The Star Online: Entertainment: Music
The Star Online: Entertainment: Music |
| Posted: 18 Jul 2011 02:22 AM PDT Indonesian singer Anggun weaves her personal life stories into her latest album, Echoes. IT may sound like a cliche whenever an artiste says he/she has attained their proudest moment with their newest album release. But when Anggun Cipta Sasmi (or simply Anggun) says her 12th album Echoes is her best to date, she speaks in all honesty. Judging from the hours, sweat (and tears) that went into producing the album, it is pretty convincing the album is the 37-year-old Indonesian singer/songwriter of French citizenship's finest work so far. And with her personal life stories weaved into lyrics, can she be blamed for regarding Echoes as her best? "I try to be honest whenever I compose songs. I hold Echoes close to my heart as some lyrics are based on my personal life experiences. Plus, it is the first album released under my label, April Earth, giving me a sense of pride and joy," said Anggun in a long distance call from Paris, where she resides with husband, French writer Cyril Montana and three-and-a-half-year old daughter Kirana Cipta Montana Sasmi. This profound emotion is felt in the poignant song Eternal – which pays tribute to her late father, writer Darto Singo, who lost his life to cancer seven years ago. "The song is about acceptance of my father's passing. Although I cannot feel him in the flesh, I know his soul remains forever," said the singer with a hint of sadness in her voice. Besides loss, the 12-track album (in English and Bahasa Indonesia) also incorporate themes surrounding love, pain and loneliness. Irish-influenced Hanyalah Cinta (Only Love), deals with the quest for true and unconditional love while A Stranger, speaks of loneliness and fear of the unknown. Year Of The Snake, is a restrained song about a woman remembering life's painful moments while upbeat Weapons, applauds girl-power. The pop rock-inspired Echoes, if compared to her previous hip hop album Elevation, certainly swings to a different beat altogether. This clearly showcases her continuity to reinvent herself through new artistic projects. "All my albums have a different feel as I enjoy experimenting with various music genres. My debut, Snow On The Sahara, featured world music while the second self-titled album was pop with hints of world music. Echoes is an adult album with a combination of pop, rock and retro touch. "For Echoes, I ventured into pop and rock as I'm familiar with these music genres. I used to be a rock singer in Jakarta so I decided to pay homage to my humble beginnings by adding these influences," said Anggun, citing native Javanese artistes, rock 'n' roll singers, among her influences. Elvis Presley, Metallica and The Police are some of her favourite acts. Echoes sums up this transformation, returning to the pop sound that made her name, but this time with new collaborators. The origins of Echoes can be found in the coming together of renowned music producers Gioacchino, Pierre Jaconelli, Jean-Pierre Pilot and William Rousseau. "What surprised us was the contrast between the simple and fun-loving woman and image of a superstar diva from her videos and live performances. The two personalities co-exist inside her in perfect harmony," said Rousseau in a press release provided by Sony Music. Anggun began her career as a child star in her home country, launching a recording career at nine. In 1994, at the young age of 20, she moved to Europe to launch her career. However, life wasn't a bed of roses when she first moved to London. Besides experiencing culture shock, she endured financial problems and had to make ends meet singing in clubs. Anggun had a different stroke of luck upon moving to Paris in 1996. There, she was introduced to music producer Erick Benzi, a key person who had helped launched her music career. In 1997, she finally tasted sweet success with the release of her highly revered debut album, Snow On The Sahara. The release of five more English albums – Anggun, Chrysalis, Open Hearts, Luminescence and Elevation, further sealed her career and positioned her as one of the most successful Asian artistes in the international arena. In 2004, Anggun received the prestigious distinction Chevalier des Arts et Lettres medal for her worldwide achievements and support of the French culture. A year later, she was appointed spokesperson for the International Year of Microcredit (a UN program aimed at eradicating debt in the third world). In 2009, she added another feather to her cap by becoming Goodwill Ambassador of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO). While obtaining medals or releasing five international albums is undoubtedly a massive feat, Anggun doesn't seem overwhelmed by her achievements. Instead, she views it as a humbling experience. "I am very blessed because of the support system of the record company and fans. The music industry has changed so much for the past 10 years due to illegal downloads. I am truly grateful that people appreciate what I do and it makes me happy doing what I am passionate about. "In order to survive the music business, you need perseverance because everything happens with hard work and luck. Ultimately, it depends on how much you want to succeed," she said on a parting note, adding she hopes to stop over in Kuala Lumpur in October. Echoes is available from Sony Music at all music stores. Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by USA Best Price. |
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