Which of the country’s music creators will wow audiences this year?

As Indonesian music grows more creative each week, it is also becoming increasingly competitive. Scoring a chart-topper or teaming up with a hot shot producer is no longer enough to stand out. These days, it is about creating a complete piece of music that compels in every aspect.

With authenticity, these five musicians have distinct bodies of work that put them on top as music talents to reckon with in 2023.

Bernadya

While many pop newcomers try to copy either the soft and stately template of Tiara Andini or the poetic model of Nadin Amizah, 18-year-old Bernadya decided to come up with her own identity from scratch.

Her past tenure as one half of the pop duo Celine & Nadya, a project that gave birth to the Colbie Caillat-esque "Lugu" (Naive) and "Kau Lagi" (You Again), might have taught Bernadya that what kills a pop act's momentum is not a lack of viral hits but, instead, the musicians’ reluctance to develop an incomparable character.

Her solo debut number, "Apa Mungkin" (Could It Be), was in a class of its own: a pop number that proudly illustrated emotional maturity beyond her years. Her deliberately low register makes the song's combative lyrics a delicate toss-up between self-accusation and passive-aggressiveness. And when she subtly switches her register during the final chorus, it is a gorgeous masterclass on what an Indonesian pop artist can do when she lets go of being the “next version” of someone else.

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