Indonesian R&B and soul singer Afgan released an all-English EP entitled “Sonder” with collaborative tracks with Jessi and Thuy. Since debuting in 2007, the singer-songwriter has produced several global hit songs, including “Bawalah Cintaku,” “Ada,” and “Say I’m Sorry.”
In an interview with Music Geek, Afgan cited Brian McKnight, Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston, and Stevie Wonder as musicians who influenced his sound growing up.
“I had the chance to duet with Brian McKnight at David Foster’s concert in Jakarta. It was a dream come true, as I used to emulate how he sang. And that’s how I fell in love with singing; it’s still surreal,” he shared.
Indonesian R&B and soul singer Afgan CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/JASON PRATANA
For the artist, music is a form of sanctuary where he finds solace and healing. On top of that, his Indonesian roots had an intrinsic influence on his sound, manifesting from his melodic compositions to his performances.
“I like that I can infuse my influence from Indonesian music and culture into my music, and I truly embrace that.”
The musician acknowledged that he tries not to focus on the pressure of delivering new music and instead prioritizes enjoying the process, as that’s what matters in this day and age of countless music releases. Subsequently, he advised pursuing music for passion rather than for competition.
Meanwhile, Afgan revealed how relaxed and self-assured he felt in the studio after releasing his latest EP, “Sonder,” where he can now comfortably communicate his ideas. In particular, “Shallow Water” represents apprehensions in commitment, whereas “Lonely Night” depicts comfort in isolation. The singer-songwriter claimed that it’s much more personal than his previous records.
Afgan collaborated with Vietnamese-American singer Thuy for the rhythmic track “Criminal (Over You).”
“She elevates the song to a whole other level, and she took it somewhere that I cannot even imagine, so I’m so grateful that she was willing to do it.” Afgan also shared that he wishes to perform it together, as he disclosed that they only worked on it virtually.
Meanwhile, he mentioned that after meeting K-pop artist Jessi at a music festival in Jakarta, he found her energy suitable for the bright summer pop track “Escape (feat. Jessi).”
“You can see how eclectic she is as an artist. It was a great experience collaborating with Jessi.” Fans can watch the “Escape (feat. Jessi)” music video and album backstory on Afgan’s YouTube channel.
With “Sonder,” the Indonesian artist hopes to comfort his listeners.
“On this album, I talk about my insecurities, struggles, pain, joy, and happiness; hopefully, people can relate to it on a personal level.”
Ultimately, Afgan aims to expand and establish a connection with his audience through music, and consequently, he announced, “I want to do more shows outside of Indonesia. I’m doing my Asia tour now, and hopefully, I can visit the Philippines one day as I wish to travel the world and perform. That’s my dream right now. Hopefully, I can make that happen.”
In ending, Afghan shared what he considers as the best advice he has received in his career.
“Everything has its own time. You should let go, let the universe, and let God do the work for you. The more I let go, the more I accept that everything has its timing; I can live more peacefully and hope for the best,” he finally said.
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