Exclusive Thomas Djorghi Stays In The Music World By Continuing To Work

JAKARTA - Long time no hear, Thomas Djorghi is ready to return to the music world with his latest release. No half-hearted, he will present a mini album with a number of mainstay tracks.

His first single titled Cinta Cinta was released on July 27 under the Musica Studios banner. Judging by the title, this song is a new version of the one he released in the early 2000s.

The latest version of Love Feed comes with more pop accompanied by additional rap. The music video also involves a number of big names such as Ari Bone, Guruh Soekarno Putra, and his own nephew - Sultan Djorghi.

“The concept is that I want to make dangdut songs that can be accepted by all levels of society. Keep embracing young people, millennials, how do they like dangdut from the Jakarta area around the South, huh," said Thomas Djorghi during a visit to the VOI Editorial on Monday, August 21.

The name Thomas Djorghi is synonymous with the song Sembako Cinta. But he had his own reasons why he didn't sing the hit song.

“Sembako Cinta has been phenomenal and everyone knows that the song doesn't seem to have changed. As for the song Bait Cinta, it was also very popular in 2000 but not as popular as Sembako Cinta," said Thomas.

Even so, the singer who was born on June 12 did not change all parts of Bait Cinta. One of the things that caught his attention was the early part that became the hallmark.

“If the lyrics that I sing don't change at all, it's just improvisation compared to the old song, it's definitely there. From the vocalists, I said, “Don't change this Thom in front of you. Stay the same as before so that people are not surprised. The important thing is that in the future, we try to change the improvisation so that we can differentiate between the former and the present,” he said.

Thomas Djorghi thinks that today's music tends to be pop. as one of the dangdut singers, he had to adapt in order to get people's attention.

In the dangdut industry itself, he feels that there are many transitions from one genre to another, from koplo, campur sari, to dangdut disco. The challenges are multiplying but it must not be out of date.

Moreover, he is the only dangdut singer under Musica Studios. The record label is known to house a number of pop bands and singers such as NOAH and Shakira Jasmine.

"It's changed from pure dangdut to mixed-cider, koplo, but nothing like Bait Cinta doesn't exist yet. 2000 I have appeared until now, for me this is the first breakthrough, “explained Thomas Djorghi.

“I was first hired as a pop singer for Gaya. The deepest conscience is actually dangdut because from a young age I wanted to be a dangdut singer. Musica was offered to pop, so just take it who knows if it will work," he continued.

In 1998, Thomas Djorghi released his first single entitled Gaya. However, the single is considered not enough to explode in the market. Therefore, he asked Musica to orbit him as a dangdut singer.

Since childhood, Thomas Djorghi has idolized singer Ar Rafiq. He even had time to say his admiration for the idol before he died in 2013.

"I said I'm a big fan since I was little because it's a qibla like yours. And he laughed and I asked permission to use his song for my single. My song belongs to Ar Rafiq and he really agrees," recalls the 53-year-old singer.

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Almost four years in his career in the music world, Thomas Djorghi understands that his name sounds foreign in the community. The rapid flow of social media to print a new name in dangdut music made him not lose his way.

Moreover, the alumni of the model realized that the popularity of the era was great from magazines and television. In contrast to today where the dangdut competition is more massive than before.

"Indeed, for now it is a bit heavy on social media, we have to be more aggressive. Those of us who lived in ancient times, enter the present era, must follow the times, like it or not. They throw five (songs), I have to throw 20 so they are aware of where I am right now, "said Thomas Djorghi.

As a result, Thomas Djorghi began to expand into the world of YouTube. He makes various content from holidays to song covers. A segment entitled Dut Dut Acoustic Dut in which he sings with singers of various genres. This is his way of keeping up with the times.

“Look for (musicians) who are not dangdut. There is pop, rock, blues, jazz whatever the character of each genre. It's something that is common and never existed. Make it. I do a duet with Candil, Isa Raja, Yuni Shara, we involve people who are not of the dangdut genre, that's cool," said Thomas Djorghi.

But recently, his YouTube account has been neglected because he focuses on hosting shows and making music. Especially after Cinta Cinta, Thomas Djorghi will release several singles before the album.

“I have had various activities in entertainment, from hosting, soap operas, playing movies, singing pop, singing dangdut. I just maintain my existence in the world of music and the world of entertainment. That's all. It's a heavy responsibility to maintain," he said.

37 years of career, in fact a Thomas Djorghi still has challenges in living a healthy life. He admitted that every day he always sleeps at six in the morning.

In addition, he also revealed that he has a body that is easily fat. Therefore he is very picky about food.

“My responsibility as a public figure. I have to look attractive, neat and cool to take care of my body because that is what is being sold. Apart from vocals, acting, the appearance cannot be shifted," he said.

"Because there is shooting here and there, it's less routine, it's a bit slack. 4 times a week exercise so the body is not very stretched. Guarded but not too guarded," he continued.

Apart from that, Thomas Djorghi has a message for dangdut singers in the current era. In the midst of parody and imitation, he hopes that today's singers have their own identity.

"Be yourself. Don't imitate what's been done on television and recorded. You have to have a characteristic, whether it's vocals, appearance, rocking, don't copy what's already there,” he said.

"If you want to be a superstar, you have to have an identity that stands out in you," concluded Thomas Djorghi.