#SHOWBIZ: Aina Abdul to Represent Malaysia at Eurovision Asia 2026 With 'Bluest Sky'

KUALA LUMPUR: Vocal powerhouse Aina Abdul has likened herself to a sports athlete representing Malaysia as she prepares to compete in the upcoming Eurovision Asia 2026 contest on Nov 14.

The 33-year-old singer-songwriter, whose real name is Nurul Aina Abdul Ghani, will battle it out against top acts from across the region in Bangkok, Thailand.

Aiming to fly the Jalur Gemilang high, Aina has chosen to showcase her brand-new self-penned English single, Bluest Sky — a track inspired by true events detailing her thoughts on love and affection.

"After the 40th Anugerah Juara Lagu (AJL40), my mind was entirely focused on Eurovision. I suffered many sleepless nights because I was busy creating a substantial number of songs," she said.

"However, Bluest Sky stood out as the special choice because its melody, musical arrangement, and lyrics fit the Eurovision essence perfectly — serving as a love letter or an expression of my love language.

"The track incorporates Nusantara musical elements, and it took me roughly a month to complete, including a gruelling 10-hour recording session compared to my previous songs, which usually take just two hours."

Aina emphasised that she meticulously handled every aspect of the single to bring honour to Malaysia on the Asian stage, describing it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

"I hope Bluest Sky receives a warm reception from local music lovers and fans. I chose to write the lyrics in English because it is a universal language that is easily understood by many," she added.

Clarifying her choice, Aina noted that writing in English does not diminish her love for the Malay language, but was a strategic decision to help the track cross over into international markets.

She shared these insights during an exclusive pre-listening session for Bluest Sky at RexKL in Petaling Street yesterday. The song's lyric video is out on YouTube today.

Aina also expressed her gratitude to TV3 and Media Prima Berhad (MPB) for selecting her and granting her the opportunity to champion Malaysia on the grand Eurovision Asia stage.

"Please keep me in your prayers as this is a great responsibility to shoulder for the nation. I genuinely feel like an athlete, but in the entertainment sector. May our country succeed," she said.

"Please continue to support Bluest Sky. I am open to feedback from netizens and hope for constructive comments."

To ensure smooth preparation for the event, Aina revealed that she expects to bring a team of over a dozen people to Bangkok while managing a reasonable budget for the national effort.