Endgame with Gita Wirjawan - Tunda Kuliah untuk Bermusik | #Endgame ft. Stephanie Poetri (Part 1)

Episode Date: September 9, 2020

Dari serunya masa-masa sekolah hingga menjadi seorang penyanyi terkenal, Stephanie Poetri berbagi pengalaman yang membawanya pada dunia musik. Menunda kuliah dan bereksperimen dengan hal-hal baru adalah langkah Meni menemukan identitas dirinya. Bagi Meni, keraguan dan coba-coba adalah proses wajar dalam mencari peran kita yang sesungguhnya di masyarakat.

Hello, people, today we're coming from a new name Stephanie Poetry. Namannes, it's already rame very, on social media, Instagram, YouTube, and other other.

Lagoes really I love you 3,000, appreciate straight to you. So, so, so, I'm going to beincang, talk with Stephanie or Mennie. This is Endgame. Hey, Stephanie.

Paban, how are you? I'm good, how are you? Okay, good, good. Just to get things clear, just call me by my first name, or you can call me bro or do, don't call me, um. Alright, bro. Okay, bro. I want to spend a next few minutes talking about your early background. You were born in Jakarta?

Oh, I'm a Naktangara. Oh, a Naktangirangu, okay. Jabo de Tabek, yeah. Okay, and the year 2000, so you're 20 now. 20th of April. Which is a tourist. And my daughter is a tourist. I've heard.

And tell me about how you've grown up in Jakarta and... Yeah. So, I was born in May 2000, and I was born in like Tangerang, which is like really hard to explain to people sometimes, because it's easier to just say Jakarta. And then so I'm a Tangerang Salatan kid. And yeah, I grew up with my mom most of the time and I have three siblings. And they're really cool. And yeah, music has always been a part of my life. And so...

Your mom probably sang while you're inside her. Yeah. I mean, I remember she... So she, what she would do is... She used to all of her kids. And so she has this song named Stephanie. And it's like the funniest song ever. So if you want to like listen to it.

So before Manny, I'm always known as Titiya's daughter. So, but I started becoming Stephanie Petri. You prefer to be called Stephanie or Menni? I know your mom calls me Mni, right? Even my teacher is calling Menni. Even my manager in America calls me Métri. in America calls me many even though she says it with an accent. Okay.

Manny. Okay. And you went to Global Jaya. Yes. Okay. Was that your mom's decision because it's close to home or because it was a good school? Or both? Both definitely but also my dad, he used to be a marching band instructor and

so, so it's just to basically have a child and be traveling so much so he wanted to get a more stable job. And he became the music teacher at Global and it was just perfect because, you know, I would go to school with dad. And I've been there since I was Taka until I graduated. So I never moved to schools. Okay. Never had to find new friends. Yeah. But it's a great school and recommend.

He's from Texas, right? And I recall he went to the Stephen Austin University in Nekka, Deutsche, Texas. I spent quite some time in Texas. I've heard... And how do you find your dad in terms of how he would have influenced you in a big way, musically? Yeah, well, I definitely learned how to write music through him. I remember I'm going to America because we used to only go every two years to see my grandparents in America. And we were on a train ride.

And that was my first ever music lesson. And he taught me how to write songs. Train ride from where to where? I was on the left side of America. Okay, like in California? Yeah, I think we were like San Francisco to somewhere. Okay. But he's...

Left side of America, I like that. I forgot, that's my understanding. But he's a complete like Houston country kind of guy. So he taught me how to write country, which is very much like... Country music is tough, right? So he taught me how to write things as if it was a story. And so that's why a lot of the songs I write tend to have very like descriptive language. Like, oh, harry in my room, my name's coming.

So it's very like, or my cow died this morning. Oh, no, not the cow. And then? And yeah, so I learned most of the songwriting from him. But definitely the industry side, the business side is all from mom. Okay. So it's a good mix.

She's a go-getter, man. She is. I've heard you've interacted with her. Yeah, a long time ago when I was gigging and she was in the audience and we had asked her, this was at the heart rock cafe in 1992, long time ago when I was that small. But tell me about your, okay, were you sort of like forced into music or did you kind of like feel natural? magnetized. Yeah, it's a weird question because never at any point where they like, oh, mani, mani, they're like, do anything you want.

The only, the thing, you're going to negative, you know. Cuma, as I grew up, you know, and I was really opposed to the idea of getting into music because no one ever forced me to, I started realizing that like if I don't do anything about it, I'm wasting all of the lessons that my mom and dad gave me, you know, without I've been realizing it. So that part of me always wanted to do it. But actually, I started getting into the industry, not wanting to be a singer. I actually, and even still now, I want to be a songwriter and a producer and hopefully

write for other people. But maybe in the future. Well, that's too small. But I really like it. I mean. Writing and producing. I feel like, I think you're bigger than that. Well, but I feel like, I think there's a certain kind of like success that comes with being

able to write for other people and have that. them like it and interpret it, opposite to me just singing my own songs. First time, when when you pojok-in to to sing in the life of the people? If you're saying, if you were like, perform, perform, and like, like, it's always with the kids,

but, not ever did it, but I remember when I decided to take a gap year, it's like, you just, if you just, if you want to be songwriter, I'm gonna be like that's gonna'n't. That was recent. Yeah, it was really recent.

I was talking about when you were a kid. When you were like four or five, that mom and dad asked you to sing at a birthday party? Not really. I mean, it was like I would sing with my siblings, but I was never asked to. Because I was always shy. So they knew if I was

if I knew if I was from from my own so you just pretty much came out, right, recently. I mean, it wasn't like an incremental type of of journey. You popped, right? Tauruses are very sudden, you know, spontaneous, as you can tell. Okay, I want to talk about your earlier musical journey, okay? Before we talk about your other stuff when you were a kid. I mean, you're still a kid, but when you were younger. Thank you. You were dragged into my chemical romance concert, right? It was, I think it was like Lincoln Park actually. Like, like, like.

Okay, Lincoln Park, did you think that it was Korean? No. I didn't know about K-pop until I was like 16. But yeah, I think it was weird because I grew up with so many artistic influences that now, I think the thing is, as I grew up, a lot of people thought that if you like pop, we're basic. So you have to like other stuff. But because I was influenced.

Yeah, because I was cool, like, yeah, because I was cool, like, I listened to so many different songs, so like, I like that I like pop, it's not basic. It's fun. And it's also okay that if you don't. So that's definitely one thing. Okay.

Then how was the experience watching the two concerts? It was interesting. It was interesting. Did I remember? I was pretty young. Is that interesting good or interesting bad? It's really interesting good. But it was really like I assumed it was a certain type.

Because when I watch TV, right, I see like Hannah Montana and all. these and it's a very PG-13 kind of situation but I wasn't like you know standing I was like sitting down in the back area of the stadium but it was also cool because that was the first time I heard a band play music live that I used to listen to like on a CD right so it was very it was very cool but I was I think I was still too young to also put that connection so just like okay cool they're playing the song okay would you write stuff to That would have been inspired by what you heard back then when you're watching these two concerts? I think if you really think about it, maybe, but I doubt it. I feel like it's it's such an old part of me.

Yeah, that was a while ago. Yeah, but I think who I am now is definitely affected by there. Okay, talk about your hobbies other than music. My hobbies, I really like badminton. Oh, man, that hit me. Which I know, that hit me. You know. At some point earlier, I used to be involved with badminton. The association. Oh, like you play actually. I used to play a long time ago, but I was involved with the Batmantham association here. Yeah, it's really cool. So I'm like fan grilling a little bit. But it's also a very easy sport to play. Like even during now with everything that's going on, you just... The first set is usually easy. The second set is harder. I always play doubles, so I don't have to be so tired. Mixed doubles or women's doubles? I used to play women's doubles with my best friend.

So we were both like in one team and we just knew because we were best friends. Okay. And yeah, it's a very easy sport because as long as you have like the racket and the ball, it's like you can play anywhere. I got to hook you up with some of the badminton players. They're awesome. I would find you around so far. And I bet you they're big fans of yours already. Oh, amen.

And you know, Liliana Nazir, Gracia and all the rest. I mean, you know, they're. That's so cool. superheroes. It's really interesting because I remember when we were in high school, it was like there were so many sports to choose from. And I remember, I don't know, like, badminton is such an Indonesian sport. And so I always, and I played it since I was like, BANGA, so I always felt like I wanted to play badminton. How many?

Dool-dhapes, we're in school. We're like, three days a week. And then, if we were lucky, we'd have like one match a week. Okay. But there are days when we won't have a match for a month, depending on, like, exams or something. I would urge you, encourage you to keep playing. I think it's a really good sport. I actually, because I currently live in L.A. now, I mean, when this is not happening.

But there's, I just found a place where I just found a place where I'm, I just found a place where I'm, I think, I really do. where a bunch of Indonesian people would play. So I'm going to try to... You know, the easiest way to find Indonesians is look for badminton court anywhere around the world. I heard. True, true. What else? What else?

What else? I, I, I, I, I, I, not pern't have been taking class music, because I always have used class arts. I've from, I've from from,

and, There's like, like, like, like, music video that's like, that's the video and animation also, because I feel like it's a really fun way to mix those two worlds. But I wouldn't say I'm, like, good enough where I would think I'm a professional, but it is really fun. You're too modest. No, but, you know, it's a fun thing because it's still in that creative realm,

but it's also like a different type of art. And you, what, draw now on a regular basis? I do a lot of drawing and like a little bit of animation. A lot of it is digital. Because if digital, you can press undo. Unless it's too late, right? Yeah. And you play volleyball too.

Talk about that. Yes, I've played volleyball. So I've played volleyball for five years. And yeah, it was really fun. I was tall in my school. You're relatively tall. Yeah, here I am, but in America I'm like short. So I was like, huh.

But yeah, I remember it was definitely my favorite sport to play because I really liked my teammates and the teacher was really cool. And it was the sport that taught me how to uplift others. Because I think at least when I was playing badminton with my best friend. And so even if we got angry, it's like whatever, we're best friends. who are best friends. But when I remember, many of the right class and you have to find the right thing to say, or else you're gonna make a class, can imagine other class like you're gonna be made the class, like,

it was really hard to figure out the balance of like, you know, telling them what's wrong, but also not hurting their feelings. Or bullying. Yes, bullying is wrong, no bullying. I know you talked about that. Never bully people. But yeah, it was a fun support. But how do you serve? Underhanded or overhanded?

or overhanded? So I remember I tried overhand it for so long and I only got it right the last two years and so for the first three years I had to do underhand but it took a while. You must be pretty good in smashing both badminton and volleyball. Oh, the anger inside you know it's it's mostly because I'm like considered tall so they would put me as the smasher but if I wasn't you know I think I'd be happy just chilling. In the back. Which one do you prefer between badminton and volleyball? Definitely depends on the day. Okay. And, um, but I do feel like I have a special connection with badminton because I grew up with it. It's easier also to find time and space. Yeah, yeah, yeah, you can do anywhere.

Volleyball, you got to hook up with, you know, 12 people. Yeah. Right. And if you're lucky, maybe six, so like 3-3. Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's true. But you can do beach ball. I mean, beach volleyball. That's true, but it's like, isn't it like super tiring? Yeah. Like like like on the sand. Actually, beach volleyball is much more tiring than anything else. So I'm thinking like when you jump on sand, it's like... And if you fall, you get bruises.

It's tough. You know, I had to play a lot of volleyball in my younger days. Did you play beach volleyball? A few times, but I didn't really like it. It's just agonizing. Yeah. In the sun. Now, if hobby can,

And then, can't make upholi, what other than you know or what you know or what I'm, what I'm, what, yeah, there's many hobbies, like,

kind of, like I like, like, but like, enough to get by when I'm alone, when I live alone, but I wouldn't say

I would cook for people for fun, you know. It's an embarrassing thing. Imagine if people don't like, your food it's like the most like hurtful thing I know you like Indo-mey yeah it's an issue that's not supposed to be a commercial by the way oh yes I like I like every time I in America like I would tell people like you should try this okay now what would have been the hardest part of schooling

you know now that you finish high school I think you're you're probably planning to go to college right or uni as you might have said I say you, you know, people don't say that. What do you think would have been the challenges in your early scholastic years that would have shaped you? Yeah, so the issue is I've always, I think in my opinion, I have good memory. And I feel like a lot of school is just memory. And so I never really had issues with grades or anything. And so my issue was actually with the social life of high school

and being more focused on it. So I'm at school in school, to focus very much to... ...and to sports and everything, that I remember the last year of high school, I didn't eat lunch with my friends because I studied at lunch breaks. And it was one of the things I regret because I feel like...

You lost friends. Yeah, they were all my best friends, and I wish I spent more time because there were the people who like shaped me as a person I am now. Yeah. I think it's very easy to say, oh, my parents shaped me and these teachers. But I feel like my friends had more to say about who I am now and the way I speak and the things I like. I would have never gotten into K-pop if my friends didn't like K-pop, you know?

Absolutely. So that's one regret I have, but I also feel like life will give you opportunities to make up. Make a man and hang out with them again. I don't think they have anything to say because they knew I was so adamant in getting good grades even though I ended up taking a gap here so maybe a waste of time I don't know your mom a tiger mom not at all she's like a chillest mom laid back she's so laid back but I think a part of it is also because it's great to have a chill mom it's really great and I think a part of it is because when she grew up she realized that a lot of the things that

she did to rebel and wouldn't have happened if she had people who just let her do what they wanted to do. So, there are definitely times when she would naguer, like, oh, this, don't this, don't this. But also, you know, none of her kids had issues that were too serious in terms of like grades or friendship-wise. So you know, I think it's a lot of inner drive to just focus on sports. on school, right? Yeah, but I think a lot of it is also because my dad was at first a teacher and then he became the principal.

Wow, how about some conflict of interest? Yeah, but a part of him because I never wanted him to have like a bad image. So I was always like, you know, I'm going to make sure I'm like a good kid and I show that, you know, he's a good parent because like if someone sees a principal as a bad parents, then they don't trust them at all. You can't even lead all these kids. You can't even lead your own, that's. That's called wibawa.

Yeah, right? Tammes and stuff like that. Okay. Now, you think your junior high school or your high school would have been more memorable? I think there were some things I could have done to make it more memorable. But all I can do now is just to like be okay with it. be okay with it because I feel like maybe there maybe I would have never became a singer if I didn't focus so much I don't know but you know I always try to find the positive connection I think it's the easiest way to not regret things yeah okay I'm good for the first couple of months I'm gonna regret

gamp year so now I'll get some time, yeah yeah I'm gonna gap year immediately after I graduated okay that's two years ago yeah two years ago yeah two years ago And I'm like, like, like, like, ooh, moving into dorm. And I felt really left out. But, you know, I would have never done what I'm doing now if I didn't take a gap here. And so that's what I always tell myself. If it looks really bad right now, maybe it's like just a path to a great thing. So you got the rebel in you.

Right? You're not the typical conformist. Would you say so? If all your other friends are going to university or college, you so choose to be different. It's cool. It's chill. Thank you. Right? That's within you, right?

It's not because you got the endorsement from your mom. Oh, no. It was actually also part of not knowing what it is that I wanted to do. I've always been into psychology and I love it. That's a scary subject, man. It is. I hope you're not psychoanalyzing anybody now. I mean, if you're good, no one knows.

Okay. And my dad also does a lot of it. And so I look up to him a lot. And so, okay, it's really nice to be able to help other than. So, like, I always knew I wanted to somehow get into it. But I don't know. I felt like when I graduated, it was, it was my only option. And I didn't want it to be my only option.

And so I was like, you know, take a year to figure out if it is. And if I tried other things and I still ended up like in psychology, then I would take it, you know, I like other things. And I think you can always go back to college. Absolutely. I know people who are going to universities when they're 60s in their 60s. I think that's really cool because it's like you're still learning. That's a real rebel.

Yeah. I think it's pretty dope. For sure. I want to be like that. I want to somehow like have a bunch of degrees. Like just my wall is full of degrees of like random things. Like culinary school. Psychology.

Culinary. Psychology. And I want to... Music? Music, yes. Okay. Maybe like some biology stuff. Biology? Yeah.

You know, one day, that will do something with genetics and stuff. And I want to make sure that, like, I'm involved. Okay. You ready to talk about genetics now? Not really. We can dwell into that now. When I'm 60. No, I mean, it's pretty scary how you can actually edit.

Yeah, it is. But I also feel like, it's a confusing topic because to what extent is it like helping people? Yeah, it's like humanity is playing God on itself. But it's also like if God gave you these options, like, you know, it's a difficult question. It's scary. Okay, you've taken a gap year for almost two years now. It's not a gap year. It's not a gap year.

It's a gap years. Yeah, gap year. Have any plans on taking courses? A part of me? When do you go back to LA? Once this is over. You can actually fly. Yeah, but like a part of me, I'm scared that I'm there.

And then all of my friends who go to college there are back home in Nita. Right, so. So, I don't want to feel alone as well. Yeah, so I can work here. I've started, like, coming back to doing everything here, and then, you know, sending it to people there. Yeah, um, yeah, um, yeah, it's, it's scary right now. Yeah.

But can only... You want to talk about it, the COVID-19? What, what your take is? Oh, I don't know, man. It's like, I would love to talk about it, but at the same time, I don't know people's backgrounds and their circumstances, and I don't want to, you know, I come from a very privileged place where I can stay home because I have a home, you know, I think it's very hard to say, like, stay home because some people have jobs and some people need to make money and do

things and it's a difficult topic. But I just hope this goes away for the sake of us all as possible. Yeah, I can't wait until the vaccines are out. Yeah. Hopefully soon. Yeah, so much it's just, we're going to be a lot of time. We're going to be the logical time for you to make a decision on whether or not you go somewhere. For sure. So, so it's long very long.

No, but I've discovered that people can actually be productive from home. But going to the office or going to the studio, I think it's a very much cultural event. You need that. It's part of your life, right? Yeah, yeah, yeah. I don't think you can stay at home and produce all your life. Yeah, totally agree. I think, but I also feel like this might start a whole new wave of what normal is.

Yeah, as they say, the new normal. And so, Zoom calls, I didn't even think you can make a song on a call. It's amazing. And we just started doing that. So that's really cool. It does make it weird, though, because they're like singing. And it's like offbeat in my end. And I'm like, wait.

There is that digital delay, you know, of like a fraction of a second. Exactly. So I hope somehow they make like an app that will sync it perfectly. I don't think it's possibly because. Sure, somebody smart enough will figure it out. That's true. This is endgame. The episode Endgame

Berikutna. You'll have another Indonesian. Wow, that would be cool. I mean, you see a lot of producers in Indonesia right now that are doing so well. So that's really cool. Who's what? I know we're genius with their song Latih. Okay.

Um, really cool. And I know that Gamaliel produces as well, really cool stuff. And I, Petrasi Hombing, really like his music. It's like folky.