Every Hari Raya, Malaysians are surrounded by timeless classics like Selamat Hari Raya and Balik Kampung. Songs that evoke nostalgia and unity. But The Impatient Sisters, an indie-folk trio from Kuantan, set out to refresh that legacy through their own East Coast lens.
Acting as their own brand, the sisters wanted to celebrate Pantai Timur joy, femininity, and the glorious chaos of Aidilfitri, introducing the local slang “Galok” (meaning overly happy or joyfully chaotic) to the rest of Malaysia. Their goal was to revive the big-band sound of old Raya music and make it resonate with a new generation.
Solution:
The Galok Raya music video reimagines the spirit of 1950s swing-jazz Raya tunes by Saloma and P. Ramlee through a retro television-show aesthetic. Directed by Nadirah Zakariya and performed by sisters Soraya, Nazeera and Irena Taib, the music video blends nostalgia, humour, and feminine charm.
The set was styled with authentic Raya décor like the ketupat ornaments, woven mats, vintage Hari Raya cards from the Malaysian Design Archive, and the sisters wore vintage 90s kebayas sourced from actual Majalah Jelita editorial shoots, grounding the film’s visual world in genuine Malaysian nostalgia.
Behind its cheeky storytelling, a young woman playfully waiting for love amidst Raya chaos, lies a musical homage to old-school big-band arrangements, brought back to life through witty lyrics and infectious rhythm. The direction deliberately embraces imperfection : visible camera cuts, exaggerated reactions, and subtle humour, to capture the “galok” (joyful chaos) energy that defines