Little Miss Sunshine

I can't even remember the last time I really took my time to update this blog. Months ago ?! While a lot of things happened in the past few months starting from creative projects at work, my trips to Maldives and Nepal, I just can't believe in a few weeks, it will be a new year. A new year to begin again, live and dream bigger.

If there's one thing I learned a lot in 2017, that would be self love. Practicing self-love isn't as easy as it sounds. Have been incredibly lucky to live abroad by myself for the past few years, I always make sure to put myself and obviously my happiness as the first priority. I love the whole idea being an independent woman who fights for her dreams, she's fearless, fun, fabulous, and always up for adventures and celebrating life. Looking back I still had no idea how a girl from a small town like me ended up here...living the kind of life I designed. Been to many countries, cities I never heard before, even landed myself couple of dream jobs. The best thing for me has always been surrounded by good people. A true blessing wherever I go, I always run into beautiful souls who inspire, build, love me the way I am. And just when I thought I know almost everything about self love, I had to learn the hard way this year how to put myself and my happiness first above everything else. It's really not easy when you have to deal with some people who underestimate or belittle you. The kind of negative people who try to bring you down, spread bad energy, jealousy, anger and hatred. I thought I was overthinking, so I tried so hard to make them like me, to accept me, to prove them wrong... I tried so hard to the point I started to lose myself. Well, people said sometimes you gotta lose yourself to discover who you are. I can't control what happens in life, but I can control how I respond to it all. In my response is greatest power. I choose me. I choose peace, my happiness. No one can dim my light unless I give them the power to. I'm grateful to go through so much ups and downs this year, struggle that only makes me stronger and finally lead me to discover my new passion for pole dance. Never thought through pole dance I found my strength and confident back. I learned to express myself again, to let go of toxic people, toxic relationships. Some people are just so hard to please anyway and definitely not worth your time or energy. But one thing I tell myself every single day, to always doing the right things even when no one's watching. Your hard work does not go unnoticed, and someday the rewards will follow. This little miss sunshine will keep putting one foot in front of the other, and just like hopes springing high, still she'll rise.

Wearing Mango Bow Ruffled Jumpsuit

Photo by : Eng Eng Fishy

Live Big

Back in Singapore after almost a month on 'tour' from China - London - Taiwan - Bali. Honestly I never thought I'd be living the life that I'm living today. Have a little apartment only 15 minutes from Changi Airport, a dream job at my dream company, a perfect health, surrounded by diversity, acceptance and wonderful people, I always have more than enough and ahh so much to be grateful for. Looking back I remember I was in Bali years ago when I wrote down things I really want to do. Working in entertainment industry and travel the world, checked. Be a part of one amazing dream team creating cool things that matter, checked. Performing on stage with beautiful costumes, checked. I really feel like the luckiest girl in the world sometimes... Different opportunity pops up, I get to do what I love and it's just amazing to think about whatever you do, small or big things, maybe it's through music, article, photography... you never know who you are inspiring. 

I just recently back from Bali, after almost 4 years !! It's always good to be home, even just relaxing for a week in Canggu and Ubud with my best friend. While we all seem to leave our hearts in Bali, this place will always remind me of  a road trip my family did every year from Jakarta to Bali when I was a kid ( and that's how I learned more about diversity, wanting to travel, and introduce my culture to the world ), when I volunteered for Ubud Writers Festival and I told myself I wanted to return one day as a writer, when I left my comfort zone and starting over, when my choreographer asked me to perform with her, when people I met along the road taught me to appreciate little things and be grateful, to dream and live big. You are more than enough.

Home

The stars will remind us of the beauty in our struggles and we won't feel so lost anymore

Flashing back to a weekend well spent with my loved ones in Bangkok. We celebrated all the great things life has given us and just a huge amount of love I've received...of course with a lot of good food, movies, drinks, stories, laughs remembering good old days working at Disney World and my 360 days on the road exploring more than 50 cities, 12 countries, 3 continents - feeling small under starry night skies but so powerful to make changes.

If there's any place in this world that left a very special mark in my life, that'd be Bangkok. Last year when I was on a huge mission to create my own path, I started and eventually ended my adventure in Bangkok. I learnt the greatest thing travel has taught me is to let go. Some days you just have to live with the uncertainty, get comfortable being uncomfortable and it's totally OK to fail or lose..just as long as you promise yourself to get up, work hard, believe in how far you can go. In a culture that seeks quick results, we must learn the beauty of effort, patience and perseverance. Be strong, present and steadfast.

Those good old days I spent at my best friend's apartment, starring outside the window just watching the sunset while wondering where life's taking me next... I remember my heart said "you're going to better places. There's a great possibilities waiting somewhere behind buildings or sunset, just keep going, you're almost there sweetheart !"

...and I kept going. Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Laos, Vietnam, back to Bangkok for a little break -whenever I need mango sticky rice, thai tea, a lot of support and kind words from my sweethearts, then continue my journey again to Vietnam, Cambodia, with one last night bus to Bangkok before I moved on to a bigger adventure.  I was really lucky to get to experience the world, learn from every places I visited and always take a bit of inspiration from strangers I met. Still, wouldn't make it where I am now without your unconditional love... you all know who you are.

A Day in the Life of a Music Editor

No, a day in the life of a music editor definitely not chilling by the pool. But one thing for sure, it involves music! A lot of music! First, let me start with never in a million years would I have thought I’d have this huge opportunity to get paid just to listen to the music. Music has been my passion for as long as I can remember. I grew up in a house where my parents would always play music from different era, then I’d watch MTV and listen to the radio after school. While other kids wanted to be a doctor, engineer, or more serious roles, all I ever wanted to be was a radio announcer and MTV VJ. I thought I loved meeting people, I’m quite bubbly and energetic, so when I grow up I want to work on television or radio. Well fortunately life has different plans for me. I worked a bit on radio ( after trying sooo many times ), but then I realized if I really want to pursue a career in the entertainment industry and be a part of huge and exciting projects, I gotta leave Indonesia. Go big or go home! Then my dreams took me to Malaysia and Florida where I had opportunities to organize events & shows and create magical moments in Disney World. After Disney, I landed another dream job in Singapore working for the coolest and biggest digital streaming service as a music editor. How did I get the job? It all started with a dream to make a difference, bring positive changes, and introduce more Asian artists to the world. Over ten years ago TV and radios in Indonesia used to play very very bad songs. It’s not that we don’t have great artists, trust me there are sooo many talented independent artists out there but this was an era where major labels were the big boss and no digital streaming service. So if you were an indie artist back in the early 2000, obviously it’s hard to get and promote your music out there. Quite frustrating with the current trends we had in Indonesia, I promised myself if one day I get a role to discover new and talented artists, I would do whatever it takes to help promoting their music. Well, the universe conspired to make my dream come true. I applied for the job three times, did 7 interviews and few tests, got the job and move to Singapore. Looking back it was a long, complicated journey but it was very worth it. 

So, what does a music editor do? A lot of people ask if I can edit music. No, I don’t really edit music, I don’t even play any instrument, but…my team and I, we have great ears and excellent taste in music. We are responsible for curating playlists for different genres, countries, and special projects. From editorial programming, discovering and working with artists, labels, managers, different departments, to ( sometimes ) translation, managing special projects / key cultural moments - everyday is always different. I’d start around 10 am. My first hour at work would usually checking emails, news, latest trend, exchange ideas, music, and news with colleagues too. After that I’d usually go for meetings, jump on calls with colleagues from different countries, and of course sit down with my headphone on listening to tons of music for hours. Then I would check on my analytics tools. Which music doing better, worse, gets more skips or love, going viral, and many more. It’s amazing how through data you collect or see, they can help you to make a decision and create a better content, user experience, and creative campaigns. Also, to tell a better story. Perhaps, this is my favourite part of the job. With freedom that we have, we try to create playlists for everyone, every mood, every possible situation. But more than just a playlist, I know my colleagues and I have the same mission here. We want to inspire people, give them not only the best music but also platform for artists to promote their music and reach out to more fans. We have around 50 editors from around the world. Each responsible for different genres, countries, mood, special projects. You wouldn’t believe a job as head of metal, head of jazz, head of urban music or r&b actually exist! Yep, not an ordinary job. What I love about my team, while everyone comes from different background and extremely passionate about what they’re doing, these guys are incredibly humble, creative, and open-minded. As a music editor, yes you gotta have a great taste in music. I personally believe a lot of people have great taste in music, but you gotta have the ear where you listen to the music and in just the first few seconds you know there’s something special about the song and the artist. Your gut just tell you this music would or wouldn’t work. In the end of the day, you’re not curating playlist for yourself. You’re curating playlist for so many people. My friend would describe it as a chef who would cook a special menu for everybody. So yes, you don’t put artist A because you personally really like him but because you know everyone else would like, the users from specific country that you’re curating playlist for would like it. 

When I discover new artists and fall in love with their songs, I’d usually chase them. Stalk them on social media, send them an email, support them. It’s a joy in the end of the day to see their music and fans slowly growing. Being in a position of privilege like this, to listen to the music everyday and inspire/help other people, I want to open the door and let the artists to shine on just like how some people in this company have opened up the door for me and believe in me to do the job.

It is a very fun job, but just like any jobs out there…nothing’s perfect, it can be stressful too! Some days you have to work until 4 am in the morning, make sure the music lives and the playlists updated on time. But it doesn’t matter how late you finished working or how exhausted you are at the end of the day, I am grateful to be able doing things that I love truly love with a bunch of passionate people. I learn so much from this job. From dealing with artists and different people in the industry to attending cool events around the world, oh honestly if someone told me my life would be like this years ago I wouldn’t believe them. 

She is unapologetic

She is wild with her heart

She is free

She is art

Though some can't figure her out

She's an incredible mess

That's just how she likes it.

Thank you for capturing the moments through your lens as usual, Dani ! 

Photo by : Dani B