Curriculum Vitae

DR. ADIL BIN JOHAN

Senior Lecturer
  • Music Department
    Faculty of Creative Arts
  • adiljo
  • 0379325500

BIOGRAPHY

ADIL Johan is Deputy Executive Director (Academic and Student Affairs) at the Asia-Europe Institute and senior lecturer at the Faculty of Creative Arts, Universiti Malaya (UM). His research on music and popular culture considers interculturalism, cosmopolitanism, intimacy, affect and gender, focussing on the Malay world and Southeast Asia. He is author of Cosmopolitan Intimacies, a book on Independence-era Malay film music (NUS Press, 2018) and is co-editor of Made in Nusantara: Studies in popular music (Routledge, 2021). He has also published articles in the Journal of Intercultural Studies (2019); Kajian Malaysia (2019); JATI-Journal of Southeast Asian Studies (2022), Indonesia and the Malay World (2023) and Popular Music and Society (2025). He is currently the elected Chair for the Southeast Asian branch for the International Association for the Study of Popular Music (IASPM-SEA).

ADIL Johan ialah Timbalan Pengarah Eksekutif (Akademik dan Hal Ehwal Pelajar) di Institut Asia-Eropah dan pensyarah kanan di Fakulti Seni Kreatif, Universiti Malaya (UM). Kajiannya mengenai muzik dan budaya popular mempertimbangkan antara budaya, kosmopolitanisme, keintiman, pengaruh dan jantina, memfokuskan kepada alam Melayu dan Asia Tenggara. Beliau adalah pengarang Cosmopolitan Intimacies, sebuah buku mengenai muzik filem Melayu era Kemerdekaan (NUS Press, 2018) dan merupakan penyunting bersama buku Made in Nusantara: Studies in popular music (Routledge, 2021). Beliau juga telah menerbitkan artikel dalam Journal of Intercultural Studies (2019); Kajian Malaysia (2019); JATI-Journal of Southeast Asian Studies (2022), Indonesia and the Malay World (2023) dan Muzik dan Popular Music and Society (2025). Beliau kini merupakan Pengerusi yang dipilih untuk cawangan Asia Tenggara bagi International Association for the Study of Popular Music (IASPM-SEA).

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

  • CULTURAL HISTORY
    Social Sciences, Historical And Civilisational Studies, History And Civilisation
  • CULTURAL THEORY
    Social Sciences, Anthropological Studies, Anthropology
  • ETHNOMUSICOLOGY
    Social Sciences, Anthropological Studies, Anthropology
  • CULTURE, GENDER AND SEXUALITY
    Humanities, Cultural And Heritage Studies, Culture And Heritage
  • MODERN MUSIC
    Humanities, Arts, Performing Arts And Music

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATION

  • IJAZAH MUDA, (Music / Education)
    University of New South Wales, Australia
  • PhD, (MUSIC RESEARCH)
    King's College London
  • M.ME, (Music / Education)
    University of New South Wales, Australia
  • Dip (Recording Arts Technology), (Teknologi Audio Visual)
    Toronto University, Canada
  • B.FA, (MUSIC PERFORMANCE)
    York University, Canada

ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES

  • Deputy Executive Director (Academic & Student Affairs)
    01 Jul 2024 - present (Asia-Europe Institute (AEI), Asia-Europe Institute)
  • Penyeleras Kursus Teras Pengkhususan Seni Program Asasi Sains Sosial (Arts Stream Course Coordinator, Foundation in Social Science Programme)
    01 Jul 2023 - 31 Dec 2024 (University Malaya)
  • Taskforce Member
    17 Jun 2023 - 17 Jun 2024 (National)

MEMBERSHIPS

  • CHAIR, IASPM-SEA (SOUTHEAST ASIA BRANCH OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE STUDY OF POPULAR MUSIC), PRESIDENT/ CHIEF
    2024 to present (International)
  • IASPM-SEA, CHAIRMAN
    2022 to 2024 (International)

PUBLICATIONS

Article in Journal
WoS
  1. Johan, Adil (2024). Musical creativity and the state of Southeast Asian music studies, JOURNAL OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN STUDIES. 55(1), 170-176. doi:10.1017/S0022463424000109
  2. Liu, Mengye; Ismail, Roslina; Johan, Adil (2024). Sartorial Strategies of Female Punks in Malaysia's Socio-Religious Landscape, FASHION THEORY-THE JOURNAL OF DRESS BODY & CULTURE. . doi:10.1080/1362704X.2024.2401652
  3. Johan, Adil (2023). Sonic city: Making rock music and urban life in Singapore, JOURNAL OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN STUDIES. 54(1), 165-167. doi:10.1017/S0022463423000206
Scopus
  1. Ch'ng X.Y., Leong J., Johan A. (2025). Eluding the State, Reimagining Malaysia: Controversy and Multicultural Heteroglossia in Namewee s Music Videos, Popular Music and Society. . doi:10.1080/03007766.2024.2443724
  2. Johan A. (2023). Crossing Borders and Crossing the Line: Nusantara mobilities of Search and the Malay rock phenomenon (1980s and 1990s), Indonesia and the Malay World. . doi:10.1080/13639811.2023.2257468
Others
  1. Mohd Zariat, A.R., Adil, J., Nur Afifah, V.A., Zaini, S. & Nur Farzana, A. 2024. Pendidikan Seni di Malaysia: Satu Penelitian Awal Terhadap Visi, Misi Dan Pelaksanaan Program Permata/Genius Seni. Mahawangsa, 11(2), 121-136.
  2. Adil, J. (2022). Transnational Mobilities, Intercultural Rhythms: The Journey of a Drummer in Malaysian Popular Music, 1980s and 1990s, JATI-Journal of Southeast Asian Studies. 27(1), 127 151.
  3. Adil, J. (2020). Intercultural Intimacy: Malaysian Popular Music as an Expression of Social Cohesion (1970s and 1980s), Jebat: Malaysian Journal of History, Politics & Strategic Studies. 47(3): 191 213.
  4. Shazlin, A.H., Adil, J. (2020). Malaysian Music and Social Cohesion: Contemporary Responses to Popular Patriotic Songs from the 1950s 1990s. JATI-Journal of Southeast Asian Studies. 25 (1): 191 209.
  5. Adil, J. (2019). Cosmopolitan Intimacies in Malay Performing Arts and Literature: An Introduction. Journal of Intercultural Studies 40 (4): 469 473 (Special Section Editor).
  6. Adil, J. (2019). Cosmopolitan Sounds and Intimate Narratives in P. Ramlee's Film Music. Journal of Intercultural Studies 40 (4): 474 90.
  7. Adil, J., Shazlin, A.H. (2019). Malaysian Popular Music and Social Cohesion: A Focus Group Study Conducted in Kuching, Kota Kinabalu and Klang Valley. Kajian Malaysia 37 (2): 173 195.
  8. Adil, J. (2017). Scoring Tradition, Making Nation: Zubir Said s Traditionalised Film Music for Dang Anom. Malaysian Journal of Music, 6(1), 50 72.
Books
  1. Adil, J. & Santaella, M.A. (Eds. ). (2021). Made in Nusantara: Studies in Popular Music, Routledge.
  2. Adil, J. (2018). Cosmopolitan Intimacies: Malay Film Music of the Independence Era. NUS Press.
Chapter in Books
  1. Adil, J. (2024). Keintiman Silang Budaya: Muzik Popular Malaysia 1970-an dan 1980-an. In Nur Hanim, M.K. (Ed.) Muzik Pop Malaysia 1975 - 1985: Meraikan Kepelbagaian. Kampung Karyawan Amanjaya.
  2. Adil, J. (2023). Sustaining adaptability: the impact of Covid-19 on independent Klang Valley musicians. In V. Somiah & N.D.M Ariffin (Eds.), Revisiting Covid-19 in Malaysia: Plight and Perseverance. (pp. 243-267). University of Malaya Press: Kuala Lumpur.
  3. Azmyl, Y. Adil, J. (2023). "Somewhere they belong: Metal, ethnicity, and scenic solidarities in Malaysia's underground scenes (1990s to 2000s)". In Varas-Díaz, N., Wallach, J., Clinton, E., & Nevárez Araújo, D. (eds.), Defiant sounds: heavy metal music in the global south. Rowman & Littlefield: London. pp.259-280.

RESEARCH PROJECT

National
  1. 2024 - 2026, Bantuan Khas Penyelidikan (BKP Special)
    The Soft Power of Malaysian Popular Music: A Preliminary Study of Sheila Majid?s Popularity in Indonesia and Japan during the 1980s and 1990s ( Principal Investigator(PI))

PAPER PRESENTED

INVITED SPEAKER
  1. Joe Flizzow dari Subang Jaya ke Asia Tenggara: Liku Hidup Rentas Budaya Ikon Hip-Hop Tanahair, Ipoh Muzik Simposium Ke-6 "Ritma Atas Puisi: Muzik Rap dan Budaya Hip Hop", PORT Ipoh (National) (12 Oct 2024 - 13 Oct 2024)
  2. Southeast Asian Intersections of Malaysian Popular Music, Talk Series on Ethnographic Film and Media, Graduate Institute of Musicology, National Taiwan University, Taipei (International) (24 Apr 2024 - 27 Apr 2024)
  3. Keintiman Silang Budaya Muzik Popular Malaysia 1970an dan 1980an, Ipoh Music Symposium, PORT Ipoh (National) (06 Oct 2023 - 08 Oct 2023)
  4. Malaysian Music: Confluence of Diversity, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Nusantara Music, Monash University Malaysia (National) (05 Sep 2023 - 05 Sep 2023)
  5. What's So Great About P. Ramlee? Demythifying National Narratives, P. Ramlee Research Symposium, Monash University Malaysia (National) (15 May 2023 - 15 May 2023)
ORAL PRESENTER
  1. Social Media, Controversy and Dissent: Glocal Entanglements of Southeast Asian Popular Music, IASPM-SEA and IAPMS Joint Conference 2024, International Association for the Study of Popular Music Southeast Asia (IASPM-SEA) (International) (25 Jul 2024 - 27 Jul 2024)

ACADEMIC/PROF. SERVICES

Evaluation
  1. (2024) External Review Panel - Periodic Quality Review (Pqr) for Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Contemporary Music (Audio Technology), Department of Film and Performing Arts (Dfpa), School of Arts, Sunway University, National, (External Assessor)
  2. (2024) Internal Examiner for Doctor of Philosophy Candidate, Bao Di (17014285/1 / Rva180001), University, (Internal Examiner)
  3. (2024) Article Reviewer, National, (Reviewer)
Contribution to external organisation
  1. (2025) Ahli Jawatankuasa Teknikal Bagi Kajian Pembangunan Industri Muzik Di Malaysia, National, (Technical Advisor)
  2. (2024) Ahli Jawatankuasa Petugas Royalti dan Hak Cipta Industri Muzik, National, (Expert Advisor)
  3. (2023) Fasilitator Sambilan Bagi Mesyuarat Semakan dan Penstrukturan Program Pengajian Fakulti Muzik Aswara, National, (Expert Advisor)

TEACHING

Bachelor
  1. (2024) RIA2023 - Malaysia-Nusantara Music History
  2. (2024) RIA1012 - Music Ensemble Ii
  3. (2024) RIA3004 - Music Ensemble Iv
  4. (2024) GQR0076 - Popular Music and Globalization in Southeast Asia
  5. (2024) RIA2006 - World Music Culture
  6. (2023) RIA3002 - Computer Music Ii
  7. (2023) RIA2026 - Music Appreciation
  8. (2023) RIX2001 - Performing Arts Theory
  9. (2023) RIA2006 - World Music Culture
Others
  1. (2024) FAG1022 - Asas Praktis Muzik

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY ACTIVITIES

  • Panel Juri Bagi Pertandingan Kesenian, Program Karnival Aktiviti Pelajar Sempena UM-Wow Sesi 2024/2025, (30 Aug 2024 - 30 Aug 2024) (University)
  • Juri Bagi Pertandingan Mele Musica (Battle of The Band) Semasa Fiesta Rumah Terbuka Kolej Kediaman Raja Dr Nazrin Shah (Frenster), (05 Mar 2024 - 09 Mar 2024) (University)

COURSE ATTENDED

Internal / External Course
INTERNAL COURSE- ORGANIZED BY PTJ
  1. BENGKEL PROBLEM-BASED LEARNING DAN FLIPPED LEARNING, Universiti Malaya (11 Jul 2023 - 13 Jul 2023)
  2. EMERALD RESEARCH AND SUPERVISION 2023, Universiti Malaya (15 Aug 2023 - 17 Aug 2023)
  3. EMERALD TEACHING AND LEARNING 2023, Universiti Malaya (07 Aug 2023 - 11 Aug 2023)
RESEARCH
  1. INTER-ASIAN INTERSECTIONALITIES OF MALAYSIA POPULAR MUSIC, (21 Aug 2023 - 29 Sep 2023)