongs, with modern rock elements. Each track tells a story rooted in Borneo’s customs, landscapes, and identity.

The band members featured on the EP are Gindung McFeddy Simon on sundatang; Apek Adrian Johnny on sompoton, suling, gongs, tuntug, and toburik; Dexter Ferrer Denis on kulintangan; Maxelvin Berimbun on bass and MIDI keyboard; Jiji Azizi Razlie on guitar; and Oat Deen Shahrie Bidin on drums, with Andrew Zeno appearing as a guest drummer.

Having recently won the Best in Asia (Asian Folk) award at the 2025 InterContinental Music Awards in Los Angeles, becoming one of only three Malaysian artists recognised from over 500 finalists from more than 50 countries, the band continues to showcase Sabah’s musical traditions on the international stage. Their recent music video for “Sayau Rondom” has garnered over 100,000 views in just five days on YouTube.

Last December, Tuni Sundatang represented Malaysia at the Wonderfruit Festival 2025 in Thailand, performing with endangered instruments from East Malaysian communities. Their energetic set was met with enthusiastic applause from an international audience comprising folklore enthusiasts, music lovers, cultural advocates, industry professionals, and members of the global press.