My conclusion was clear as dawn on the album cover: Lyodra is no longer the teen idol I interviewed a few years ago; She has grown into a young lady who deserves the elusive “diva” status.

The album’s closing track, “Jangan Pernah Kembali” (Never Come Back), makes a strong case to silence any critics or skeptics. Co-written by Lyodra and acclaimed composer-producer Andi Rianto, this powerful ballad showcases her ability to convey complex emotions into a captivating 13-second vocal track. This is the type of song dedicated to just one singer, whose vocal talent inspires both admiration and envy. Isn’t this the very definition of “diva”?

But when I asked whether Lyodra considered herself a diva, she responded with an enthusiastic laugh. “Absolutely not! You think so?”

“It’s a lot of pressure to be seen that way,” he adds. “I still have a long way to go. It’s only been five years since I started my career. I still have so many songs to do (to become a diva).”

Courtesy of Universal Music Indonesia (Universal Music Indonesia/.)

pop goddess

Lyodra’s “Pesan Terakhir” (The Last Message), a track from her 2021 self-titled debut album, established her as a hitmaker, racking up 347 million streams on Spotify (and counting).

But what took him to the top of the charts was “Sang Dewi” (Goddess), which he co-founded with Andi Rianto in 2022. The orchestral pop tune, a reinterpretation of Titi DJ’s 2001 song of the same name, became Lyodra’s first song to reach the top spot on the prestigious Spotify Indonesia Top 50 chart.

It was an “unforgettable and unforgettable” experience for him.

“’Sang Dewi’ was the song I was most nervous about recording,” he recalls.

“At the time, I thought this record would fail. Negative thoughts got to me and I started overthinking. The original version (by Titi DJ) was already incredible, so what could I add to it? But surprisingly, a lot of people loved (my version).”

Also read: ‘Mom, I’m tired. ‘Can I sleep at your house tonight?’Lyodra admits that even now he doesn’t fully understand the reason behind this success. At the time of the song’s release, the soft pop subgenre was dominating the charts, resulting in the arena-huge “Sang Dewi” shattering expectations, including her own.

“It’s hard (to analyze),” Lyodra says with a laugh.

“What was fashionable at the time was music that was easy to listen to. But ‘‘Sang Dewi’ came out and it was a very volcanic, powerful record. The environment was like no other. That’s why I was so scared and worried when it came out.”

This was the gift that kept on giving. In 2023, “Sang Dewi” earned Lyodra and Andi Rianto the AMI Award for Best Remastered Production. He also shared the AMI Award for Best Co-Production Work with Yovie Widianto, Tiara Andini and Ziva Magnolya for another pop hit, “Menyesal” (Regret).

Later in 2024, Lyodra repeated her chart-topping success with the Mario G. Klau-penned song “Tak Dianggap” (Not Noticed).

It all served as fuel for Lyodra to take the next step.

“I see every victory, including the AMI Awards, as motivation for the future,” he says.

“’Okay, let’s get to work!’ I said.”

Courtesy of Universal Music Indonesia (Universal Music Indonesia/.)

Up and forward

“Now feels like the perfect time to ask myself: What do I want? What kind of music do I like?” -Lyodra

Melangkah It represents Lyodra taking a real and decisive step towards a higher level of pop music. While her 2021 debut showcases her versatility as a singer, Melangkah It focuses on his personality and unique individuality as an artist.

“I worked with a lot of people on my first album. However, I am intensely interested in my second album. “I came up with the theme, worked on the songs, found the inflections, intonations and stuff, and wrote some lyrics,” he explained.

“That’s why the album is called Melangkah. “I feel like I’ve taken a step forward from the person I was yesterday.”

This step forward also means creating a sound that is both original and resonant. In the upbeat bop “Malu Malu Tapi Nyaman” (Shy But Relaxed), produced by S/EEK, she flirts with (and warns) her love interest, hinting that she might change her mind about him. On “Sana Sini Mau” (I Want It All), co-written with S/EEK and rising songwriter Clara Riva, she draws influences from the early 2000s pop-rock subgenre to express her rage at an insidious womanizer.

Also read: Art Highlights in Jakarta 2024With the album’s penultimate track “Sampaikan Rindu” (Send My Longing), written by AMI Award winner Ade Govinda, Lyodra gets serious and expresses the struggle with painful longing.

“It was very tiring. The stress was real,” Lyodra recalls of the album’s recording process. “There were even times when I couldn’t sleep.”

Luckily it was all worth it. Not only did this album allow Lyodra to flex her songwriting muscles, it also allowed her to create a record close to her heart.

“It’s pretty personal,” he quips, without giving away his muse.

“This album is ‘very Lyodra’. My singing is also more mature. Everything is one step. I’m off to a good start, and now feels like the perfect time to ask myself: What do I want? What kind of music do I like?”

word melangkahSimilar to what the album embodies, it carries a deeper meaning for Lyodra. If he had not risked things, he could have stayed in his comfort zone and created mere variants of “Pesan Terakhir” or “Sang Dewi”. Instead he chose to move forward.

“You can’t just hold on to one dream; you have to dream big,” he says.

“Maybe people may think that I’m already in a good place, but there are still a lot of things I want to achieve, a lot of ideas that I need to realize. I believe that after this album, more ideas will come to my mind. And I want them in a place where I am excited and hungry to learn more.” Even though the process is tiring, it is also very fun!”

Spoken like a true future diva.

Felix Martua is a music and film journalist who has interviewed many artists over the years. He is known for his distinctive black jacket, Ghibli lapel pin and slightly sinister smile.