The Jakarta Globe
August 02, 2009
Fidelis E. Satriastanti
Indonesian Voted Best Singer in International Contest
A former Jakarta resident was named the winner of an international contest for new stars in Latvia over the weekend, marking a major start in his bid to go international.
Musician and singer Sandhy Sondoro, largely unknown in Indonesia because he lives in Germany, was voted the overall best newcomer at the 8th New Wave International Contest of Young Pop Singers held in Jurmala, Latvia, from July 28 to Aug. 2.
The contest, reputed as the most glamorous and prestigious in Eastern Europe, also featured performances by international artists Al Jearou, Simply Red, Roxette and Eric Clapton. Indonesian international singer Anggun also performed during the event.
The contest was over the course of three days. The singers, mostly from Scandinavian countries and also from Russia, Belarus, the Ukraine and Indonesia, each had to sing one song on each day.
All performed live before panels of at least seven judges, with the final scores tallied during the last day.
Kevi Lane, a business liaison manager for Sandhy, said the 28-year-old architect was already leading the score from the first day of the contest.
“He was quite a standout compared to the others,” Kevin said.
“There were only a few times when he had to share the scores, but we believed that he could manage to win.”
Kevi said Sandhy’s song on the final day, “End of The Rainbow,” is now highly likely to become his first worldwide single.
During the competition, Sandhy also sang “Malam Biru” (“Blue Night”), a song that he wrote, and Michael Bolton’s “When A Man Loves A Woman,” which drew a standing ovation from the audience and earned him a near-perfect score.
However, despite his shining stage performances during the competition, Sandhy’s name is hardly recognized in his own country.
Eric Qomarul, Sandhy’s manager, said in Jakarta, on Sunday night: “I suppose that’s partly because he has been staying in Berlin [Germany] for almost 20 years, but also because his music is soul blues, with the mix of John Buckley, Dean Harper, even a little bit of John Mayer.”
He said Sandhy had visited Indonesia last month to do several performances to introduce himself.
Sandhy also has permanent residence in Germany as a musician, something that no Indonesian had ever achieved before.
He previously released one album, “Why Don’t We,” in December of 2007.
Full Version: Indonesian Voted Best Singer in International Contest
Sandhy Sondoro - Blue Moon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCXpm30GCt0
July 2009
Sandhy Sondoro will be performing songs in English from his debut album, “Why Don’t We.” (Go find it out on youtube)
Sandhy Sondoro Reveals His Soul
Sandhy Sondoro the person and Sandhy Sondoro the musician are two very different people. When he tells a story, he gestures wildly, moving around restlessly in his seat. He is halfway through the next story having barely finished the first.
“I’m sorry. What were we talking about?” he says, losing his train of thought.
Sandhy is more than happy to give a short performance upon request, carefully removing his precious guitar from its case. As soon as the guitar is in his hands, the transformation begins. When he starts singing, the restlessness vanishes and the vivacious character becomes calm, introspective and serious. He closes his eyes and puts his whole heart into the music, even though his audience is a mere handful of guests on the rooftop in Plaza Semanggi, South Jakarta.
Wearing a black fedora, a long-sleeved navy shirt and sleek gray pants, the 29-year-old Indonesian soul musician based in Berlin is back in his hometown to promote his debut album, “Why Don’t We.” Having performed two shows here this month, Sandhy’s next gig will be held on Thursday night at the Rolling Stone headquarters in South Jakarta. He will play two more shows in Bali this weekend, as well.
His songs combine heart-felt soul with elements of jazz. Most of his songs deliver a similar message: “One love, one heart, one world,” a sentiment he expresses in speech and in his lyrics. However, it is his dynamic vocal ability that is most impressive — he can go from a coarse raspy soulful voice like the legendary Bobby Womack’s to a soft controlled falsetto that echoes the smooth R&B singer D’Angelo.
“I don’t know myself why or how I sound like this,” Sandhy said, laughing. “Many people who hear my music for the first time think that I’m black. They’re surprised to see I’m Asian.”
Perhaps the sound of African-American music crept into his head as he grew up listening to Curtis Mayfield and Ray Charles, two of his biggest influences.
Sandhy grew up around Blok S in South Jakarta with a musical family. “I first got in touch with Western music, like blues and soul, when I was very little. I grew up with that kind of music,” he said.
His parents also played guitar and they showed Sandhy a thing or two about the instrument. Other than that, Sandhy has never had formal lessons and is basically a self-taught musician.
After he finished high school, he moved to Germany to study architecture. He graduated in interior design, but music has always been his first passion.
“Initially, I wanted to be an architect, and I still like everything related to it, but I enjoy singing too much,” he said. “I think I want to sing until I die.”
However, building a reputation in Berlin’s music scene was no easy task, so Sandhy started off in the city as a street musician.
“I first started playing as a busker because I needed money,” Sandhy said. “I had no job, but I still had to buy food and pay the rent. I saw a street musician one day, he was actually a bit drunk, and I asked him if we could play together — and he didn’t mind. So I brought my guitar. We sang a few songs together, and after an hour and a half, we made 50 euro. The next day, I did it alone.”
He eventually found gigs in Berlin’s bars and clubs, and also performed at festivals.
“It wasn’t easy to establish myself in the German music scene,” Sandhy said. “I think it was because I am not black or white — I’m Asian. It was really new to them.”
Sandhy still returns to Berlin’s metro stations, not to make enough to pay the rent, but to promote his new songs.
It was not until he entered a talent show on German national TV that people throughout the country really started to take notice of Sandhy. The TV show, with a German name too long and convoluted to mention, poked fun at Germany’s version of “American Idol” and allowed musicians to perform their own songs.
“Actually, I don’t make music to compete with others or be better than anyone, but after making music for a long time and still having difficulties getting my music out there, it felt like it was the right thing to do,” he said. “If you’re a great musician but you don’t have any connections, you won’t be successful. And it was a great feeling to finally sing in front of millions of people.”
In December 2007, Sandhy came in fifth out of the 20 finalists, who had been selected from thousands of entrants. Four months later, he released his debut album, “Why Don’t We,” featuring 12 songs in English. His album was produced by the Berlin-based indie label Revolver Records and was generally well received by critics.
Having found his niche in Berlin, Sandhy is now trying to attract an Indonesian market, as well. “Even though I consider myself an international artist, I am Indonesian,” he said.
Sandhy also writes songs in Indonesian. “It was only in the last five or six years that I realized how beautiful the Indonesian language is,” he says. “But it is still hard for me to find the right words in Indonesian that fit into the melody.”
A girl once approached Sandhy at a Berlin metro station while he was busking in Indonesian. “She said, ‘Wow, this is beautiful. Is it Portuguese?’ And I said, ‘No, it’s Indonesian.’ You know, most Westerners think of Asia as China or Japan,” Sandhy said. “They don’t know how different Indonesia and Southeast Asia is.”
Sandhy has been abroad for a long time, but still feels very much at home in Indonesia.
“My family is here,” he said. “But I am very happy in Berlin, too. I have my friends, and they have become my family over there. My dream would be to split my time between Indonesia and Europe,” he said. “Living six months here, and six months there.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCXpm30GCt0
July 2009
Sandhy Sondoro will be performing songs in English from his debut album, “Why Don’t We.” (Go find it out on youtube)
Sandhy Sondoro Reveals His Soul
Sandhy Sondoro the person and Sandhy Sondoro the musician are two very different people. When he tells a story, he gestures wildly, moving around restlessly in his seat. He is halfway through the next story having barely finished the first.
“I’m sorry. What were we talking about?” he says, losing his train of thought.
Sandhy is more than happy to give a short performance upon request, carefully removing his precious guitar from its case. As soon as the guitar is in his hands, the transformation begins. When he starts singing, the restlessness vanishes and the vivacious character becomes calm, introspective and serious. He closes his eyes and puts his whole heart into the music, even though his audience is a mere handful of guests on the rooftop in Plaza Semanggi, South Jakarta.
Wearing a black fedora, a long-sleeved navy shirt and sleek gray pants, the 29-year-old Indonesian soul musician based in Berlin is back in his hometown to promote his debut album, “Why Don’t We.” Having performed two shows here this month, Sandhy’s next gig will be held on Thursday night at the Rolling Stone headquarters in South Jakarta. He will play two more shows in Bali this weekend, as well.
His songs combine heart-felt soul with elements of jazz. Most of his songs deliver a similar message: “One love, one heart, one world,” a sentiment he expresses in speech and in his lyrics. However, it is his dynamic vocal ability that is most impressive — he can go from a coarse raspy soulful voice like the legendary Bobby Womack’s to a soft controlled falsetto that echoes the smooth R&B singer D’Angelo.
“I don’t know myself why or how I sound like this,” Sandhy said, laughing. “Many people who hear my music for the first time think that I’m black. They’re surprised to see I’m Asian.”
Perhaps the sound of African-American music crept into his head as he grew up listening to Curtis Mayfield and Ray Charles, two of his biggest influences.
Sandhy grew up around Blok S in South Jakarta with a musical family. “I first got in touch with Western music, like blues and soul, when I was very little. I grew up with that kind of music,” he said.
His parents also played guitar and they showed Sandhy a thing or two about the instrument. Other than that, Sandhy has never had formal lessons and is basically a self-taught musician.
After he finished high school, he moved to Germany to study architecture. He graduated in interior design, but music has always been his first passion.
“Initially, I wanted to be an architect, and I still like everything related to it, but I enjoy singing too much,” he said. “I think I want to sing until I die.”
However, building a reputation in Berlin’s music scene was no easy task, so Sandhy started off in the city as a street musician.
“I first started playing as a busker because I needed money,” Sandhy said. “I had no job, but I still had to buy food and pay the rent. I saw a street musician one day, he was actually a bit drunk, and I asked him if we could play together — and he didn’t mind. So I brought my guitar. We sang a few songs together, and after an hour and a half, we made 50 euro. The next day, I did it alone.”
He eventually found gigs in Berlin’s bars and clubs, and also performed at festivals.
“It wasn’t easy to establish myself in the German music scene,” Sandhy said. “I think it was because I am not black or white — I’m Asian. It was really new to them.”
Sandhy still returns to Berlin’s metro stations, not to make enough to pay the rent, but to promote his new songs.
It was not until he entered a talent show on German national TV that people throughout the country really started to take notice of Sandhy. The TV show, with a German name too long and convoluted to mention, poked fun at Germany’s version of “American Idol” and allowed musicians to perform their own songs.
“Actually, I don’t make music to compete with others or be better than anyone, but after making music for a long time and still having difficulties getting my music out there, it felt like it was the right thing to do,” he said. “If you’re a great musician but you don’t have any connections, you won’t be successful. And it was a great feeling to finally sing in front of millions of people.”
In December 2007, Sandhy came in fifth out of the 20 finalists, who had been selected from thousands of entrants. Four months later, he released his debut album, “Why Don’t We,” featuring 12 songs in English. His album was produced by the Berlin-based indie label Revolver Records and was generally well received by critics.
Having found his niche in Berlin, Sandhy is now trying to attract an Indonesian market, as well. “Even though I consider myself an international artist, I am Indonesian,” he said.
Sandhy also writes songs in Indonesian. “It was only in the last five or six years that I realized how beautiful the Indonesian language is,” he says. “But it is still hard for me to find the right words in Indonesian that fit into the melody.”
A girl once approached Sandhy at a Berlin metro station while he was busking in Indonesian. “She said, ‘Wow, this is beautiful. Is it Portuguese?’ And I said, ‘No, it’s Indonesian.’ You know, most Westerners think of Asia as China or Japan,” Sandhy said. “They don’t know how different Indonesia and Southeast Asia is.”
Sandhy has been abroad for a long time, but still feels very much at home in Indonesia.
“My family is here,” he said. “But I am very happy in Berlin, too. I have my friends, and they have become my family over there. My dream would be to split my time between Indonesia and Europe,” he said. “Living six months here, and six months there.”
An interesting find in Germany.
The Curtis Mayfield/Ray Charles comparison (and perhaps even Joe Cocker) is close.
I'd like to get hold of his CD. Hope he releases more songs in the Indonesian language and has success back home in South East Asia, as well as the rest of the world.
The Curtis Mayfield/Ray Charles comparison (and perhaps even Joe Cocker) is close.
I'd like to get hold of his CD. Hope he releases more songs in the Indonesian language and has success back home in South East Asia, as well as the rest of the world.
You sure he won?? 
anyways, congrats!
anyways, congrats!
He is well-known among Indonesians living in Germany since 2007, after his joining a german-like Idol. (but not DSDS!) 
He even sang during Slank tour in Europe early 2008.
He even sang during Slank tour in Europe early 2008.
I just also realised that the 3nity brothers, representing france in the event, are half indonesian (balinese) too :-) Talking about singing talents ...
thanks for sharing
Sandy - NEW WAVE singing competition
check out his performance at NEW WAVE singing competition at Latvia. btw @DEIM: check out the latvian chics here.
check out his performance at NEW WAVE singing competition at Latvia. btw @DEIM: check out the latvian chics here.
^Nyanyi nya kejang2 tapi....bagus suaranya. Hebat Congrats.
his voice is freakin awesome!
live in neu helden
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdnK-iHPqfM
live in granada
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqgw9YwS97k
live in neu helden
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdnK-iHPqfM
live in granada
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqgw9YwS97k
QUOTE (kelapa @ Aug 5 2009, 12:51 PM) 
I just also realised that the 3nity brothers, representing france in the event, are half indonesian (balinese) too :-) Talking about singing talents ...
Really? cool..but they didn't make it to the final, did they?
QUOTE (XxRyoChanxX @ Aug 5 2009, 02:15 PM)
thanks for sharingyou're welcome
imma put the article on my blog too 
QUOTE (skyisdalimit @ Aug 6 2009, 09:15 AM)
Sandy - NEW WAVE singing competition
check out his performance at NEW WAVE singing competition at Latvia.
check out his performance at NEW WAVE singing competition at Latvia.
He's really good, and he entertains those people!
So I learned that this competition took 3 days, day 1 he sang When A Man Loves A Woman, these ones were his performance for day 2 and 3:End of the rainbow (New Wave competition the final)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5f0NsSa1UY
Sandhy Sondoro - Blue Moon (New Wave singing competition the final)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRcmQO2DMaY
He composed those songs by himself.
^loves blue moon and the end of rainbow.
where can i have "end of the rainbow lyric" ? it sounds beautiful
QUOTE (furansizuka @ Aug 7 2009, 02:26 PM)
Really? cool..but they didn't make it to the final, did they?
There's no final in the competition.
Min 4:50
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppZYY0hBQvc&e
They once released a single "Madu & Racun" in indonesia. Of course, flop! Wrong song selection. :p
By the way, the indonesian song Sandhy sang titled "Malam Biru" bukan "Bulan Biru" :p. His album release is due end of this year in indonesia.
Here you can find almost all of his performance during the competition in germany (fall 2007-winter 2008):
http://www.myvideo.de/Videos_A-Z?searchWord=sandhy
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