Music before politics, says Andy/rif

JP/ Wahyoe Boediwardhana

MALANG, East Java: Turning to politics might be something of a trend among celebrities, but singer Andy/rif has made it clear he’s not interested.

Rather, he says, he is committed to his music so he can keep developing it, rather than throwing his hat into the political ring.

“It has never crossed my mind to move to another path by becoming a legislative candidate as many actors and actresses do,” Andy told reporters during a rock festival in Malang on Monday. “Music is my way of life and I have an obligation to develop it for the fans who made what I am now.”

Becoming a musician, he said, meant he had a moral obligation to respect the fans that had made him famous. “I can’t leave music just because I feel like it and move to some other profession,” said the man whose real name Restu Triandy.

The 41-year-old singer said he did not underestimate the intellectual quality of celebrities who moved to politics but pitied them for using their popularity for political gain.

“It should not go so far as to use their career to seek popularity and suddenly turn to politics by using that popularity.”

Artists, he said, should be responsible for the works they have created and never copy others.
Nevertheless, the artist, who together with his band has released five albums including Radja (King), Salami, Nikmati Aja (Just Enjoy it) and Duniapun Tersenyum (And the World is Smiling), acknowledged that everybody has their own reason and political rights.

“I just hope that if they are elected, they won’t forget to make better arrangements for the life of artists in Indonesia.” — JP