KOTA KINABALU: Rising Sabahan singer Ryenald Guntabid has released his second single, “Gagal Setia,” a ballad that explores the rarely discussed perspective of those seen as the ones at fault in a failing relationship.
The song, launched on Dec 5, shifts away from the familiar narrative of heartbreak and instead delves into the emotional turmoil of someone trapped in a toxic partnership.
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Ryenald said the track aims to humanise difficult choices in love, noting that not all acts of “unfaithfulness” stem from betrayal alone.
“Some people leave because they choose to hurt their partner, but others walk away from a painful and damaging relationship,” he said.
He added that the writing process for “Gagal Setia” felt markedly different from his debut single “Lumangad Oku Dika,” as the new release came from a deeply personal place.
The track was written by Ryenald and Melakaboy, with musical composition by Ryenald and Wan Muazzam Faiz, and produced by Melakaboy.
He said the two-week creative process required careful alignment of melody and lyrics to capture the emotional weight of the story.
“This theme is heavy and, honestly, I was nervous, but I believe many people live with this story even if they never speak about it,” he said.
“Gagal Setia,” now available on all major streaming platforms, marks another step forward for the Kota Kinabalu-born vocalist, who this year won Best New Artist and Best Male Vocal Performance at the Anugerah Industri Muzik (AIM).
Ryenald rose to prominence with “Lumangad Oku Dika,” which charted on Spotify Viral 50 and Top 50, and he hopes his latest work will spark wider conversations about loyalty, emotional survival and the difficult paths people take to find their way home.
He is signed under Xiokk Entertainment, a Kota Kinabalu-based label focused on nurturing Sabahan talent for national success without requiring them to relocate to the peninsula.
