Interview: Dodit Mulyanto, Between Music And Stand Up Comedy

JAKARTA - Dodit Mulyanto appeared in the entertainment world in the country from the stand-up comedy stage in 2014. Different from most comics, the man who was born in Blitar appeared with a violin.

What Dodit had presented from the start showed that music was an important element in his success in the entertainment world. Therefore, it is not surprising that he then released songs, both solo and collaborative.

However, Dodit's last release entitled Tau Diri is differentiating. Unlike before, he looks very active promoting himself as a singer.

Seeing Dodit Mulyanto's seriousness in his music, the VOI team met him at a mall in the Pantai Indah Kapuk area, North Jakarta. In the midst of his busy schedule for promotion, Dodit talked a lot about music and his plan as a more complete entertainer.

The following is a recent VOI interview with Dodit Mulyanto.

Through your singles, you seem serious about promoting yourself as a singer. What are you planning?

"I'm serious because I want to perfect my stand-up stage, my version is perfect. I want to make people laugh and baper at the same time as my work. Through beat-beat stand-up and song lyrics that all come from my heart.

What is the reason for you working with music producer Chipta Matshuda on your single Tau Diri?

Because what is currently more free to express and actualize ourselves. We can choose, for example, I like western tones, now they are supported. So, we really have the umbrella for western music, so we can go anywhere.

In the previous song release there was a different color, what kind of music do you want to carry?

"I just want to make music that people receive, the important thing is that people can be happy and accept it. Being able to sing along with the audience is a separate achievement for me.

In the song Tau Diri, many think the lyrics are humorous, are they deliberately made?

"I don't know, because it's funny and funny, it's a listener. For me, it's not funny. That's not funny. It describes inequality, 'He rides a car, I ride a motorbike', 'He soaps a rod, I'm liquid soap'. For me, stem soap and dew droplets are the same. Why are dew droplets more aesthetically? That's the same. If I ask what soap you shower, then answer stem soap or liquid soap, where does it go. Yes, it only describes inequality. But indeed if it is accepted as something funny, it's funny because of the truth. The truth shows social inequality.

With an image as a funny comic, is there any difficulty when entering the music stage?

The difficulty is people like to say 'Mending stand up mas'. But over time, I was an unforbidden person, so long it was a good thing. In the past, I experienced such prohibitions, 'Why do you stand up using a violin, stand up using a mere microphone'. Well, I'm a person who is like that, and it turns out that the violin brings success. Then, for the stand-up of the singer, the name of singing is language, it tells many things. People complain, people tell stories, people talk good news, it can be with a lot of media, there are those who stand up, there are those who sing, and there are those who sing. For me, that's the right of everyone. Yes, anyone can express it, and it is the right of my expression. I will continue to go forward, as long as it is good and not detrimental.

The Indonesian entertainment industry has figures such as Benjamin Sueb and Bing Slamet, a person who is known for being humorous and also singing. Do you want to follow them, or fill the void left by the two?

I think every time I have an icon, and I don't try to replace or fill in vacancies. I'm just carrying out my current passion. When on stand-up, yes, there are routines such as shows, open mics, special shows, and appearing on corporate or gigs. However, music is my previous call that I recall. So, I don't try to fill in or replace people.

What is your musical reference like?

I grew up with music from the 1990s band until now. But my teenager, yes, I listened to Padi, Sheila On 7, Naif. From the west, from a young age, I heard Guns N 'Roses, Scorpions, Bon Jovi, Firehouse, to Skid Row. Those are the colors of music that influence me.

Is that musical reference affecting your recent performance, which often brings the band on every stage?

Yes, because the band is fun, it plays organically, everything is really played. And we play it like going back to the past, it's fun. I also want to do activities like a band child, from training to touring together. So far, I've been on stand up myself, now there is a band, it's like there are friends who can talk about music together.

You once said that Tau Diri is the opening single for the album which will be released later. To what extent has the album been working on until now?

So, Tau Diri did open a series of albums which have now been written 75 percent, and have been recorded and mixed several times. There, all the songs are inspired by my personal life. If the song leads to something that is not good, that's my friend's experience. So, this is anxiety and what I feel, but in the form of a song. Usually I'm in the form of a stand-up comedy, if this is a song.

Several music festivals have provided a special stage for stand-up comedy, how do you respond?

Right now, it's normal. Now people's work overlaps. I'm called a stand-up comedian but playing a movie, called a celebrity but working as a KOL. Because in the end everything blends together, but what are we. Everything is now possible everywhere. I think everyone is like that. They can presenter, ad star, everything is together and exciting. So, if there is a stand-up entering the world of the music stage or concert, it is normal. In the past, I also once filled the concert opener, but I stand up. From there, I thought it would be fun if I had my own song. So, from there I thought. And the concert stage must be with music.

The music industry has a distinctive association, which is not necessarily the same as other creative industries, how do you adjust?

If there is time, I always stay in touch with senior musicians, yes through DM, chat, we also meet. Yes, in other words, I gained knowledge from him.

With what it has done so far, what do you expect in the future?

In the future, I want to make a special show. So, I want to combine my own songs and my anxiety through a stand-up. So one, laughing and baper at the same time. I want to be a real stand-up comedian and musician. In addition, I also hope that in the future there will be big music stages, with proper music to entertain the audience.