Khai Bahar has had quite the career path, from busking on the streets of Kuching to becoming the unofficial king of Smule—and duetting with Siti Nurhaliza along the way. His laurels aren’t confined to the pop world: he has received official citations from Istana Budaya in Kuala Lumpur, and the Islamic Religious Council and Perlis Malay Customs Council. While younger artists might follow international trends, Khai has found huge commercial success with unabashedly vintage Malay ballads. For him, it’s an ageless tradition.