Dewi Lestari facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dewi Lestari
|
|
|---|---|
Dewi Lestari at the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival (2010)
|
|
| Born |
Dewi Lestari Simangunsong
20 January 1976 Bandung, Indonesia
|
| Nationality | Indonesian |
| Other names | Dee Lestari |
| Education | international relations |
| Alma mater | Parahyangan Catholic University |
| Occupation |
|
| Musical career | |
| Genres | pop |
| Instruments | vokal |
| Labels | Indo Semar Records |
| Associated acts |
|
| Writing career | |
| Pen name | Dee |
| Language | Indonesian |
| Period | Reform Era Generation |
| Genres | novel, song |
| Subjects | spirituality, shamanism and others |
| Literary movement | Sastra wangi |
| Years active | 2001–present |
| Notable works | Supernova series |
| Notable awards | Khatulistiwa Literary Award (2001), others |
Dewi "Dee" Lestari Simangunsong (born on January 20, 1976, in Bandung, West Java) is a talented Indonesian writer, singer, and songwriter. She is known for her creative stories and popular songs.
Contents
The Story of Dee Lestari
Dee Lestari was born in Bandung, West Java, on January 20, 1976. She was the fourth of five children in her family. Growing up, she was very active in music. She started singing and later sang backup for famous singers like Chrisye.
Early Life and Music Career
After finishing high school, Dee went to Parahyangan Catholic University. She earned a degree in international relations. In 1993, she formed a girl group called RSD (Rida Sita Dewi). Her friends Rida Farida and Sita Nursanti were also in the group. Together, they released three music albums and a collection of their greatest hits.
Becoming a Novelist
In 2001, Dee released her first novel, Kesatria, Putri dan Bintang Jatuh. This book was the first part of her popular Supernova series. It was very well-received by readers. The book later had two sequels: Supernova: Akar (Supernova: Roots) and Petir (Thunder). Both Kesatria, Putri dan Bintang Jatuh and one of its sequels were nominated for the Khatulistiwa Award.
Exploring New Ideas
In March 2006, Dee released Filosofi Kopi: Kumpulan Cerita and Prosa Satu Dekade. This book was a collection of short stories and prose. It explored themes like love and spirituality. A famous literary critic, Goenawan Mohamad, praised the book. He said it was "Uncomplicated, in fact quite brilliant." He also thought it would bring "wit" back to Indonesian literature. At the same time, Dee released her first solo music album, Out of Shell. She had been working on this album since 1994.
Two years later, in 2008, Dee released Rectoverso. This was a unique project because it was both a music album and a collection of short stories. The idea for Rectoverso started in 2006. Dee wrote a song called "Hanya Isyarat" ("Only a Sign"). She then wrote a short story with the same theme. She felt the song and story were different but also connected. One of the songs from the album, "Malaikat Juga Tahu" ("Angels Also Know"), became a popular single. That same year, her novel Perahu Kertas (Paper Boats) was also published.
In 2011, Dee released another collection called Madre (Mother). This book was inspired by her love for cooking. The word "madre" also refers to a type of yeast used in cooking. The next year, in 2012, she released Partikel. This was the fourth book in her Supernova series. While writing Partikel, Dee researched many interesting topics. These included shamanism, ethnobotany, entheogen, crop circles, and extraterrestrials. She shared in an interview that she wanted to express her "concerns about the environment" in the book. She also wanted to talk about "the future of humanity on this planet."
Books on the Big Screen
Dee's novels have also been turned into movies. The first film adaptations were Perahu Kertas 1 and Perahu Kertas 2. Both movies came out in 2012 and were based on her novel Perahu Kertas. These were romance films starring Maudy Ayunda and Adipati Dolken. The director, Hanung Bramantyo, originally planned one long movie. However, he decided to split it into two films. This helped keep the audience wondering if the main characters would end up together. Dee worked closely with the director and his wife, Zaskia Adya Mecca. She helped with choosing the actors and writing the movie script.
In 2013, another one of her works, Madre, was adapted into a film. Since the original Madre was a collection of short stories, the film was expanded to add more content. It was directed by Benni Setiawan and starred Didi Petet, Vino G. Bastian, and Laura Basuki. Dee mentioned that the film worked as a romantic comedy. However, she felt it had "fairly crucial changes" during the adaptation. This made her feel something was missing. A film critic, JB Kristanto, was more direct. He said the movie was like "a soap opera brought to the big screen."
As of 2012, there were plans to adapt Rectoverso and Filosofi Kopi into films. A fifth book in the Supernova series was also planned.
Dee's Creative Themes and Inspirations
Dee Lestari often explores themes of spirituality in her songs and writings. She believes that spirituality is her main "driving force." She has also written about environmental issues. Poet Sitok Srengenge has said that Dee "offers unique and complex themes in each of her works." He also noted that she delivers her messages with a "smart and fresh narrative." Her works are sometimes grouped with the sastra wangi literary movement. This term means "fragrant literature."
Dee has mentioned that American author Ana Castillo inspired her to write short stories. She likes that short stories don't always have to be the same length. Dee also enjoys the works of other Indonesian writers. These include Sapardi Djoko Damono, Seno Gumira Ajidarma, and Ayu Utami. She has also read philosophical books by thinkers like Ken Wilber, Friedrich Nietzsche, Immanuel Kant, and Martin Heidegger.
In a 2012 interview, Dee shared that she usually works for about three months each year. During this time, she does her research and writes. She explained that her writing is a "collaboration between seeds of ideas and my own willingness to work on it."
Personal Life
Dee Lestari was married to Marcell Siahaan, who is also a singer. They have a son together. They sometimes worked together on writing songs. They divorced in 2008. Later that same year, Dee married Reza Gunawan, a holistic healer. In 2009, the couple announced the birth of their first child.
Dee has shared that her "perception about religion is probably different from that of other people's." She was raised Christian but has also studied Buddhism and Kabbalah. She realized that she could find a connection to a higher power outside of traditional religious places. Dee believes strongly against extreme views.
Dee practices yoga and meditation regularly. She has also been a vegetarian since 2006.
