Sufian Suhaimi makes Malay pop ballads for a new generation. The former English teacher—and occasional poet—ditches established arrangements for modern instrumentation, opting for both cool singer-songwriter acoustics (“Mencuba”) and operatic grandiosity through classical strings and keys (“Takkan Merubah”). Meanwhile, his velvety high register, like veteran balladeer Anuar Zain’s, is far gentler than what’s usually expected of the genre’s male vocalists. But most importantly, Sufian understands emotional subtlety—songs like “Janji” reach for a touching, genuine empathy.