Titi DJ goes it alone in juggling family and music

By Helly Minarti

JAKARTA (JP): Her friends know her as the easygoing Titi DJ, chipper and taking life light. The public knows her as a singer, a popular emcee, talented actress and sometime comedian.

But she identifies her first love as singing. "I always wanted to be a singer since I started off from scratch."

As a teenager, she frequently appeared on the state television network, long before the advent of private TV stations.

"I did it many times in the hope that a recording company would offer me a contract."

But it was to no avail, and she embarked on another strategy to launch her singing career.

"Accompanied by my mother, I took the bus, visiting every recording company for an audition. I sang in front of them stupidly until they told me that I could simply record my voice on a cassette and submit it," she laughed.

There were other outlets for her talents.

At the age of 17, she joined the Miss World beauty pageant as an unofficial contestant from her homeland (she did not place), danced with Guruh Soekarnoputra's Swara Mahardhikka troupe, sang backup vocals for singer Chrisye and appeared in several movies.

Now, at the age of 32, she has wrapped seven solo albums and is about to release her eighth, Bahasa Kalbu (Soul Language).

"It's about love, my favorite subject, as it's always been."

She collaborated with veteran and young songwriters, including Nugie, Ahmad Dani and her ex-boyfriend Indra Lesmana, with whom she has made four albums.

"He (Indra) is one of my biggest influences in music," said Titi. "It's been long since I sang Indra's songs. I did it on purpose, to prove that I can sing other songs, too, just as well as I sing his."

Among the eight numbers are Nugie's Kelinci (Rabbit), and a cover of Dewa 19's Tak Kan Ada Cinta Yang Lain (There Will be No Other Love).

Titi wrote lyrics for five of them. "They're kind of personal, one of them is Daffa, named after my little son."

Titi offers no musical surprises in the album, which she jointly produced with Dorrie Kalmas, also a songwriter.

There is none of the latest trend for electronica, and no turning to R&B. She remains as poppy as always.

"But I worked together with some arrangers who I believe are very innovative in translating my concept into something contemporary."

She chose Andi Rianto. "First I gave it to someone else, but the result was not what I wanted. Andi put some nice and kind of unusual stringed arrangements to the song, not something grand but surprising."

She conceded none of her albums have been big hits, "but neither have they caused producers to lose their money".

The biggest bang of her singing career was Salahkah Aku (Is it My Fault?), the single taken from one of the finalists of Prambors Songwriting Contest.

Since last year she has been part of Elfa Singers, the critically acclaimed vocal group founded by the noted Elfa Secioria.

"Elfa's for me is like a school where I sharpen and improve my singing skills while earning some money, too."

Singing as part of an ensemble pushes her to make the most of her talent.

"I have to take my part, make some rooms for other members. It's quite different from performing solo, but it is a challenge."

Her early training with the late Pranadjaja, who emphasized the harmony in singing with others, has helped her a lot.

She is preparing to shoot video clips for the album while still taking occasional singing and emcee jobs.

Her talents are still in demand -- during the one-hour interview, she sealed two deals by phone.

"Like everybody I want this crisis to end, but thankfully I still get jobs although not as many as before."

Tabloids have feasted on Titi's colorful love life. Juicy stories were written on her six-year relationship with Indra, and her doomed marriage to young actor Bucek Depp, with whom she has twins, Salma and Salwa, 3, and 18-month-old Daffa.

Bringing up the children alone after her divorce last year has led to a more demure Titi. Gone is her trademark flashy dressing style of big wig, boots and figure-hugging pants.

Currently dating painter Enrico Sukarno, Titi is pragmatic about the future of the relationship.

"Of course I hope and work for the best, but I'm not pushy. If everything does not turn out in my favor, at least now I can say I've experienced the worst, so how bad it can be?"