Indonesian singer Lyodra achieved fame in 2020 following her victory at the 10th season of 'Indonesian Idol'. Photos: Handout
The first singer that usually come to mind when people hear the term “whistle note” today are probably American pop stars Mariah Carey or Ariana Grande.
But in Indonesia, one artiste by the name Lyodra Ginting also has an impressive command of this range – the highest register of the human voice.
Interestingly, she mastered this vocal technique without the help of a vocal coach.
“I’m a really huge fan of Mariah Carey and have been listening to her songs since I was eight.
“Back in secondary school, I would push myself to hit the highest note possible by singing at the top of my lungs, and I did it,” the 21-year-old told StarLifestyle in a recent interview in Kuala Lumpur.
Lyodra was in town to promote her upcoming concert with fellow Indonesian singer Afgan, set to take place this Saturday (Sept 28) at Mega Star Arena, KL.
The two-hour show will see the pair entertaining fans with 20 songs.
Lyodra and Afgan will be performing in KL on Sept 28, 2024. Photo: LOW BOON TAT/The Star.
Lyodra’s daily practice sessions helped refine her vocals. However, she once damaged her vocal cords in 2016 after overdoing her whistle notes.
“I lost my voice completely because of that and had to seek treatment from an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist,” the singer shared.
Despite the setback, Lyodra didn’t shy away from using the whistle register.
Instead, she learned how to execute it correctly and now takes necessary steps to care for her voice – including getting enough rest and eating a balanced diet.
“If there is an event which requires me to sing, I will do my warm ups. Otherwise, I don’t practise all the time to avoid straining my voice,” she said.
Music has long been a part of Lyodra’s life.
She showed interest in singing at the tender age of two, and by four, she was participating in singing contests.
Growing up in a family who loved singing in church, Lyodra also served as a psalmist at her local Catholic parish.
“I also took a vocal course when I was eight, so I really can’t remember a time when I wasn’t surrounded by music,” she said.
Lyodra kickstarted her music career as a child singer in the 2014 Semen Indonesia talent competition, where she emerged as one of the finalists.
She gained recognition in 2017 after winning an Anugerah Musik Indonesia award for Best Child Female Solo Artiste for her debut song, Dear Dream.
Her big break came in 2020 when she was crowned champion in the 10th season of Indonesian Idol.
The singer’s victory landed her a record deal with Universal Music Indonesia, leading to the release of her self-titled debut album in 2021.
Over the years, Lyodra has released hits like Pesan Terakhir, Sang Dewi, Ada and more.
She also has a string of accolades under her belt – including an Mnet Asian Music Award for Best New Asian Artiste: Indonesia, an MTV Europe Music Awards nomination for Best South-East Asian Act, and an Asia Artist Awards in the Asia Celebrity Awards category.
Looking to explore a new creative outlet, Lyodra ventured into acting.
She made her acting debut with the 2021 drama, 7 Hari Sebelum 17 Tahun, and has also starred in the 2023 comedy film, Why Do You Love Me.
“I used to watch a lot of soap operas and was part of a theatre club in secondary school. Whenever I saw a mirror, I would start acting out scenes on my own.
“I had some time during the pandemic in 2021, so I told my manager I wanted to give acting a shot,” she said.
Although Lyodra enjoys acting, she wants to focus on her music career for now. In fact, the singer is already working on her upcoming music project.
“I can’t reveal much about it, though I will say that it’s something very different from what I’ve released before,” she told StarLifestyle.
1. As someone who has been working since a young age, do you feel like you missed out on a lot in your childhood years?
Yes, there are times where I feel like I’ve missed out on a lot, especially during my school years with friends and teachers.
I was only a teenager then, so to be thrust into this celebrity life was a culture shock.
There’s always people who want to know about your private life and it’s tough.
I just want everybody to see me as a singer and keep my private life private. Rather than problems I am facing, I want people to be more curious about my music.
Despite feeling like she missed out on a lot in her childhood years, Lyodra feels grateful to make a career out of singing.But that aside, I’m actually grateful for what I have today.
I’ve been singing for a very, very long time, and I’m really lucky to make a living from doing something I love.
2. You once mentioned that you struggle with stage fright. Do you still experience it, and if so, how do you manage it?
Yes, I still struggle with it and feel the pressure to improve with each performance. I feel like the bigger you become, the more the pressure.
While I’m flattered by being called Indonesia’s next diva, it stresses me out because I know I still have a long way to go.
To manage my stage fright, I try to block out negative “what ifs” and focus on the present. This approach has really helped me.
In the past, I would freeze and feel hesitant to go on stage. But I’m happy to say my stage anxiety is now much better than before.
3. How do you deal with negative comments?
It’s hard but I’m slowly coming to that stage where I’m learning to accept things.
Something I came to realise is that you can be a regular person outside of showbiz, yet there will still be people who have something to say about you.
It really doesn’t matter which industry you’re from... that’s just how life is.
I can’t control what others say, but I know I can control how I respond to it.
So, I don’t take things to heart. I just focus on my job and don’t go seeking negative comments.
I’m also very grateful for my parents who keep me grounded when I’m feeling overwhelmed or down. They are my best friends in life.
4. What interests do you have outside of work?
Many, actually!
Outside of work, I enjoy playing tennis and badminton.
Another thing I’m very invested in these days is cooking.
Lyodra enjoys travelling and wants to travel the world someday. Photo: Lyodra/InstagramI started six months ago because I wanted to try something new and quickly fell in love with it. I find it really fun to experiment with different cooking techniques, play around with various ingredients and learn new recipes online.
One of my favourite dishes to make is banana pancakes, which have become my regular breakfast meal.
5. What are the top three items on your bucket list?
First things first, I want to visit Switzerland someday.
Everything about the country screams interesting to me: the weather, the culture and so on.
I also want to do a solo concert in Kuala Lumpur in the future and maybe collaborate with Malaysian singers like Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza, Ernie Zakri and Aisha Retno.
I often listen to their songs, and it would be a dream to work with them.
Lastly, I just want to travel the whole world. I want to go on an adventure, see beautiful sights and make as many memories as I can.
Lyodra will be performing alongside Afgan at Mega Star Arena, KL on Saturday. Tickets are still available at www.ticket2u.com.my.
