Afgan Shares Insights on ‘Sonder’ EP, U.S. Shows, and Collaborations

Singer and songwriter, Afgan, who hails from Indonesia is back with a new EP. “My new EP is called Sonder, it means that everyone that you see or meet in this life, even people that you pass by on the street, they have their own stories, they have their own journey” Afgan shares.

Sonder, the global mini album, features multiple new tracks as well as “Shallow Water” which was released as a single ahead of his U.S. showcase. Afgan worked with several artists for Sonder. The singer and songwriter featured South Korean-American female soloist, Jessi on the title track, “Escape”.

Likewise, another track on the album featured a very talented Vietnamese-American artist. It’s revealed that thuy was a last minute feature but the perfect addition. Afgan explains,

Check out the interview below as Afgan dishes about his U.S. showcase, his collaborations, and of course, the newest EP, Sonder.

Afgan Interview For Sonder Release

Please introduce yourself to the HypnoticAsia readers.

Hi to all Hypnotic Asia readers! I’m Afgan, I’m a singer songwriter from Indonesia. I’ve just released my second global mini album, called Sonder. I’m just so excited to share this new chapter of my journey with all of you.

Congratulations on your sold-out US Showcase tour! How does it feel to have such a
strong reception from fans in this region?

The US Shows were amazing! They were my first US shows. I love it every time I perform somewhere that is outside of my comfort zone. I felt nervous and the adrenaline rush was exciting. I was facing some challenges that I had to deal with to prepare the show. But once I’m on stage and see the crowd, it’s something that I live for. It touches my heart to see so many people fly from other cities other than LA or NY to watch the show. It’s just something that I would do all over again. Hopefully, I can do another show or tour in the US for this project.

What were some of the highlights from your tour stops in North America?

I think the highlights of the shows was just meeting the fans. I like singing for them and performing for them. What surprised me was when I sing the songs on my first English album Wallflower, they knew the lyrics. Honestly, I never expected that, I thought they only knew my Indonesian songs. It really touches my heart. So thank you to everyone who took the time to come to the shows.

To take on a new challenge outside of Indonesia is really difficult, but seeing that I have people who supported me and rooting for me really motivates me to go further and make my dream a reality.

With so many great tracks under your name, how did you choose which songs to add to the set-list?

During the shows, I incorporate some of my Indonesian songs. I put together a medley of all of my most popular songs in Indonesia, because I know they are also expecting me to sing my hit records. I also added songs from my Wallflower album as well because I want to show them that I can do so much more than ballads. I always dreamed of creating an R&B record and I finally did, so I really wanted to introduce it to them, and thankfully the reaction to it was unbelievable.

You released “Shallow Water” this year. Tell us more about this amazing track!

“Shallow Water” is very personal for me. The arrangement of that song  is very minimalist, but it really showcases the lyrics. The song talks about insecurities, traumas, and feeling scared of relationships. And that’s what a lot of people go through in life. I hope that the song speaks to people who feel the same way.

Collaborations are a significant aspect of your work. How do you choose the artists you collaborate with, and what do you look for in a collaboration?

On my new EP, Sonder, I get the chance to collaborate with amazing artists like Jessi and also thùy. Previously I also got the chance to collaborate with Jackson Wang, Robin Thicke, B.I and also many Indonesian artists. Music unites us all, no matter our backgrounds, characters, culture, country, all of us have a story to tell and that’s the beauty of music.

A lot of my collaborations start with friendship, like Jackson and I. We met backstage when we were performing at the same show in Korea and then became friends instantly. It’s the same with Jessi, we also met backstage and became friends. But I also love to explore and be introduced to other amazing artists. Just like my collaboration with thùy, it came through my team. I know her songs and I know that she is such a great artist, so it really excited me when I was told that she would jump on my song and do the collaboration. 

If you could collaborate with any artist in the world, who would it be and why?

If I could collaborate with any artist in the world, I would definitely want to collaborate with Janet Jackson. I love classic R&B and Janet Jackson is a queen! I love Tom Misch, I love SZA. When it comes to music, I really love to listen to a lot of genres and feel how the music gives me different emotions and energy.

Tell us more about “Escape” with South Korean female soloist, Jessi!

For the collaboration with Jessi, we’ve been friends before the song happened. She’s very sweet and nice and very real. I wrote and recorded “Escape” in London. The song has that summer vibe, I was thinking we need someone who can add more of that vibe to the song. So I ended up reaching out to Jessi, and our team also reached out to her management. I just told her that this song is perfect for us, and she said yes right away. The results are what you can see and hear in the music video. Jessi also flew all the way to Bali for the video shoot, and she added a lot of ideas to the concept. The music video turned out amazing and I’m so grateful that she was willing to give the song so much support.

What has been the most memorable moment in your music career so far?

The most memorable moment in my musical career was the first time I was discovered, which is quite random. Someone offered me a record deal after they heard me singing in a Karaoke place. Another memorable moment was when I heard my song on the radio. Every time you think about how everything started, it humbles you. We all started from nothing and that’s a reminder for me to stay grounded.

What advice would you give to aspiring singers and songwriters who are trying to break into the music industry?

What advice would I give to aspiring singer songwriters? You have to know yourself first before you get into the industry. Because then, you know your value. I think a lot of artists come into the industry clueless, without really knowing who they are and what they want. It actually shows in your lyrics and in your music. 

What do you hope listeners take away from your music?

I really hope that my fans can have a good time listening to my music. My new EP is called Sonder, it means that everyone that you see or meet in this life, even people that you pass by on the street, they have their own stories, they have their own journey. So I want to share my journey, my struggles, my pain, my fears, but also want to share my joy through this music. I also wish that everyone who listens to this album can embrace their own journey.

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