Healing from Makassar, a port city on the Sulawesi island in Indonesia, Aldi Handaling is an Indie-Pop artist who is making a name for himself in the music industry. Just over a year ago, he officially kicked off his career with the debut single “Forget You,” but his journey in music began long before. When he was just a child, at six years old, Aldi found himself singing for an annual event at primary school, encouraged by his teachers. Fast forward to his 17th year, the Indonesian singer wrote his first lyrics and started working on his debut song “Forget You.” The song was delayed for a couple of years before it saw the light in early 2023. Followed by another single, “Disco Ball,” Aldi closed out 2023 by amassing 30,000 streams. This year marks a significant step in his career as he gears up to release his debut extended play “Heartbreak Misery.” Building anticipation for the project, Aldi gave fans a taste of what’s to come with the lead single “I’ll Be Waiting,” which was released last week. Through heartfelt lyrics, Aldi infuses the song with his own feelings after a recent breakup, stating, “This song is about waiting for someone you really love.” To introduce his new single, Aldi spoke with InMusic about his journey, the meaning behind “I’ll Be Waiting,” and provided a glimpse into his upcoming debut EP.
How would you define your music?
To be honest, I can’t really define my own music, but for me, my music is based on my own experiences, either about life or to be in a relationship with someone.
Could you elaborate on your musical journey and the path that led you to where you are today?
Wow, that’s a great question! I never expected to jump into the music industry until now actually. When I was 6, my teachers forced me to sing for an annual event in my primary school. Ever since then, I thought that maybe I actually have potential. And yes, as time goes by, I started writing some poetry or poems when I was 17 years old in High School, and made covers of some music. Then, I was inspired to release my very first song called “Forget You”. I wrote it back then in 2019, and in 2021, I had to give it to someone who understands music, and yes! I met my producers, Tabitha and Sekar. Unfortunately, me and my producers couldn’t finish it in time in 2021, so I pushed them to keep continuing this project in 2023, and on 13th March, I released “Forget You”.
Who are your biggest musical influences?
Novo Amor.
Today you unleash your brand new single “I’ll Be Waiting.” Can you tell us about it?
Sure, “I’ll be Waiting” is such a cliche song to be honest, why? Because it’s a love story. So I made that song a few months after me and my ex broke up, and everything I wrote on that song was basically telling about how I feel after we broke up.
What is the meaning behind this song?
This song is about waiting for someone you really love, adore, and would wait until the end of the day, whatever it takes. But for me personally, I’m hoping that we’re getting back together again, though it didn’t happen.
“I’ll Be Waiting” is your third release. How is your music evolving?
I can say, It’s getting better and better every day. By working together with my producers and record label, maniasonic., we’re starting to understand and develop how “Aldi Handaling”’s sound and songwriting can impact in other people’s life through easy listening music and relatable lyrics for the audience.
What’s your favorite line of the song and why?
“Now I’m just a rock thrown away from the surface, to the ocean. I can’t even move my body, and I keep letting myself falling too deeply, to deep ocean.”. — That line, oh my god, haha… That line literally hits me hard, cause I feel like my own self is such a rock, I can’t do anything but wait until someone grabs the rock.
The song marks the first single off your debut EP, coming this year. What can we expect from the project?
You can expect an easy listening song with lyrics that are relatable for audiences who experience longing for someone who left you, but you still have hopes for them.
How does “I’ll Be Waiting” fit into the larger creative vision for the EP?
“I’ll be Waiting” is actually a part of my “Heartbreak Misery” EP, and basically this EP is telling about the 5 stages of grief in relationship, and since it’s about my personal journey, this EP is actually represents about how I passed my stages of grief and how I deal with my past, in which I hope it can be relate to my listeners.
What is a message you would like to give through your music and why?
All I wanna say is, with my music, I’m hoping that anyone or everyone who listens to it, can actually have hope.
Write here something you want to let people know.
I can’t say much, but I just want to tell everyone that you’re loved! If you think you’re alone in this situation or any kind of worse situation, remember that you’re not alone in this, you have everyone, you have me, you have my music and I hope you can relate to it. You’re not alone and you’re loved!
You can listen to Aldi Handaling’s new single “I’ll Be Waiting” on our Spotify playlist!
Leave a Reply