#SHOWBIZ: A mature release from Raisa
Known for her heartfelt songs that often explore themes of sadness and healing, Raisa admits to facing significant expectations from her dedicated fanbase.
"The biggest challenge when producing this album was a feeling of self-doubt. I have many successful works and my own established storyline.
"So, every time a new album comes out, fans have high expectations," she said recently at the 'ambiVert' album launch in the capital.
Raisa confessed that comments from fans often left her feeling down.
"I overthink, feel a lack of self-confidence, and often dwell on things unrelated to music, to the point where it affects my emotions.
"But, when I step into the studio with a pen and blank paper, I focus solely on expressing my feelings honestly. Everything that bothers me slowly disappears."
To ensure her work remains fresh, Raisa Andriana, 35, not only organises workshops but also draws inspiration from her own experiences and those around her.
"In the studio, I sit down and share the mood I'm feeling at that moment. From there, we start by creating stories, playing out scenarios in our heads, and imagining situations from our daily lives.
"Because this is my fifth album, I've already produced a lot of work. I don't want to have a repetitive story. I'm trying to find a theme that hasn't been explored before.
"If there are any themes that I've touched upon previously, this time, I will try to delve deeper. If the theme is still the same, I try to develop it, approaching it from the perspective of someone more mature and wise," she said.
When asked about her favourite and most challenging song on the 'ambiVert' album, the 'Kali Kedua' and 'Teristimewa' singer said: "The single 'Bila' tells a story about assumptions and what might happen. I describe this song as perfect because the lyrics, melody, and musical arrangement are in harmony.
"The final song 'Terserah' is very difficult, especially if I have to sing it in the morning during a promotional session. If I could, I really wouldn't want to sing that song.
"However, this song motivated me because I needed to learn certain skills, such as vocal warm-ups, before singing it."
While many other singers just release singles, Raisa remains committed to producing full albums.
"My fans truly appreciate the hard work I put into each album. Everyone has their own taste. If I produce only singles, how can I fulfil their desires? For me, singles and albums offer different experiences.
"Apart from that, creating an album is a very personal moment for me because every album has its own story.
"Some albums were produced when I had just become a mother while others were created when the Covid-19 pandemic hit the world, and so on," she said.
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