SPOTLIGHT

VIMA MUSIC AWARDS, Asia’s first independent music awards platform, is proud to announce the appointment of acclaimed Malaysian singer-songwriter Amirah Ali as a Global Judge for its highly anticipated return in 2026.

Amirah Ali’s selection represents a significant “full circle” moment for the awards. A decorated VIMA alumna, Amirah dominated the 2012 ceremony, walking away with seven nominations—the highest of that year—and securing two prestigious trophies for ‘Best Female Artist’ and ‘Best Performance’.

Her deep connection to the independent music scene and her subsequent international success make her an ideal adjudicator for the next generation of talent.

A Legacy of International Excellence

Amirah brings a wealth of global industry experience to the judging panel. Her track record in international competitions is formidable, having impressed panels featuring music legends such as Dua Lipa, Coldplay, Tom Waits, Timbaland, Peter Gabriel and Rihanna.

Her credentials include:

* ISC International Songwriting Competition (USA): A consistent heavy hitter, Amirah’s single “Tell Me” was a 2020 Semi-Finalist, rising above 29,000 worldwide entries. Previously, her debut single “Katakanlah” placed Second in the World Music Category (2011), beating 15,000 entries from 115 countries.

* John Lennon Songwriting Competition: Top 4 Finalist for “Tell Me” (2020) and Finalist for “Katakanlah” (2010).

* International Acoustic Music Awards (IAMA): Winner of ‘Best Female Artist’ (2014).

* Independent Music Awards (IMA): Winner in the Instrumental Music Category (2014).

*ANUGERAH INDUSTRI MUZIK

Top 5 Nominee – Pop Ethnic Category – 2013

THE INTERNATIONAL SONGWRITING COMPETITION Winner – World Music Category – 2010. 19,000 entries from over 100 countries; semi-finalists

*MARIE CLAIRE WOMEN OF STYLE AND SUBSTANCE AWARD

One of the ten recognized women of style and substance -2011

This award recognizes women who have had an impact in their chosen profession as well as deemed as people to watch in the future.

Fusing East and West

Growing up in the diverse landscape of Kuala Lumpur, Amirah’s artistry is framed by the juxtaposition of different cultures. Born of mixed parentage, her sound personifies the meeting of West and East, fusing traditional instruments with modern Western harmonies. Her music is noted for its “quiet bravery,” tackling themes of diversity, equality, and unity through both lyrical content and arrangement.

Beyond her solo success, Amirah is a sought-after songwriter in the Malaysian music industry. Her credits include penning “Ikrar Cinta” for Dato’ Siti Nurhaliza, “Kurnia Syurgawi” for Atilia Haron, and the hit “There We Go” for Alif Satar.

As VIMA returns in 2026 to launch the careers of unsigned and independent talent, Amirah Ali’s involvement ensures that contestants will be evaluated by an artist who truly understands the journey from independent hopeful to international success.

AMIRAH 360 LLC
Recording Artist & Entrepreneur
sincerelyamirah.com I amirah360.com
Inspiring unity through music, fashion, and 3rd culture community
What Amirah is currently working on:
An Album – Produced by Jeff Bova
Unity by Amirah – East meets West fashion line
Sincerely Amirah – Neurodivergent artist blog

Quotes:

“Lyrical Sensation” – Marie Claire

“Songs with Deep Meaning” – New Straits Times

“We truly believe that Amirah is the one musician who is going to unite the country with her songs and amazing lyrics, which are mostly about unity and about the people. Even her performance and the music ensemble is a clash of cultures and there is a ray of hope that she will be the voice of the new generation.”

– Siva Zaphod Chandran, VIMA Awards

“Amirah’s composition “lkrar Cinta” was selected to be includedi n Dato’ Sri Siti Nurhaliza’s 17th studio album, “SimetriSiti”, which was released under Universal Music Malaysia. We had a blind listening audition session and Amirah’s song stood out amongst the 300 other song submissions, which includes songs from some of the very best songwriters in the country. Dato’ Sri Siti and I resonated with the purity, heart warming melody and message of the song. I’d emailed Amirah personally to let her know that she did a great job and that her song had been selected for Dato’ Sri Siti’s album. It was a pleasure working with Amirah and I look forward to working with her again.”

-Aubrey Suwito, Multi Award Winning Composer, Producer, Music Director and Pianist

“I was touched by Amirah’s song “Kurnia Syurgawi” and wanted it to be on my No3 album. The song was composed about a father’s love. I loved the melody and the meaning of the song. I resonated with it personally.”

– Atilia Haron Award winning singer,singer-songwriter, actress, model and executive producer.

About VIMA MUSIC AWARDS

Established in 2008, VIMA MUSIC AWARDS is Asia’s first independent music awards platform. Known for its high participation rates, VIMA serves as a crucial launchpad for unsigned and independent talent seeking international recognition. After a hiatus, the awards officially return in 2026 to celebrate the best in independent music.

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