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Music roundtable: AMI Awards 2021's top newcomer nominees
Anugerah Musik Indonesia (AMI) announced the nominees of this year’s AMI Awards on Oct. 18, 2021. Join four of the Best of the Best Newcomer nominees as they speak to The Jakarta Post in a roundtable interview.
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Fresh faces: Musicians (from left) Novia Bachmid, Nuca, Raissa Anggiani and Dere are four of the seven nominees for Best of the Best Newcomer at the Anugerah Musik Indonesia (AMI) Awards 2021. (JP/Felix Martua) (JP/Felix Martua)
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nugerah Musik Indonesia (AMI) announced the nominees of this year’s AMI Awards on Oct. 18, 2021. Join Dere, Novia Bachmid, Nuca and Raissa Anggiani, four of the Best of the Best Newcomer nominees, as they speak to The Jakarta Post in a roundtable interview.
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When four of the most promising new talents – Dere (nominated for “Kota”), 19, Novia Bachmid (“Ingin Jatuh Cinta”), 19, Nuca (“Kagum”), 19, and Raissa Anggiani (“Losing Us”), 17 – gathered together in person for a roundtable interview with The Jakarta Post contributor Felix Martua on Oct. 29, buzzing excitement instantly filled the air.
Perhaps calling them “newcomers” might be an understatement, considering that every single one of them has been working hard since they were kids to break into the music industry. Now that they have their maiden AMI Awards nomination under their belt, here is an excerpt from our roundtable conversation with topics ranging from their early struggles to why aiming for a hit can make for a dangerous “ego”.
Question: When did you realize 100 percent that music was your life’s calling?
Raissa Anggiani: When I was in the fourth grade. That was the first time I felt like, maybe the music industry is where I belong. [Pauses.] This is just like sharing stories, right? I’m scared [laughs]!
Anyway, back then I was asked to [...] join a band, though to be honest, I was more into writing than making music. I loved writing poems and stories, even though they were very amateurish. Eventually, I found my love for music when I was in the fourth grade and I started picking up musical instruments. Then one day, this teacher asked me, “Is music just for fun for you, or would you like to be serious about it someday?” And I was like, “Maybe this might be it.” And it is.
