Hiya Réna, thanks for joining us in the virtual RGM lounge today. Grab a brew and take a seat.
Thanks for joining us today… Tell us bit about where you are from and how you got into music?
Hi! Thanks so much for having me. I really appreciate it.
I’m originally from Indonesia, but I currently live in Germany. Music has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I started learning piano when I was about five years old, and I loved singing too. Whenever there was a birthday party with a stage and someone asked who wanted to sing, I was always the kid who came forward!
I think music has always been something very natural to me. It was never really a question of whether I liked doing it. I just did.
What’s the live music scene like in your city right now?
I would still call Bandung my city, even though I live in Germany now. And honestly, Bandung has always had a really strong music scene.
What I love about it is how varied it is. You can find small indie gigs and community showcases in cafés and smaller venues, but then you also have bigger events like The Papandayan Jazz Festival, Forestra, Pestipalin and other festivals happening throughout the year. There’s a very strong indie and alternative culture, but Bandung also has deep roots in rock, punk, hardcore and metal.
Anyone we should be looking out for (bar you, of course)?
I’d actually love for more people outside Indonesia to pay attention to Indonesian artists in general. There’s so much interesting music coming from there, and the scene is incredibly diverse.
Artists like Nadin Amizah, Sal Priadi and Reality Club are very different from each other, but I think they’re good examples of how distinctive Indonesian artists can be while still making music that can connect internationally.
Do you think its easy to become a victim of of our surrounds sometimes?
Definitely. I think our surroundings can quietly shape what we think we’re supposed to want.
At least in the environment I grew up in, there can be a lot of FOMO and comparison. You see what other people are achieving, what they own, where they are in life, and suddenly you start questioning whether you’re doing enough yourself.
Social media probably makes that even stronger now. I’ve learned that sometimes you really have to stop and ask yourself, “Do I actually want this, or do I only want it because I keep seeing everyone else wanting it?” That applies to music too.
What are your ambitions for your artist profile?
I want to write about different forms of love, and I don’t think love always has to mean romance or heartbreak.
Love can be choosing to stay, caring for an animal, learning to love yourself, or even your relationship with food!
I’m especially interested in feelings and experiences that aren’t talked about very often but are actually true for a lot of people. I want someone to hear one of my songs and think, “Wait, I’ve felt this too. I just never knew how to say it.” That would mean a lot to me.
Whats your favourite social media platform to use and why?
Instagram is still my favourite. I’m a millennial, so I basically grew up with it!
I like that Instagram gives you different ways to show who you are. You can have something more curated on your profile, something spontaneous on Stories, and then use Reels for music, performances or just talking.
I also like that it still feels quite visual. Since I’m building an artist identity alongside the music, that part is really fun for me.
We believe its essential to have a presence on Facebook, Instagram and X to introduce yourself to all the different types of audiences out there, what’s your thoughts on that?
I definitely believe in extending your reach. The more people your music reaches, the greater the chance that it will eventually find the people who genuinely connect with it.
At the same time, I don’t think artists should feel forced to be everywhere just for the sake of feeding an algorithm. Every platform has its own audience and its own language, and I’d rather use a platform properly than post things I don’t believe in just because I’m told I have to.
For me, social media is a tool. I want to use it to bring people towards the music, but I don’t want the algorithm to start deciding what kind of artist I should be.
What’s your view on the Music industry today?
I actually think some parts of the industry are moving in a really exciting direction.
We’re seeing more artists release music independently, build their own communities and reach listeners without necessarily needing a major label behind them. Obviously, being independent comes with its own challenges. You suddenly have to learn about distribution, marketing, content and a hundred other things, but the access is there.
And I think that’s how it should be. If a song connects with people, there should be a way for it to find its listeners even if the artist doesn’t have a huge machine behind them.
Whats your thoughts on AI generated music?
I genuinely don’t support fully AI-generated music as a replacement for human artists.
For me, music is interesting because there is a person behind it. There’s a lived experience, an intention, an imperfect vocal, or something somebody chose because it meant something to them.
When everything is generated by optimising patterns, hooks and melodies, I feel like you lose the reason to listen to music in the first place. It might technically sound like music, but I want to feel the person behind the song.
Whats the biggest thing you have learned recently as you progress with your music?
I’ve learned to love making music simply for the sake of making music.
Not because I want to chase fame, numbers or validation from other people. Of course I want people to hear my songs, but I don’t want that to become the reason I make them.
I’m learning to just be myself, write about things I genuinely want to sing about, put them into the world, and then let people find themselves in them if they do. That feels much healthier to me.
What’s currently in your ears and on rotation at the moment?
My rotation is super random! It completely depends on my mood. My Spotify recommendations can go from soft acoustic chill-pop to extremely loud anime songs within about five minutes.
I’ve been listening to a lot of Japanese music too. I can definitely recommend Official HIGE DANdism and Mrs. GREEN APPLE. What I find really interesting about both of them is how much their sound can change from song to song. I love artists who make you wonder what they’re going to do next.
What was your worst experience on stage? Any funny stories to share?
I used to be a worship leader back in my hometown, and there was one Sunday when we were just about to close the service and my stomach suddenly hurt SO badly, and I knew I desperately needed to get to the bathroom.
So I was standing there trying to look completely normal, finished the closing prayer probably much faster than usual, said amen, and then basically ran to the bathroom. I’m pretty sure people noticed.
Got any fun, funny stories from life on the road?
I’m probably too early in my artist journey to have proper “life on the road” stories yet!
I haven’t reached the tour-bus-and-hotel-chaos chapter. At the moment, my version of glamorous musician life is turning part of our home into a recording studio, moving things around, setting up microphones and telling everyone to please be quiet because I need to record another take.
Ask me again after I’ve toured! I’m sure I’ll have a lot of stories by then.
I hear you have new music. What can you tell us about it?
“Teach Me How To Love You” is my debut single, and it was inspired by my relationship with my dog.
I remember when I first decided to take her into my care, I researched everything. Food, behaviour, what I needed at home, what I should and shouldn’t do. And then she arrived, and I realised that research can only teach you so much.
It’s probably a little like parenting in that sense. You can read every book you want, but eventually you have to learn the individual in front of you.
Little by little, I started paying attention to her gestures, her habits and the ways she communicates. She’s incredibly expressive, and eventually I realised that while I thought I was learning how to take care of her, she was also teaching me how she wanted to be loved. That idea became the song.
What was the recording process like?
We recorded it at home! We basically transformed my husband’s home office into a tiny recording studio. It was our first time doing something like this, so there was definitely a lot of learning involved. My producer is based in Indonesia, while I’m in Germany, so we worked remotely and had production sessions over Zoom.
Vocally, it took me quite a few takes to discover what the song actually needed. Sometimes I could technically sing a part correctly, but it still didn’t feel right. I had to find the balance between singing it well and keeping the vocal intimate enough for the story.
Would you change anything now it’s finished?
Nope. Nada.
Is there anything else you would like to share with the world?
I hope the song can also be a small reminder to love and appreciate your pets while they’re here with you.
When you decide to bring an animal into your life, you’re making a commitment to care for them. They depend on us, and I really hope people take that responsibility seriously. Please don’t abandon them when caring for them becomes inconvenient.
And on a much lighter note: go hug your pets.
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