TheJakartaPost
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20 Questions with Tulus
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Observation: On "Manusia", singer-songwriter Tulus observes the dynamics of the lives of others and himself. (Courtesy of TulusCompany) (Courtesy of TulusCompany/Courtesy of TulusCompany)
'20 Questions’ is a new Q&A column in which we talk to the country’s most intriguing individuals — from artists, celebrities, academics and activists to leaders, industry players and ‘regular’ people with notable achievements.
Singer Tulus released his fourth full-length album of original songs (his fifth album overall) titled Manusia (Human) on March 3. Three days later, with little marketing fanfare, one of the album's composing tracks, "Hati-Hati di Jalan" (Safe Travels), reached number one on the Spotify Indonesia Top 50 chart. The following day, all of the 10 tracks making up the album occupied the same chart.
On the weekend, Manusia debuted at number three on Spotify's Top Albums Debut Global chart, making Tulus the first Indonesian music act with an album entirely in Indonesian to do so.
Despite being one of the most decorated Indonesian musicians in the game, the 34-year-old singer-songwriter insists that he is still not used to his resounding, record-breaking success.
"Preparing this album was neither a simple feat nor a brief process," Tulus told The Jakarta Post. "That's why it's so heartwarming to see such a response. It made me forget how exhausting the process was."
Answering The Post’s 20 questions, Tulus reflected on his journey of recording Manusia, his fascination with humanity and being a keen observer of life.
