Whether solo, with the socially charged .Feast or—more recently—the pop-adjacent Lomba Sihir, alt-rock storyteller Hindia (aka Baskara Putra) is all about music that makes an impact. That raw emotional force has translated to over a billion streams on the heels of viral hits like “Evaluasi”, from his solo debut LP Menari dengan Bayangan, as well as prestigious accolades including several Anugerah Musik Indonesia awards. It’s the kind of pop acumen and critical success most indie musicians can only dream of. At their core lies Hindia’s flair for turning deeply personal experiences into widely resonant stories—evident on records such as his brilliantly poignant second solo LP Lagipula Hidup Akan Berakhir—while constantly pushing the envelope. Learn how “someone with mediocre instrumental skills” rose from making demos in his parents’ home to reaching the hearts of an ever-growing and fiercely loyal fanbase in this exclusive interview. What’s been the biggest achievement in your journey so far? “Of course I am happy with all the ‘quantitative’ achievements—chart success, winning awards, etc—but for me the most endearing moments are whenever a fan pulled up and said that my music saved their life. Their stories stay with me forever and that’s what always reminds me to keep going whenever the grind starts getting exhausting. One time a fan gave me her lucky charm ring because she said that I gave him mine, as in my stories in the form of my debut album. She was going through hard times with all the things happening in her family and her ongoing battle with her illness. I’ve been wearing that ring ever since.” How did you get started on your journey as an artist? “By making half-done demos in the corner of my room when I was still living with my parents. My brother got into music much earlier than me, and seeing him go around with his mates doing what he loves inspired me a lot as I wanted to do the same.” How have you evolved along the way? What are some challenges, if any, that you have overcome on your journey? “I’ve come to learn that this journey has never been only about me. All the achievements that all my projects have right now are courtesy of my amazing team and the talented people in it. The dream that I have is a dream that we share together. Sometimes I learn this the hard way, most of the time in a way that’s endearing. Knowing that I owe them so much in my journey has put my ego in its place, and I think that’s one of the most important factors that’s helped me grow so much over the years.” What is one moment in your artistic journey that you feel best captures the spirit of Dream Beyond, our theme for the year? “In June 2025 we held a concert at the Tennis Indoor Stadium in Senayan, Jakarta. It might not be much for international standards—just 5,000 capacity, and I’ve been used to headlining shows with more than 10,000 people in attendance. But I’ve been seeing international acts and big Indonesian musicians alike performing in this venue, some of them my personal heroes in music. I’ve always wanted to do a show there, and knowing that all these 5,000 people came to just see Hindia and Hindia’s music alone really warms my heart.” Is there any app that’s been instrumental in your creative journey, helping you achieve your dreams? “I am raised by Logic Pro and its community. For someone with mediocre instrumental skills like me, this software has helped me tremendously in shaping what Hindia is today. I wouldn’t trade this tool for anything else.” What else would you love to accomplish? “I would love to hold a concert in one of Indonesia's biggest arenas one day.” What’s the best piece of advice anyone’s given you in your career, and how did it help? 
“A friend of mine told me to always wear my references and inspiration on my sleeves. I’ve never shied away from showing the things I’ve seen and heard that make me tick and push me to make new music.” Do you have any words of wisdom for aspiring dreamers from the region with the hopes of making it big? “I think the dawn is coming and we can kinda see glimpses of the light already. Nowadays people are much more receptive to hearing music that’s not in their native language, a highway paved by the likes of Korean and Japanese music that’s been amplified tremendously by the internet and how well connected we all are now. For us Southeast Asians, the dream of being heard by a bigger audience is not too far-fetched now.”