Indonesian singer Judika is working on an album to be released in January. Meanwhile, he teases fans with a track from the record, writes Tahir Alhamzah
JUDIKA’S fans hold a special place in his heart. He attributes his success to the undivided support shown by his loyal fans (or “Judikaholics” as they are called) since the beginning of his career.
With that in mind, Judika whose full name is Judika Nalon Abadi Sihotang involved his fans in making the new record.
A song competition was held, inviting fans to submit their works. Co-organised with an Indonesian television station which had been airing the programme, A Night With Judika, the competition held between April and June, received overwhelming response, with some 400 submissions.
“My production team and I were pleasantly surprised by the enthusiastic response shown by Judikaholics and we painstakingly went through every submission,” says Judika.
“There were many good entries. It was amazing to find compositions that suited my personality and more so, my vocals.
“After a stringent selection process, we have decided on five compositions that will eventually be included in my album.”
The 38-year-old singer first rose to prominence when he was announced the runner-up in the second season of Indonesian Idol in 2005. The champion was the late Mike Mohede who passed away on July 31 this year at the age of 32.
FANS COMPOSITIONS
One of the five songs selected is entitled Jadi Aku Sebentar Saja, composed by a school teacher in Tangerang (in Banten province). It was released simultaneously in Malaysia and Indonesia on Aug 8.
It also marked Judika’s first song being released in both countries at the same time.
“I was attracted to the melody the moment I heard its demo. The tempo was moderate but it carried a very strong theme,” says Judika.
Songwriter and jazz guitarist Tohpati transformed the composition from a beautiful ballad with orchestra inserts, into a powerful rockestra.
From its original demo version, Judika has revamped the bridge section of the song into his own version, making the character of the song more suitable for him. He also felt a challenge in delivering certain parts of the song which featured high notes.
The powerful lyrics was also one of the reasons it was selected. “From a romantic aspect, it is a heartwrenching song that pulls on your heartstrings. However, in a more universal point of view, it’s positive message encourages people not to be envious of what others have.
“Often times we perceive that the grass is greener on the other side. We will always have the desire to follow in the footsteps of those who are more successful than we are. However, once we’ve had a taste of it, we will realise that reality is often not as beautiful and perfect as we assume it to be. Hence, we should always be grateful and be contented with what we have,” he says.
Judika adds that the story in the lyrics is relatable to many, even he himself had at one time experienced such a heartache. The important thing, he says, is for us to let time heal (our wounds) and move on from there.
The new album will feature five songs from the competition and another five from professional composers.
Currently, the album is about 40 per cent complete and Judika plans to come to Malaysia for a showcase by year end.
The single, Jadi Aku Sebentar Saja, can be downloaded via iTunes or stream on selected music portals — Apple Music, Deezer, Joox Music, KKBox, Raku, Spotify and Yonder Music.