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View all search resultsSymphony from the Heart (SFTH) is exactly what it suggests: An album that, according to living legend Andi Rianto, comes straight from his heart. It is a highly technical and deeply personal record, a manifestation of his artistic credo.
What does it mean for a musician to work truly from the heart?
"Being honest," Andi says.
"Don't be somebody else. Just be yourself. That's all. If anyone ever says, 'This music is so typical Andi Rianto', well, that's me. So what? I'm not trying to be somebody else."
SFTH is an orchestral pop rhapsody that is both majestic and modern. In this album, “old” becomes “new”, and “original” becomes “transcendent”.
Walking by faith
SFTH isn’t Andi’s first effort to fuse orchestral arrangements with pop music.
His 2006 album Interlude Dari Hati (Interlude from the Heart), his first non-film score project, already showed signs of that marriage. But it would take nearly two decades for him to follow it up.
Sonically, Andi wanted his sophomore effort to be more “ripe”.
“After the musical journey that I’ve had, I felt that I needed a [follow-up] album I could be genuinely proud of, one where I curated every song, and that would truthfully represent my musical style,” he says, summing up his early vision for SFTH.
“And that took time.”
In the years since IDH, Andi immersed himself in the pop world, working as a composer, music producer and the music director for Magenta Orchestra.
Andi found the “embryo” for SFTH in his orchestral pop rearrangement of Titi DJ’s “Bahasa Kalbu” (Language of the Heart), featuring Raisa as the vocalist, which was released in 2020. Their version turned out to be a success, winning the 2021 AMI Award for Best of the Best Production.
His next move: Rearranging Titi DJ’s “Sang Dewi” (The Goddess). This one, in hindsight, was a bigger gambit.
Unlike Raisa, who was already an established name, Andi chose Lyodra, a relatively new artist with just one solo album at the time. Even before Lyodra laid down her vocals, the arrangement and production were already in place.
That risk paid off big time. The reinvented “Sang Dewi” topped numerous music streaming charts in Indonesia.
"I had faith in this [version] from the get-go," Andi says.
"I wanted to blend grand orchestral elements with some modernity. I had no fear."
Chemistry on all levels
Simply put, SFTH showcases the dynamism and versatility of orchestral pop.
When executed cleverly, an orchestral pop arrangement can add emotional depth, like in "Sepenuh Hati" (Wholeheartedly), featuring Rony Parulian. It can also elevate delicate nuances from the original composition, like in "Mengertilah Kasih" (Please Understand, Lover), featuring Afgan.
The key, according to Andi, is not to be overwhelmed by all the moving parts.
"I never think of my music as complicated," he says.
"What's essential is harmony, the melodies, the elements that can sweeten things and make it easily accessible. That's what I always tell myself: 'Don't make over-complicated music.' Because making simple things is not easy. It takes time and experience."
SFTH also reflects how Andi is not afraid to collaborate with younger, up-and-coming vocalists, such as Anggi Marito in "Selama Ku Bernafas" (As Long As I’m Breathing) and Keisya Levronka in "Mengejar Matahari" (Chasing the Sun).
He even teamed up with Lyodra and Rony Parulian to sing and cowrite the lyrics of the album's closer, "Kau Selalu Di Hati" (You’re Always in the Heart).
For Andi, these budding talents are not in the album simply to sing. True to the album's title, they are voices that speak on behalf of his heart.
Trusting his instincts is part of his creative DNA. That gut feeling led him to Nyoman Paul, known for his unique vocal tone, for his rearrangement of the ultra-romantic "The Way You Look At Me".
"There has to be chemistry on all levels," Andi says of his collaborations.
"I think that's very important because younger artists find doing a remake burdensome, especially if the original version was a huge hit. Here, I had to be the 'parent', boosting their confidence and making sure they don't get drowned within their predecessors."
The power of love
At its core, SFTH carries a unifying lyrical theme: The power of love.
Most of the songs in the album are uplifting ballads that illustrate how love can lead to understanding ("Bahasa Kalbu"), joy ("Since I Found You", featuring Fabio Asher) and strength ("Mengejar Matahari").
Even when love leads to heartbreak, like in "Sampai Di Sini" (Until Here), featuring Rony Parulian, there is always a chance for peace and reconciliation, as heard in "Kau Selalu Di Hati".
And these days, reminding everyone what love can do feels more vital than ever. Who says that only “galau” (worried and confused) ballads can pierce through the heart?
"Positivity can make you cry too, you know? But it's tears of gratefulness," Andi says.
"If anyone ever says, 'This music is so typical Andi Rianto'. Well, that's me. So what? I'm not trying to be somebody else." - Andi Rianto
Now that he's accomplished what he set out to do, what’s next for the maestro?
Andi says he’s interested in taking an even bigger swing.
"One of the things that I really want to try is dangdut, but with an orchestra," Andi teases.
"Because, to quote Project Pop, dangdut is the music of my country."
Listen to your heart, Andi Rianto. We’re right there with you.
