M

any may envy singer Astrid Sartiasari for belting out “Saranghamnida” (I Love You) with South Korean singer
Hwang Young-min.

Astrid said she’s happy with the duet since deep down she felt more comfortable singing melancholic ballads.

Entering the spotlight after singing “Ratu Cahaya” (the Queen of Light), a song that became the official soundtrack for horror flick Tusuk Jalangkung (Jalangkung Stick), her previous single, “Jadikan Aku yang kedua” (Make Me the Second), became an instant hit in 2006 despite its cheerful beat.

Astrid, who looks up to Icelandic singer Bjork, said she is now busy promoting her new single.

“The song ‘Mendua’ [Having an Affair] will become the first single on my upcoming album, which will also feature a duet with Tim [Hwang Young-min].

I am happy with the duet because it is a milestone in my career. I sing the Indonesian lyrics and a line of Korean, while Tim sings all the Korean lyrics.

Recording ‘Mendua’ late last year was a challenge for me because I was preparing my wedding at the same time. The emotion in the song contradicted my feelings, but I tried my best to grasp the sad mood. The song is about someone, who loves her boyfriend deeply but is betrayed. As a singer, I have to be able to convey the song’s emotion to the listeners.

Actually, I am not a melancholic person, who can easily weep over many things. I really like to chill out listening to songs that can make my mind wander.

I believe that many people have experienced some bitter moments that hurt them, moments similar to what I sing, but I hope they realize it is not the end of the world. When feeling low, I will do things that I enjoy doing, such as watching movies in the cinema or hanging out with friends. The best cure for sadness is sharing with friends.

If I have a busy schedule and am exhausted, I will indulge in beauty treatments like massages or hair massages. That’s really my ‘me time’.

I also like eating delicious food. I am a big fan of signatures dishes from East Java because I come from Surabaya. Indonesian food is the perfect option for me.

When I was a kid, I used to spend my Sundays with my family, watching TV the whole day and relaxing. Now, I usually work on weekends and sometimes since I don’t have much leisure time I try to mix business with pleasure.

The most memorable holiday for me was my honeymoon last year where I performed at the Queen Elizabeth stadium in Hong Kong for an audience mostly consisting of Indonesian migrant workers. They were very happy and I could feel their enthusiasm when I spoke to them from the stage in Javanese.

Only after finishing the performance could I have fun with my husband, Arlan Djoewarsa. It was a memorable work vacation.”

— Indah Setiawati