"Big" Idol shows it's all about heart

"Big" Idol shows it's all about heart

Kenny Santana, Contributor, Jakarta, qnoy2k@yahoo.com

A new star was born just this August. After months of competing weekly to find the next musical talent, Michael Prabawa Mohede, 22, known as "Big Mike" to his friends, took the Indonesian Idol title beating out his closest competitor, Judika.

Meeting him last week at his house in the residential area of Bintaro in South Jakarta, The Jakarta Post spoke with Mike about his passion, his new stardom and possibly the most important person in his life -- his mother.

Born in Jakarta on Nov. 7, 1983, Mike led a pretty normal life until 2002, when he quit his Japanese language major at Bina Nusantara University after two years of study.

"After a while, it just wasn't what I felt like doing," he said, indicating that his passion for Japanese culture wasn't enough to make him stay.

He then discovered his greater passion: music.

After a year idling, Mike started to take music courses in 2003, met people with the same interest and formed a band.

The band of six, Dwanka, with a repertoire of jazz, pop and R&B music, did well, playing one gig after another and even winning several awards.

One day, a meeting with Peter Gontha -- a well-known entrepreneur, musician and jazz lover -- at a performance in Taman Mini Indonesia Indah opened a new door. The band got to play live music at JAMZ, Gontha's jazz lounge and bar.

But not for long -- about 4 months after Dwanka's first JAMZ gig, Mike received the news that he had passed the grueling audition and had been selected to be a part of Indonesian Idol.

"Last year, I tried out for Indonesian Idol 1, but I didn't make it. So I tried again this year for the second season," Mike said.

For the duration of the show, Mike was "quarantined" for about three months with the other contestants.

"To be with strangers you never met before for months, you have to control your ego. Of course there were differences, but we dealt with it," Mike said. "In the end, the whole contest, it's not really only about singing. I learned to be confident, to face people, to become more disciplined."

Mike added, "I also learned to develop a mentality to deal with becoming somebody from being nobody."

The lessons paid off. He rocked and became somebody. With his strong voice, he impressed the jurors, took the audience by storm and grabbed the Idol title.

As a reward to himself for winning, the cologne-lover bought Christian Dior's Fahrenheit and gave money to his mom. He would also like to buy a new pair of shoes and to visit his father's grave.

When Mike talks about his mother and late father, one can hear pride in his voice. Idol fans, tabloid readers and infotainment audiences are already familiar with Mike's love for his mother, Amin Yudhayani Mohede.

The media captured photos of the two of them, the tears that glistened on his mother's cheeks when he sang and the joy they shared when he won -- it is just there.

And it's not difficult to see why. After Mike's father passed away in 2001, Yudhayani had to take over from him and become the head of the household. She also took over the business that her husband had created while being mother to their three sons.

During that time, understandably, the family faced financial difficulties.

"It was not as easy as before. When my sons' dad was still with us, it was easier to get what we needed. But, don't get me wrong, we never felt we were short of anything," said Yudhayani.

"We feel blessed by God's daily gift. We don't live excessively, nor too poorly. We have enough, and are grateful for this."

Mike said, "To me, mom is a superhero. She works so hard to be a single parent. She made it."

The feeling is clearly mutual.

"He's a great son," said Yudhayani. "I enjoy talking to him about everything. And he's always nice to people, because that's how he was brought up."

She explained how Mike greeted neighbors from the nearby kampong when he won, even before he had met with their neighbors in the compound. She said Mike was aware that the people of the kampong might be hesitant about approaching him after he had become an Idol, so he went to see them first.

Home certainly plays a central part in his life and character: Mike loves hanging out with the kampong people, home cooking, staying at home and chatting with his brothers and mother.

"Of course he's more disciplined now, waking up early, tending to his schedule and all, but inside he's the same kid who prefers staying home, like he was before he won," Yudhayani said.

But winning can't all be good, can it?

"The one thing I miss is having long talks with Mike. We don't talk as much as we used to, that's for certain."

Still, she understands the situation. "I'm very proud of Mike. This fame thing is something that we used to see happen to other people. Now it's happened to us. This is a miracle from God."

A miracle that hopefully will lead to more chances for Mike.

Having just finished recording his debut album last week, Mike plans to learn more about music, take sound engineering courses and plan ahead for the future.

"I'm enjoying all this. And I want to do everything as best as I can," Mike said.

He has many years to prove himself, but with his talent, humility and drive to create his own future, he is sure to reach his goals.