Melly Goeslaw

Born on January 7th, 1974, Melly Goeslaw is known as a singer, songwriter, music arranger, music producer, and actress. She began to pursue music since joining Elfa Secioria music school when she was in high school. When she was the singer for the Katon Bagaskara tour, Melly met Anto Hoed and Arie Ayunir. The daughter of the famous singer and songwriter Melky Goeslaw then married Anto Hoed on August 4, 1995. Melly and Anto have two children, Anakku Lelaki Hoed and Pria Bernama Hoed.

1995 marked the beginning of Melly Goeslaw’s career as a professional musician. Together with her husband and Arie Ayunir, Melly formed the music group Potret. Not only the vocalist for this music group, but Melly is also active in writing songs for Potret. Potret’s fresh and straightforward lyrics and music make their songs highly relevant for various generations. Potret has produced seven albums and many hits that Indonesian music lovers still listen to today, such as “Salah,” “Bagaikan Langit,” “Diam,” and “Mak Comblang.”

Melly Goeslaw’s career as a solo singer began in 1999. Her first album, Melly, with the hits “Jika,” which she sang in a duet with Ari Lasso, sold well in the market. Melly’s career took off after she and Anto Hoed produced the theme song for the legendary film Ada Apa Dengan Cinta? (2002) that won the “Best Music Arranger” award at the 2004 Indonesian Film Festival (FFI) and the “Best Songwriter” at Anugerah Musik Indonesia in 2002.

Intuisi (2005), Melly Goeslaw’s second solo album, contains three of Tentang Dia movie soundtracks (2005). The film, directed by Rudy Soedjarwo, is based on one of the short stories Melly released to celebrate her tenth year as a singer. Involving Anto Hoed as a music director, Tentang Dia won the “Best Music Arranger” award at the 2005 Indonesian Film Festival (FFI).

Melly Goeslaw and Anto Hoed also worked on theme songs for a series of Indonesian films. Starting from Eiffel… I’m in Love (2003), Apa Artinya Cinta? (2005), Heart (2006), The Butterfly (2007), Ayat-ayat Cinta (2008), Heart 2 Heart (2010), Kabayan Jadi Milyuner (2010), Love Story (2010), Ada Apa Dengan Cinta? 2 (2016), and Eiffel… I’m in Love 2 (2018).

Melly also released compilation albums: Mindsoul (2007), Balance (2013), and Queen of Soundtrack (2013). On August 19, 2009, Melly Goeslaw held a solo concert at Tennis Indoor Senayan. The show titled GLOW was supported by Krisdayanti’s KD Production and directed by John Fair Kaune. Several big names also performed at this concert, such as Yuni Shara, Kristina, Krisdayanti, Rossa, and Bukan Bintang Biasa (Not an Ordinary Star).

As a songwriter, Melly Goeslaw has successfully created many songs for other Indonesian singers. “Menghitung Hari,” “Yang Kumau,” “I’m Sorry Goodbye,” and “Surga yang Tak Dirindukan” is a series of songs that Melly wrote and performed by Krisdayanti. The songs “Hati Yang Terpilih,” “Tegar,” “Ayat-Ayat Cinta,” “Atas Nama Cinta,” and “Hey Ladies” performed by Rossa, and “Jera” performed by Agnes Monica. Melly has also composed the songs “Biarlah Rahasia” and “Pastikan” for the famous Malaysian singer Siti Nurhaliza.

To date, Melly Goeslaw has worked on dozens of albums and written more than five hundred songs. Melly Goeslaw and Anto Hoed have received more than twenty awards at home and abroad, which makes them one of the most recognized Indonesian musician couples in the Indonesian music and arts industry.

The Jakarta Post named Melly Goeslaw as the most sought-after soundtrack songwriter in Indonesia and noted that other singers successfully reproduced her songs. Melly is also claimed to be a songwriter who is active in the sense of intellectual property. In 2009, Rolling Stone Indonesia included two songs performed by Melly Goeslaw and Potret from the album Potret II into the list of “150 Best Indonesian Songs of All Time”. “Salah” ranked 74th, noted to be the best “example” of Melly’s fresh and provocative style when writing songs. The sweet vocals in the song hit the paradigm that singers who sing issues of infidelity must become victims or sounds vengeful and full of suffering. Another song, “Bunda,” which came in at 110th place, was recorded as being able to make anyone pause to remember their mother.