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inger Judika Nalon Abadi Sihotang, the runner-up of the second season of reality show Indonesian Idol, says that he almost became a dangdut singer.

“I was so close to entering KDI,” said the 34-year-old singer who hails from Sidikalang, North Sumatera, referring to the popular dangdut reality television show that aired on local channel TPI (now MNCTV) a few years ago.

“However, [Indonesian] Idol got me first,” he said, as quoted by kompas.com.

He said the twists and turns of the dangdut sound always posed a challenge. “I once sang at hotels, so I am able to sing all kinds of songs. For me, dangdut was the most difficult.”

He added that he was inspired by veteran dangdut singers such as Mansyur S. and the late Meggy Z. “It once crossed my mind, that someday I would make dangdut songs.”