What’s your favorite travel destination?

Have you ever visited Bali?
Not yet, but I have plans to go there in January. I can just imagine how the feel of the sun and sea. I’m planning to stay for one month, in Indonesia in January. So I can see more of everything here.

Where did you stopped by before you came to Jakarta?
I was in Paris, London, Milan and New York. Those were for work, for their (respective) fashion week.

Which designers did you walk for in fashion week?
I walked for so many, I can’t recall all their brand names.

Which one is your favorite?
My favorite would be Dolce & Gabbanna and Vivienne Westwood.

What did you think of all the clothes you wore for those brands/designer?
They’re all fabulous

Why are you very involved in the humanitarian issues that you choose?
I grew up with parents that teach their children that we have a responsibility to help others who are less fortunate, especially in the country where I’m originally from. And that’s why I was lucky enough to be asked to become ambassadress for UNESCO, I wasn’t picked because I had any scandal and I love to help. Every time I work, I always give ten percent of my commission to my charities. Even if it’s just little things then it will be little things that will change the world. If someone is still able-bodied, then they should help – and not because you have the name or want to be famous because of it.

From all the many charities that you’re in, which one is most important to you?
All of them are important. For all the causes that I’m involved in, I become very personal with it because I know people who have HIV/AIDS and that’s why I want to help the charity to create awareness and to find the cure. About my charity with UNESCO, I want to help the kids because without the kids we have no future. And for breast cancer, if you’re a woman of any age, you can get it easily and that’s why I need to get involved.

In the fashion world, there are only several black models whose names are known like Naomi Campbell or Alek Wek, why do people only know so few black models’ names like that?
Being a model is hard job, it’s not a job where you go to an office daily. But the work that you do as a model depends on the necessity of a designer. The maximum that a designer would want for a black model or an Asian model is two to three models, and sometimes not at all. But I think, there will be a change.

Then what’s the main reason that a designer should add more women of color as their models?
There are a lot of beautiful black girls out there, and they are of the same caliber of any other models. But again, it’s the designer that chooses the models and now they have to know this factor. You can’t spend your time feeling sorry, but as a model you can’t be lazy and you have to fight for what you want. If I can get to represent big named brands, if Naomi, Alek, or Yasmine can, then so can every other girls. Just represent yourself in the most natural way and be confident, but don’t do nasty things to get attention.

Do you think it’s the same for Asian models?
Yes, but now Asian models are seen a lot on the runways. The thing is, change is coming and we’re going to see a new generation of trends on how brands will want to be represented.

A famous designer of a famous label said that he would only design clothes for skinny girls, what do you think about that?
That’s not fair, that’s not good. As someone who designs clothes for women they should know how real women look like. Even the law is changed, in Spain you can’t be too skinny to be a model, and if you are then they will not accept you to walk down the runways. The same goes in Italy or New York. Then I think this designer is a bit… stupid.

But it’s still like that all the time, the reality still is on the runway that the clothes aren’t being represented by real women…
That’s where we have to be patient. But if you go to Spain, that’s where the models are real-looking women.

Since everyone knows Dji Dieng as the model with the longest legs, do you think your figure is already perfect?
Nobody’s perfect, but I’m happy with what I have and so should everyone else when it comes to looking good and feeling good. But it’s human nature that you’re not happy with one thing of your body, everyone wants to change one little thing of their physical appearance. But just be happy with what you have because that’s what makes you unique.

What do you tell to those who aspire to be models?
Be smart in what you choose to do, be careful of who you trust, and stop dreaming of being a model. You have to work hard, because at the end of the day it’s a job. You have to be in shape, that means eating right and not being lazy or skip daily exercise. And if I can do it, they can do it too. At first, who knew I was going to be a model, I was studying in law school

Recently there was a crowing of Puteri Indonesia, and in pageants they say that you have to have the three Bs; Brain, beauty and behavior. Do you think it’s the same with models?
She’s very beautiful, I saw the news of the event on the newspaper. But yes, that’s very important, having a smart brain is important. People think models have a lower intelligence than everyone else, but no. I myself, I wasn’t suppose to have this career. I wanted to be a lawyer at first. I was studying in law school before I was ‘discovered’. Having a brain means that you can manage everything else, the beauty and the behavior.

So if you’re not a model you would be a lawyer?
Yes, I almost finished my education but then after I tried being a model, it took much of my time and that’s why I couldn’t graduate.

You can be a tough lawyer then?
No, I’ll be a nice one. (laughs)

If you were not Dji Dieng the supermodel, would you still be involved in the charity causes that you are involved in now?
Of course, I was already involved in those causes long before I took up the profession of modeling. But being a model is a bonus where I can take the humanitarian issues a little higher.

Text by Sahiri Loing

What got you interested in working for world music?
There had always been my interest in that world, when I was in high school I also joined several different bands from the start homage to ska to rock. I have also joined the school dance team that also often appeared in art performances of other schools. So indeed I am interested to appear in front of many people to become performers.

What gives you the courage to go into this business as a solo artist rather than be in a band/group?
I have a vision that is not easily compromised with when I was in a group, so I better take the road where I choose my own way rather than have to compromise with other people who will most likely be broken middle of the road, like many cases new bands are . I already knew from the beginning if my vision is can I run my own.

Who are your musical influences?
There are a lot. I like the women musicians in the music scene, especially those who has a signature style and charisma like Gwen Stefani, Fergie, Madonna, Katy Perry, and Lady Gaga. I appreciate their out of the box ideas and how they keep people guessing on what their next move is going to be.

If you can describe yourself in a musical genre, what would that genre be?
Rather difficult to put together with one genre, because from one album to another album that I select music styles that’s always different because of I’m the one who wants that distinction. My first album was a pop album, then dance because many were influenced by the DJs that I knew, then rock, and now I’m influenced by the endless musical elements from the middle east to dangdut. So maybe my genre could be called under the name unpredictable.

What is the philosophy that you believe in making music?
My motto is: “I will not do the same things twice.” Being rooted in one thing is easy but why would I want to do that?

Tell us about your latest album.
My latest album is called the ‘Bintang Utara’ (North Star), which at first I wasn’t going to make an album because there are only a few singles that I was going to do and then I’ll make a collection for it. When I met up with [singer] Tompi, we apparently had the same vision and he offered a concept that’s actually really challenging to me, because I’ve never done it before, and that’s how the song ‘Penggoda Cinta’ (Love Seducer) came about. And so I immediately realized that, “Okay, I have to do an album!” The most important consideration is that I have to go at this alone and not any under record company; I’m being independent – I produced it, financed it, and all with my own sweat and tears. After that meeting with Tompi, he was the one that made me realized that Bintang Utara had to be made. People evolve, the Shanty that you knew then is not the Shanty that you know now… Don’t get me wrong, I’ll still be singing ‘Oh Kasih’, but now I just don’t have to sing about looking for love or about love, I’m searching for strength within my work.

Idealism vs. commercialism? Which side are you taking?
It’s a never ending battle, when you’re a young musician you must have an idea that wouldn’t be violated by record labels or music companies. I also experienced the same thing. Ultimately, that is the essence which both camps, the artists and the label will argue about. Without having to go through a lengthy though process, the minute we want to go into that mainstream path we have to make a compromise. It took five albums and ten years in the music business for me to find that compromise.

What made you survive this music business for as long as you did?
Being true to yourself is my strongest points to keep me alive in this industry. If I always follow wherever the trend leads, it will cause confusion in the ear of listeners to music and in my heart as well. Music not only the songs that I sing but also represents who the singer is.

What do you think about the Indonesian music scene now?
The effort that these new musicians make is as maximal as it can be but they have this ease to release a song so that balance of quality and quantity is not balanced at all.

According to your motto, do you apply that as well in your style and fashion?
Yes, because I never do the same things twice.

With the amount of time you are in the business, do you have the courage to produced/manage a new music group or singer that you can claim to be as your protégé?
No, I don’t want that kind of responsibility and you know why? Because I don’t think commercially.

What’s your fashion style like?
Always different. I like things that edgy, pushes the boundaries of where people say it’s common. A clash of styles can be cool and you only need confidence to cary it off.

So you love a challenge?
Of course! In fashion, in career, in life. I don’t have to be too hard on myself when I’m in the list of Worst Dressed People.

Are you always reborn when you release a new album out?
I love how Madonna took the path out of the safety zone. I’m confident enough to get out of that thought box that’s constricted.

What’s the process of reinventing yourself and reinventing your music is like?
Both happens gradually at the same time. When a musician has that ability and freedom to be free from the confines of their record label, that will reflect that musician’s personality and soul.

How would you commercialized Shanty as a brand in fashion or beauty products?
There are offers to do that, but if I’m going to a spokesperson for an item I want an unlimited collaboration and not just in name; I want to work on the concept too. If I want to make a clothing line or a perfume line, I want to be the one designing it. Making a perfume line is a good step, and I have offers on that department as well but we’ll see. If I’m a many hyphenated person, for example, Shanty singer/actress/designer/entrepreneur/spokesperson, I’m okay with that as long as I can be responsible in whatever that I do. I used to be a VJ who switched to the singing world, but I can prove that I can still survive.

What’s your plan in the coming year?

I’m commited in doing two movie projects that has an amazing script. One of them is going to be filmed in America and this will be a film by [director]Nia Dinata

With the intertwining and meshing of music, the husband-wife duo of Joseph Syaruf (Iyub) and Anindita (Dita) aspire to create a new genre of music that can best be described as SANTAMONICA.

SG: Tell us about the beginning of Santamonica?
Anindita (AD): I was contacted by Iyub—who was looking for a vocalist—through a mutual friend and asked me if I wanted to do a vocal test. And from there we found out that we have the same taste in music, so we decided that it would be best that we form a band together, or else we would always be curious.

SG: Were you dating at the time?
AD: Not yet, but then Iyub used his musical talent to get to know me better.

SG: What is the concept of Santamonica?
We try to re-invent pop music to a much higher level. We wanted to make a music that doesn’t necessarily have a specific genre by incorporating all kinds of music all together. We think that any type of music can be intertwined and mixed together to make a new genre that could be described as Santamonica.

SG: What are your influences?
AD: Our influences range from old style jazz and bossa nova like The Carpenters and Astrud Gilberto. Also Post rock music like My Bloody Valentine, Broken Social Scene, Broadcast, and Stereolab. We have a lot of similarities in the kind of music we listen to and we have a lot of same CD collections that when we got married, there were a lot of double copies.

SG: Does the music that influence you also influence the kind of music that Santamonica creates?
AD: Yes, because when you listened to a good music and you kind of want to make the kind of music as cool, or maybe as cooler, as this particular band. We learn and do trial and errors and make it in our own style. But we also don’t want to be stereotyped as someone who follows this kind of music or that kind of music. We want to be described as SANTAMONICA.

SG: What was your proudest achievement in the music industry?
AD: We released our full length album—Curiouser and Curiouser—in Japan, a special edition with 6 bonus tracks. From that we got signed by JVC Victor Records, one of the major labels in Japan. We got invited to perform in Bangkok and Singapore. We won the Asia Pacific Talent Search from Worldwide Music Festival from Gilles Peterson and had our songs played by the BBC radio in the UK.

SG: How is marriage life treating you as a band?
AD: We are not in a complicated marriage relationship at all. When we work as a musician, we have a strict code that we would never ever bring up personal problems and it goes the other way around. We tried to separate the two worlds to minimize (potential) complications.

SG: Is it a good thing that you are married and in the same band?
AD: We don’t feel any difference. Because when we’re working, we always try to be professionals and not to bring our personal problems onto the stage because it involves many other people. We never argue about marriage when we’re recording and we only argue about the song and the music.

SG: Do you talk about music at home?
AD: Yes, we always talk about music at home because it’s a subject that brings us together. We normally talk about new bands and bands that are playing in Iyub’s recording studio. We ask each other’s opinions about new bands that gave Iyub their CD samples for the recording studio.

SG: Are there any songs that have romantic underpinnings?
AD: There’s this song that Iyub used to propose to me, it is called Please Say Yes. You can find the song in our EP album. It’s an acoustic song, very simple but has a quite dramatic effect and many of our fans seem to love it.

Describe yourself in five words.
Only five? Well okay… I’m funny, serious, I like to be professional in everything that I do, very sporty – I like a lot of different types of sport, and I’m very sweet.

You’re originally from Belgia, what makes you want to stay in Indonesia?
I absolutely love to learn languages, and when I was twenty years old, I decided to leave home to go on an adventure to China and that’s where I learn how to speak Mandarin. For the longest time I’ve known people and becom friends with people from Indonesia and I’ve always wanted to visit them. When I arrived, I suddenly have all sorts of friends that gives me a better connection to make me feel welcome, even more so that people I know in China. From a planned visit of one week, I stayed until two and then until three weeks, I’ve completely forgotten my time in China and here I am now, one and a half year laters and know a pretty good deal of Bahasa.

What do you love about your job?
In modeling, I love it when a client is pleased with the end result and they have this twinkle in their eyes because of it – that reaction is what gives me a great deal of pleasure. Even more so then when someone says that a job is well done. I take the positive energy from the people around me, maybe they will say something negative or could be something positive but I take everything people say with a grain of salt.

Have you ever thought to go back to Belgia and be a professional model in the major fashion cities in Europe?
There is definitely a market there, but I believe in happiness and that we have to be happy no matter where we are. Living in Indonesia, I feel really happy, then why should I sacrifice my happiness to live in a place that makes me unhappy? Every thing and everyone here is fun, and Indonesia is a fun place to life, that’s why I decided to stay. Maybe, if I decide to go back to Europe, I’d get more money but then working with world renowned designers is not what would make happy and I don’t want that. Besides, I hate the cold.

There’s a misconception to how people look at models, and you’re a male model. What do you think?
I don’t of myself as a professional model, I only happened to be working as one because I got discovered and they wanted to give me a modelling job. Basically I’m not afraid to find a new adventure in life and this job is a fast moving job. What people say about this profession is not the definition of myself, so I’m never offended by it. I don’t have to take everything so seriously by other people’s negativity.

Do you hang out with other models?
I try to befriend them but for some reason I never succeed in becoming close to them. In the end, they only end up as my colleages. But you could be my friend, as long as we have the same interest and then we could be good friends.

How does your friends who doesn’t work in the fashion or entertainment business react to the occupation that you have?
Some friends of mine in Belgia is happy for me to have a friend that has a different job from everyone, but they’re not like “Wow, Antoine’s a model!” Then there are those who support me no matter what I do and they’ll give me advice on how to become better.

We heard that you’re going to do a culinary TV show. Is there a truth to this?
There’s a project where I’ve shoot the pilot for. The result is pretty awesome and I’m happy with what I’ve done for this television program. I don’t know if it will be picked up by the networks but I also have something else up my sleeve.

What other things are you busy with, aside from modelling and that tv project?
Now I’m in the process of script reading for a film that has a definite schedule for the shoot. That’s what I’m busy with right now.

Can you tell me more about this film you’re going to star in?
It’s still very hush hush, so I’m not going to say a lot about it. But most definitely, this movie is a movie that will touch your heart. The character that I’m playing is really different from who I am, so I’m very challenged by it. You’ll have to wait and see for yourself.

Which one do you want to consider as a serious occupation, modelling, TV presenter or an actor?
Everything that I do, I do it to make myself happy and have to be happy while doing it, but like what I always say to my friends or family when I’m reading the script to that movie project I’m doing, I feel happier – it’s like the world is brighter and everyone is smiling like I do. With a feeling like that, I really want to focus more on doing movies.

With such passion in this movie project, and your tendency to give your best in everything that you do, do you consider yourself as a perfectionist?
I try to be professional when I’m working, maybe with that attitude it makes a person want to make everything right. Being involve in the movie project, I’m playing a character that is so different than myself that I want to make it look perfect. So yes, maybe I am a litte bit of a perfectionist.

Are you going to do more movies after this first time?
I always believe that it’s the first one that counts. I want to make is perfect even though I don’t have a big role, I want to make my spot there different. So if I come out having a good experience, I’m not saying no to try and try it again.

When you were little, did you ever think to ever lead the life that you’re living right now?
When I was six years old, my mom enrolled me to this theatre class. Several days later, the instructor called my mom screaming that I was the student to take over everybody’s part in the play. I’ve always dreamed to be an equestrian because horse riding is one of my hobbies.

How did you start your modelling carreer?
I met with a talent scout that offers me a job without no experience whatsoever. I only had two crappy photo to be used as my portfolio and I got so nervous at the first audition that I wanted to hurl. But then I started doing runway shows, and then I’ve found my comfort zone.

What’s your personal style like?
I have two styles. Lately, I like to dress up like a punk rock star with tattered jeans, T-shirt and rings, necklaes and a rocker’s bracelet. So I don’t shave to have that grizzly rocker look and becomes really shocking! But I also love the opposite of that style by being really dapper and classic; hair styled like a school boy and uses the jacket suit and dress shirt combination.

What type of woman do you like?
I don’t have a particular taste in how they look, but I look for that personality – I always appreciate women who are passionate in everything that they do, and I find that really appealing. If they’re also a hard worker and can be independent, oh.. I love independent women. I don’t have a certain physical attribute that I go for in women, but I’d rather have them be funny and then serious in the next second – I love women who has real emotion.

Do you have plans to do any other business ventures or maybe do another profession – like being a singer maybe?
Definitely, definitely I’m not going to be a singer, because when you hear me sing you would understand the definition of the world horrible. But I like to take things step by step. I’d rather go with the flow, so there’s a definitely possibilities in everything. If I’m going to take part in a project, I’d probably be someone who also thinks of the idea instead of actually making it myself. Back to our previous conversation, I want to do things to make myself happy, if not then what’s the point?

SwankGlossy (SG):

SG: Bagaimana ceritanya Anda bisa terlibat dalam dunia perfilman?
IU: Pertamanya saya memang seorang atlet pencak silat, dan (sutradara Merantau) Gareth Evans sedang membuat sebuah film dokumenter tentang olah raga tersebut. Dia memang mau membahas dari perguruan pencak silat yang ada di Padang, tepatnya di Bukit Tinggi. Dari berbagai macam perguruan seperi Silat Tuo, Silat Harimau, dan beberapa macam yang lain, Gareth mau memperlihatkan sebuah tradisi yang sudah hampir punah. Ketika kembali ke Jakarta, ada beberapa perguruan juga yang dia datangi, termasuk perguruan saya, Tiga Berantai, dan dari situ saya bertemu dengan Gareth. Dia langsung approach saya untuk memberi tahu tentang proyek film yang akan dia garap. Saya pikir pertamanya, saya diajak untuk menjadi semacam konsultan koreografi bela diri di film tersebut dan memang koreografi adegan-adegan pertarungan yang Gareth mau, ditugaskan kepada saya dan beberapa kolega bela diri yang ada. Lalu Gareth memberi kepercayaan kepada saya untuk memerankan tokoh Yudha di film Merantau.

SG: Dengan kesuksesan film Merantau, apakah Anda mengira Anda kehidupan Anda jadi berubah seperti sekarang?
IU: Saya bangga sekali dengan sebuah proyek yang saya dapat kehormatan untuk terlibat didalamnya dan juga bangga karena saya bisa menampilkan sebuah tradisi nasional yaitu pencak silat. Saya juga senang karena respon masyarakat terhadap film ini positif dan minat orang terhadap pencak silat mulai lagi naik daun setelah menonton Merantau.

SG: Apakah arti ilmu bela diri pencak silat untuk Anda?
IU: Di Indonesia, orang sudah banyak mengenal berbagai macam martial arts seperti Tae Kwon Do, Karate, bahkan Capoeira. Tetapi pencak silat adalah kategori bela diri yang sudah terpojok karena orang menganggapnya tidak elit. Tapi saya bangga untuk dapat memperlihatkan bahwa pencak silat itu sama hebatnya dengan ilmu bela diri lainnya.

SG: Apakah Anda mengira bahwa Gareth Evans akan mengangkat nama Anda bersama dengan film Merantau?
IU: Sama sekali tidak. Waktu itu saya tidak pernah berpikiran untuk menaruh target bahwa film yang sedang kita kerjakan harus sempurna. Saya sudah diberi kepercayaan dan saya laksanakan saja tanggung jawab yang saya miliki. Saya Cuma menjalankan pekerjaan saja.

SG: Mana yang sebenarnya paling mendekati personality Anda, menjadi seorang aktor atau seorang atlet pencak silat?
IU: Saya belum masuk kedalam mindset bahwa saya seorang aktor, jadi saya lebih bangga mengatakan bahwa saya adalah atlet pencak silat. Iko sebagai aktor kesannya saya sudah menjadi seorang selebritas, padahal saya bukan seorang selebritas.

SG: Sebesar apa perubahan dalam hidup Anda setelah membintangi film yang sukses?
IU: Dulu keseharian saya sebagai atlet adalah pergi ke perguruan, berlatih, dan ketika latihan selesai, saya pulang. Tapi ketika saya terlibat dalam produksi film tersebut, saya dari rumah harus pergi ke lokasi syuting yang berbeda-beda tempat dan harus mengerjakan hal-hal yang lebih kasar dari keseharian saya yang dulu. Jadwal syuting sendiri tidak ada jam kerja yang tetap, saya lebih jarang bertemu keluarga dan teman-teman, jadi kembali lagi mana yang sebenarnya personality saya, mungkin dua-duanya tetapi saya belum sepenuhnya menjalani kehidupan seorang aktor.

SG: Apa yang Anda paling suka dari pengerjaan film Merantau?
IU: Yang paling membuat saya excited adalah ketika kita harus membuat ¬fight scenes dalam film tersebut. Saya sangat percaya diri dengan kemampuan saya dalam hal ini, karenanya itu seperti bukan mengerjakan pekerjaan, melainkan saya mengerjakan something that I love. Semua yang berhubungan dengan pemacu adrenalin, saya suka itu!

SG: Sebagai seorang aktor, standar apa yang Anda pasang untuk diri Anda sendiri?
IU: Kalau saya boleh bercita-cita, saya mau menjadi seperti Barry Prima. Beliau adalah seorang legend dalam perfilman laga Indonesia, dan semua film laga di Indonesia menggunakan film-film yang Barry Prima telah kerjakan sebagai sebuah barometer. Tidak ada yang tidak mengenal beliau. Jadi, notoriety Barry Prima sebagai aktor laga itulah yang saya ingin ikuti jejaknya. Kalau suatu saat saya dapat bermain film bersama beliau, itu seperti mimpi saya akan terkabulkan.

SG: Tapi Anda telah merasakan bekerja sama dengan seorang aktris kawakan lainnya, Christine Hakim…
IU: Kalau beliau memang mewakili dari semua bintang film yang ada disini, dan berlakon dihadapan beliau terasa surreal. Untuk saya sebagai “pendatang baru” yang harus bekerja dengan beliau, saya hanya bisa bilang what more could I ask for?

SG: Apakah cita-cita Anda waktu kecil?
IU: Ini sangat bertolak belakang dengan apa yang saya kerjakan sekarang. Saya ingin menjadi seorang atlet sepak bola! Dulu saya mengikuti SSB (Sekolah Sepak Bola) Bina Tarunas di Rawamangun dari tahun1993 sampai 2003. Saya sudah masuk ke divisi tingkat nasional dalam Liga Indonesia, tapi karena persaingan yang sangat ketat dan saya juga menggeluti pencak silat pada akhirnya saya berpindah haluan. Ketika saya mengikuti kejuaraan pencak silat pun saya tetap kembali lagi ke sepak bola. Tapi ternyata yang lebih menjanjikan dalam prestasi adalah pencak silat, maka dari itu saya lebih fokus dengan pencak silat.

SG: Sebagai seorang yang menganggap dirinya lebih sebagai atlet pencak silat dibandingkan hanya seorang aktor, apa yang bisa Anda bilang untuk menghilangkan konotasi negatif yang terbawa dalam stereotype dalam profesi Anda?
IU: Mungkin saya tidak akan menjawab pertanyaan ini sebagai seorang yang berprofesi atlet maupun aktor, tapi pencak silat adalah seperti gaya hidup. Ada dimana kita diajarkan untuk berdisiplin, ada unsur-unsur religi yang juga kita pelajari dan bagaimana kita dapat bersosialisasi dengan orang lain. Jadi dalam persilatan, itu mungkin bukan diartikan bahwa semua orang yang bisa pencak silat itu kasar atau suka bertarung dengan orang lain. Sebenarnya mendalami pencak silat itu kita juga memperdalam self-control dalam diri sendiri.

SG: Bagaimana dengan projek terbaru Anda yang juga akan mengkolaborasikan Anda kembali dengan Gareth Evans?
IU: Sekarang masih dalam tahap pra produksi dan mudah-mudahan bisa berjalan dengan lancar untuk film ini. Kita juga sedang sibuk dengan mengkoreografikan laga-laga yang aka nada di film tersebut.

SG: Apakah Anda tidak takut untuk menjadi seorang aktor yang di typecast dalam satu genre film?
IU: Buat semua yang terlibat dalam pembuatan film, silat itu susah buat kru tetapi mudah buat saya. Tapi ketika harus kebalikannya, saya sebagai aktor yang harus berlakon jadi seorang tokoh yang lain dari pada diri saya sendiri, terkadang saya bisa merasa bahwa itu sudah menjadi second nature tapi terkadang saya masih tetap grogi. Untuk memperdalam teknik akting saya, yang jelas saya pasti akan lakukan. Tapi tidak tertutup kemungkinan dimana saya juga berperan di film yang bukan film laga.

SG: Tipe wanita idaman Anda seperti apa?
IU: Saya tidak pandang buluh terhadap wanita, tetapi yang jelas umur mungkin lebih baik sebaya.

SG: Gaya Anda sehari-hari seperti apa?
IU: Sama seperti orang lain mungkin ya? Saya tidak pernah terlalu memikirkan gaya saya harus seperti apa, mungkin sesuatu yang basic seperti t-shirt, celana jeans, dan sepatu kets. Mungkin kalau saya lagi berlatih, saya menggunakan seragam latihan, but that’s it.

SG: Apakah Anda ada rencana untuk terlibat dalam proyek-proyek yang tidak berhubungan dengan perfilman?
IU: Saya menanyi cukup buat diri sendiri saja, belum tentu orang lain bisa menerima suara bernyanyi saya. Hal lain yang dalam bidang fashion juga tidak ada, tapi saya keren juga kalau ada parfum dengan nama saya.

SG: Rencana Anda di tahun 2010?
IU: Sibuk dengan proyek saya bersama Gareth Evans, karena untuk film berikutnya kita semua mau untuk lebih matang karena gaya bela dirinya berbeda dari film sebelumnya.

Looks like you’re super busy…
I’m always busy, because I have to be busy, I love my work because I’m happy to have a lot of things to do. Without something to do, I would look really confused, because being busy means that I’m doing my job in being creative. I can’t stay still for long.

How big is your fashion ambition?
There’s one person in my life that tells me that I’m a very ambitious person, but to me having ambition and being ambitious is two different things. How ever grand my ambitions are I always get back to that need to reach something, behing all that I still stop and look around my own capacity. A goal that I set for myself doesn’t stop when people call me a popular designer, it’s a goal where I grouped as making Barli Asmara Couture – which already has happened, Barli Asmara Wedding Atelier and a third line which is Sui by Barli. I want to make Barli Asmara Homme, which is a special collection for men and Barli Asmara Kids, and even a cosmetics line.

Do you think you will achieve all of that in the coming year?
Hopefully, because it’s my mission to establish Barli Asmara Wedding Atelie in 2010 and 2011. It’s a target that I want to accomplish. The wedding collection that I’m making is for wedding gowns, bridesmaids dress, and cocktail dresses but I don’t want to combine them with the menswear. I want to launch this collection in March, because March is a special month for me (it’s his birthday month). After March, I want to launch Barli Asmara Homme and expand my business by adding another boutique.

With all those plans, who do you appoint as creative director?
Creatively, everything comes out from my own head but for the development I’m working together with my team. I love my team, I don’t want to loose any of them. The result that you see on the runway or you find on the rack is not just my hard work, but it’s a collaborative effort between my team and I. I’m not a winner without them.
Do you have a particular person in mind when you design?
No, every time I design something I design for someone who dares to be different and that person can deliver the creative message or statement from Barli Asmara. I want all women to look beautiful because there’s no particular look that’s beautiful on women but every woman is beautiful – whethery they’re petite, short, big or tall. I want women to look and be confident with that they’re wearing. I don’t want my dresses to be only worn by socialites or celebrities because everyone can be a superstar.

What’s Barli Asmara’s signature design?
Ever since 2008 I’ve shown a creative side where I use hand made smocking techniques. I never used all those bling-bling ornaments in my designs, but I love to give detailing to that fabric. That’s the excellence in my designs. With the smocking and bows, those details is also made with the same fabric as the clothes itsself, so it’s not artificial. I’m consistent with my love of silhouette that has layers. I don’t want to be a designer that is easily copied by anyone else, so the difference between my design and everyone else’s is in the details.

Do you consider yourself a trendsetter?
I don’t want to give you a straight answer to this question, but at Jakarta Fashion Week (2009) there were a lot of young designers who added the same techniques I use in my designs. A friend of mine who was sitting next to me told me that those detailing looks similar to what I’ve done. I’m not saying that they’re following me but it could’ve been the fact that my designs have inspired them and everyone else.

In designing, which one is most important to you – the process or the end product?
The process, for sure, because that process is where the essence lies. Until the product is ready, shown at a fashion show, on a model’s body for a fashion spread or an ad campaign, become a presentation in an event, it’s the process that I’m after. I’m happy with the process where I have to do a product, starting from the selection of fabrics, how we’re going to make the pattern, additional framents on that creation is what keeps me alive. To me, a life without process isn’t a life worth living.

Who has influenced you in designing?
Everyone around me is a driving factor for me to become better. My family is very important, my God and my religion is also a priority in my life – I put a lot of faith in the god that I believe. Everytime I find a bump on the road, I always turn to God and my family to find the solution to my problem. I don’t want the important people in my life to be dissapointed in me because they’re the ones who have made me to keep going in everything that I do. I love things that are beautiful, and I love being beautiful.

Where do you get your inspirations?
Love. I love love. I want to uphold the power of love in my life. When I fall in love, when I know I’m being loved by someone else, that’s when my best designs comes to life. Love is what keeps me alive.

Do you think you’re a top designer?
Not at all. Being on top doesn’t mean that we have to be superstars. People might know my name but I still appreciate when people doesn’t know that Barli Asmara is a fashion designer and expects me to be this super fashion guru – I appreciate still having that anonimity. Yes, the achievements that I have comes with the territory but it’s still an achievement to me and other designers wouldn’t have the same awards that I do; so I’m thankful. If you ask me if I’m on top the world right now, I can only feel it if I still keep my feet firm on the earth so I won’t fall as hard.