It is the month of love and Valentine's Day (Feb. 14) is approaching fast. In a year when the pandemic has become more uncertain than ever, perhaps nothing can be more assuring and bring greater comfort than a simple gesture of affection. For at least one day, we set aside our pandemic worries and instead crank up Taylor Swift to full blast while focusing on one question and one question only: what if you're 'The One'?

In that spirit, The Jakarta Post assembled some of Indonesia's top artists to have them share their current favorite love song, childhood celebrity crush, most treasured Valentine's Day memories, their most ideal date and advice for everyone out there who is still nursing their romantic woes. 

Mark Natama (20), singer

What love song are you obsessed with right now?

I'm really into Robin Thicke's “The Sweetest Love”. I hadn't listened to that song for a while, but lately it has been on my radar. I just forgot how good the song was. I think this song is beautiful but also nasty at the same time. [laughs]

Who was your celebrity crush when you were a kid?

My celebrity crush is a thousand miles away from me: Ariana Grande. Even now I still harbor a huge crush on her! I grew up watching her on Nickelodeon and she was just an itty-bitty kid back then, so in my eyes I found her very cute. Then she grew up and she transformed herself into this woman, but she still tugs at my heartstrings. Also, she has a petite figure. My frame is a bit short compared with most men and I used to imagine the two of us going on a date without me looking weird by her side. [laughs]

Romantic trauma: Singer Mark Natama believes his lack of enthusiasm for Valentine's Day is due to potential "unfinished business". (Courtesy of Spotify) (Spotify/Courtesy of Spotify)

Can you tell me your most treasured Valentine's Day memories?

It's not that I'm anti-Valentine's Day. It's just that I'm one of those people... [pause] I don't know, maybe I'm just in denial. Every time Valentine's Day is approaching, I always try not to make a big deal out of it. I don't always have a girlfriend during Valentine's Day and when I do, I am always chill about it and I don't expect anything. I don't know. Perhaps there's a trauma relating to Valentine's Day that I still haven't figured out. Unfinished business, perhaps. [laughs]

Please describe your most ideal date!

My ideal date is traveling overseas and exploring places that are not too touristy. We would be like [backpackers]: using public transportation, sipping coffee wherever we were and just having conversations with each other – the fun ones and the deep ones.

Help, my love life is a disaster! What should I do?

I think you shouldn't succumb to peer pressure, especially during this pandemic when you might feel lonelier than ever. Like, there's a lot of lovey-dovey TikTok content right now, but don't fall for that. I believe the best time for you [to find love] is the best time for you. Because I've been there—I've been in a position where I forced myself to have a girlfriend back in high school. It didn't feel great.

Nadin Amizah (21), singer-songwriter

What love song are you obsessed with right now?

First song is a duet between Yaeow and Neptune called “The Way I Love You”. Every time I listen to this song, its instrumentalization and its discernible lyrics always remind me of that early fuzziness of falling in love: soft, sweet and warm. The second song is “Grows Old” by Thirdstory. This is the type of love song worthy of a film montage: a pair of lovers at their peak of happiness, running around in a prairie, flashbacks of memories kicking in. My heart always feels full when I listen to this song."

Who was your celebrity crush when you were a kid?

Once I did a roleplay in a virtual world where I became [South Korean singer] IU. She is such a sweetheart and when it comes to taste, I think she and I have a lot in common.

Can you tell me your most treasured Valentine's Day memories?

I don't have an abundance of Valentine's Day memories, but my current boyfriend is the type of guy who loves celebrating Valentine's Day. I had to work on our first Valentine's Day [as a couple], but everything went well – except for the fact that he felt funny in one of his legs and we had to spend the whole day celebrating Valentine’s Day with him on one foot [laughs]. Because I felt bad for him, we went back to my place and we spent the whole afternoon and evening talking about a lot of stuff. It was nevertheless a very lovely day.

Simple words: Singer-songwriter Nadin Amizah simply assures all single people that their time will come. (Spotify/Courtesy of Spotify)

Please describe your most ideal date!

My love language emphasizes quality time. I'm over the moon when I can have a date that feels tranquil and supportive; a date where the two of us can talk a lot and enjoy each other's company. I also love traveling around Bandung without a car. On a train, we could enjoy the sights, joke around and explore more things that we could talk about. I also love dates that make me laugh.

Help, my love life is a disaster! What should I do?

Fret not, your time will come!

Tiara Andini (20), singer, actress

What love song are you obsessed with right now?

It's “Reckless” by Madison Beer. The story of the song is devastating. It's about a girl who is so blindly in love with this guy she doesn't listen to her friends anymore. Her friends have warned her about him, but she refuses to believe them and still sees this guy. She believes that he loves her and he will never cheat on her. It turns out that her friends were right all along.

Who was your celebrity crush when you were a kid?

I had two huge crushes: Teuku Rassya and Iqbaal Ramadhan. [laughs] Back when I was in elementary school, CJR [pop boyband in which Iqbaal Ramadhan was a member] was huge because no one came close to them. I still remember Iqbaal with his hat and his braces [laughs]. Also, back in the day, I used to write about Iqbaal all the time on my Facebook. Gosh, I was so cringey!

Can you tell me your most treasured Valentine's Day memories?

Nothing special, just so-so. My Valentine’s Days so far have never been that euphoric. Maybe later, when I finally find that special someone. I guess I just haven't found the right guy.

Please describe your most ideal date!

I just want us to go out, watch movies, work out together, watch concerts or I have a gig and he watches me perform. I think doing simple deeds like that is also a gesture of love.

Help, my love life is a disaster! What should I do?

As your Love Doctor [laughs], I say what is important during this pandemic is communication and trust. If neither of those things exists, I don't think your romance will last long. I've been there before, when we always maintained our communication but couldn't help but feel suspicious with each other. The harder we hold on to things, the easier they are to slip away.

Yura Yunita (30), singer-songwriter

What love song are you obsessed with right now?

The love song that has been my companion these days and feels a lot deeper in times like these is my song “Dunia Tipu-Tipu”. I feel this song describes my love best right now. Because of social media as well, everything seems grey at the moment, but when I'm with my loved ones – my family, my friends and my team – all the grayness fades and turns to white. I define love as when we no longer need to use our words; just by letting our eyes speak, we instantly know that we feel secure with each other and we promise never to part.

Testing our love: Singer-songwriter Yura Yunita recommends traveling to test your compatibility as a couple. (Courtesy of Spotify) (Spotify/Courtesy of Spotify)

Who was your celebrity crush when you were a kid?

Back in the day, my dad used to play this DVD of Michael Jackson and I saw him as the most ideal man of my life [laughs].

Can you tell me your most treasured Valentine's Day memories?

I still remember very clearly: it was Feb. 14, 2016, and I had this solo gig and all my fans were there. I see it as the most memorable Valentine's Day ever because that day felt like my birthday and not like a Valentine's Day. One by one, the fans told me why they loved my music and it was very intimate. We exchanged gifts as well and there were a lot of gifts!

Please describe your most ideal date!

For me personally, an ideal date is when I can double-date with my parents. Dating is usually about going to beautiful and romantic places and I don't know why, whenever I go to those places what is on my mind is always my parents – that my parents should see these beautiful places as well. My husband already knows this all too well! [laughs] I always believe that if the four of us can connect, our happiness shall continue for the rest of our lives.

Help, my love life is a disaster! What should I do?

First of all, before we can love someone, we must be able to love ourselves first and foremost. When we love ourselves, we can reflect that love on others as well. Second, once we meet the candidate for “The One”, I learned from my mom that your partner should be someone who can support all your passions and vice-versa. Pursuing your passions is what makes you alive, and if your partner doesn't support your passions, that means your partner doesn't support what makes you happy in your life. Another thing that I find is important is testing your compatibility as a couple by traveling together! [laughs] At least for three days, you and your partner should go out of town to a place that is not where you are normally accustomed to. If things go well, hopefully that means you and your partner should do well for the rest of your lives. But, if things go sour during the trip, maybe it's time to reconsider your relationship.