Dewiq
Encyclopedia
Cynthia Dewi Bayu Wardani (born in Ujung Pandang
on 15 June 1975), better known by her stage name Dewiq, is an Indonesia
n singer and songwriter. Known for her "ear-catching and easy-to-listen-to" songs, she has been described as being one of Indonesia's most sought-after songwriters and composers.
(now Makassar) on 15 June 1975. She was the youngest of two children born to Indonesian Bambang Yulianto and Dutchwoman Myrna Amy Nigell. She wrote her first song while in elementary school there, later learning to play the guitar and drums in junior and senior high school respectively.
After graduating high school, Dewiq joined Red Rose, a Bandung
-based band that exclusively played songs by Extreme
, Led Zepellin, and Mr. Big
. In 1996, she recorded her first album, Weeq. Weeq was well received, and was followed by two more albums, 1999's Apa Adanya (Just the Way I Am) and 2001's Hanya Manusia Biasa (Just Ordinary People). All three were released by Universal Music. Unable to deal with the hectic schedule of a singer, she made the shift to songwriting.
After her shift to songwriting, Dewiq wrote songs for numerous artists, including Malaysian singer Siti Nurhaliza
as well as Indonesian singers Bunga Citra Lestari
and Agnes Monica
. As a way of expressing her gratitude to those who supported her, in 2008 Dewiq released a compilation album entitled Siapa Dewiq? The Hits Maker (Who's Dewiq? The Hits Maker); on the album, she contributed two duets, "Koq Gitu Sih?" ("Why does It Have to be That Way?") with TV host Indra Bekti and "Be Te" ("Bad Mood") with musician Ipang. The album went on to sell over 100,000 copies.
and Lenny Kravitz
, as well as by her former husband Parlin Burman Siburan. She draws the inspiration for her lyrics from her personal experiences and those of her friends and family, which often result in sad songs. Once she has written the lyrics, the artist or record label that ordered the song are not allowed to change them; changing the music is acceptable. Music wise, she tends to ignore what is trending at the time.
Triwik Kurniasari of The Jakarta Post
describes her songs as being "ear-catching and easy-to-listen-to"; she also describes Dewiq as perhaps being the most wanted songwriter and composer in Indonesia.
and current member of BIP, in March 2001. The couple secretly divorced in 2007, but only revealed it to the public in 2010 after Pay announced that he would be married to another woman. They continued to have a good relationship, collaborating on songs; Dewiq also attended Pay's second wedding. In 2009, she said that he had "taught [her] so much about everything, from music to life", citing him as the most influential person in her life.
Makassar
Makassar, is the provincial capital of South Sulawesi, Indonesia, and the largest city on Sulawesi Island. From 1971 to 1999, the city was named Ujung Pandang, after a precolonial fort in the city, and the two names are often used interchangeably...
on 15 June 1975), better known by her stage name Dewiq, is an Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
n singer and songwriter. Known for her "ear-catching and easy-to-listen-to" songs, she has been described as being one of Indonesia's most sought-after songwriters and composers.
Biography
Dewiq was born Cynthia Dewi Bayu Wardani in Ujung Pandang, South SulawesiSouth Sulawesi
South Sulawesi is a province of Indonesia, located on the western southern peninsula of Sulawesi Island. The province is bordered by Central Sulawesi province to the north, South East Sulawesi province to the east and West Sulawesi province to the west...
(now Makassar) on 15 June 1975. She was the youngest of two children born to Indonesian Bambang Yulianto and Dutchwoman Myrna Amy Nigell. She wrote her first song while in elementary school there, later learning to play the guitar and drums in junior and senior high school respectively.
After graduating high school, Dewiq joined Red Rose, a Bandung
Bandung
Bandung is the capital of West Java province in Indonesia, and the country's third largest city, and 2nd largest metropolitan area in Indonesia, with a population of 7.4 million in 2007. Located 768 metres above sea level, approximately 140 km southeast of Jakarta, Bandung has cooler...
-based band that exclusively played songs by Extreme
Extreme (band)
Extreme is an American rock band, headed by frontmen Gary Cherone and Nuno Bettencourt, that reached the height of their popularity in the late 1980s and early 1990s.Among some of Extreme's musical influences are Queen and Van Halen...
, Led Zepellin, and Mr. Big
Mr. Big (band)
Mr. Big is an American rock supergroup, formed in Los Angeles, California in 1988. The band is a quartet composed of Eric Martin , Paul Gilbert , Billy Sheehan , and Pat Torpey ; Mr. Big also included Richie Kotzen, a reputable blues-based guitarist who replaced Gilbert in 1999...
. In 1996, she recorded her first album, Weeq. Weeq was well received, and was followed by two more albums, 1999's Apa Adanya (Just the Way I Am) and 2001's Hanya Manusia Biasa (Just Ordinary People). All three were released by Universal Music. Unable to deal with the hectic schedule of a singer, she made the shift to songwriting.
After her shift to songwriting, Dewiq wrote songs for numerous artists, including Malaysian singer Siti Nurhaliza
Siti Nurhaliza
Dato', or occasionally Datin Seri, Siti Nurhaliza binti Tarudin DIMP, JSM, SAP, PMP, AAP is a Malaysian singer, songwriter, record producer, television presenter and businesswoman. To date, she has garnered more than 200 local awards as well as international awards...
as well as Indonesian singers Bunga Citra Lestari
Bunga Citra Lestari
Bunga Citra Lestari , also known as BCL, is an Indonesian pop singer and actress. She is known for her powerful singing voice.-Career:...
and Agnes Monica
Agnes Monica
Agnes Monica is an Indonesian recording artist and actress. Born in Jakarta, Indonesia, she started her career in entertainment industry at the age of six as a child singer. She has recorded three albums which established herself as one of the most popular child singers in the 1990s...
. As a way of expressing her gratitude to those who supported her, in 2008 Dewiq released a compilation album entitled Siapa Dewiq? The Hits Maker (Who's Dewiq? The Hits Maker); on the album, she contributed two duets, "Koq Gitu Sih?" ("Why does It Have to be That Way?") with TV host Indra Bekti and "Be Te" ("Bad Mood") with musician Ipang. The album went on to sell over 100,000 copies.
Songwriting style
Dewiq notes that she has been heavily influenced by The BeatlesThe Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
and Lenny Kravitz
Lenny Kravitz
Leonard Albert "Lenny" Kravitz is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and arranger, whose "retro" style incorporates elements of rock, soul, R&B, funk, reggae, hard rock, psychedelic, folk and ballads...
, as well as by her former husband Parlin Burman Siburan. She draws the inspiration for her lyrics from her personal experiences and those of her friends and family, which often result in sad songs. Once she has written the lyrics, the artist or record label that ordered the song are not allowed to change them; changing the music is acceptable. Music wise, she tends to ignore what is trending at the time.
Triwik Kurniasari of The Jakarta Post
The Jakarta Post
The Jakarta Post is a daily English language newspaper in Indonesia. The paper is owned by PT Bina Media Tenggara, and the head office is in the nation's capital, Jakarta....
describes her songs as being "ear-catching and easy-to-listen-to"; she also describes Dewiq as perhaps being the most wanted songwriter and composer in Indonesia.
Personal life
Dewiq married Parlin Burman Siburan, better known as Pay, a former member of SlankSlank
Slank is an Indonesian rock band. It was founded in 1983 by some teenagers in a small street in Jakarta called Gang Potlot. They had played rock music everywhere until they got an opportunity to make an album.-Early years:...
and current member of BIP, in March 2001. The couple secretly divorced in 2007, but only revealed it to the public in 2010 after Pay announced that he would be married to another woman. They continued to have a good relationship, collaborating on songs; Dewiq also attended Pay's second wedding. In 2009, she said that he had "taught [her] so much about everything, from music to life", citing him as the most influential person in her life.
Discography
- Weeq (1996)
- Apa Adanya (Just the Way I Am; 1999)
- Hanya Manusia Biasa (Just Ordinary People; 2001)
- Siapa Dewiq? The Hits Maker (Who's Dewiq? The Hits Maker; 2008; compilation albumCompilation albumA compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
)