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Erik Sondhy

Marthen Eugene Mangempis, a man hailing from Manado, a guide fluent in Dutch and Ni Luh Putu Sri Nulatri Sedani, a professional dancer from Bali, on 10 April 1975 awaited the birth of their baby in a small city in Bali named Denpasar. They then named their first child Eurysondhy Andrean John Imanuel Mangempis and Erik grew up as the eldest of 5 siblings.

When other children had dreams of becoming a doctor or engineer, Erik Sondhy since young, had already known for sure what he wanted in the future, which was to become a famous musician. He formed these dreams because since young, Erik really admired a band from England, which was The Beatles. His love for the band The Beatles drove Erik to study various musical instruments, and the first one he pursued was the guitar. As time went on, Erik also started learning how to play the piano, which has actually turned out to be his passion until today.

Thanks to his seriousness in learning the piano on his own, in 1989, Erik also received an offer to perform for the first time in church. At the time, Erik just turned 12 and he performed playing the organ in front of many people. Erik truly enjoyed it further strengthening his dream of becoming a famous musician someday. His love for The Beatles has never faded. His days are passed while listening to his favorite band. “The Beatles songs are the soundtrack of my life” Erik often tells his friends.

In 1992, after graduating from Junior High School, Erik who knew that his grandmother was a music lover and choir singer in church asked his parents for permission to further his studies in a Senior High School in Bandung, where his grandmother lived. Unable to stop the wish of their child, both of his parents gave their blessings to young Erik to move to Bandung. Here, Erik became more active in playing music with a band that was formed during his school days in Santa Maria 2 High School, Bandung. It was an addictive activity and one that Erik continued to pursue and made him happier, because he continued to receive support from his grandmother to further explore his musical talent. During High School, Erik was the vocalist, guitarist and keyboard player in his band. At the time, as Erik tried to follow the footsteps of his idol John Lennon, together with his band, they would often perform the songs by The Beatles at various school events.

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Album Review

Erik Sondhy: Abbey Road Sessions, Vol 1

Read "Abbey Road Sessions, Vol 1" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan


Joey Alexander, the young piano phenom from Bali, has caused quite a splash in the jazz world, a player who is ridiculously talented for one so young. But there's another masterly young piano guy from the Indonesian island: Erik Sondhy. The sessions resulting in Sondhy's debut, Recorded At Abbey Road, Vol. 1, also known as Abbey Road Sessions, Vol. 1, came about on Sondhy's trip to visit his wife's family, where he was able to seize the opportunity ...

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Recording

Pianist Erik Sondhy releases "Abbey Road Sessions Volume 1" on IndoJazzia Musik

Pianist Erik Sondhy releases "Abbey Road Sessions Volume 1" on IndoJazzia Musik

Source: All About Jazz

Erik Sondhy is a Balinese jazz composer and pianist with a unique voice. In July last year (2015), he realized a childhood dream by spending six hours improvising on a Steinway piano in the world famous Abbey Road studios. He left with enough material for four albums. IndoJazzia Musik, a new label, was tasked with handling the international distribution rights to the first release, Abbey Road Sessions Vol.1. We hear echoes of Fats Waller, Philip Glass, Keith Jarrett and Iiro ...

“Erik is a bold and intense musician, willing and able to adapt and extemporize with seamless ease. His range of styles it seems, knows no barriers. He is certainly one of Indonesia’s rising Jazz stars.” Jakarta Post

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

The Gift of Love

Indojazziamusik
2019

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Abbey Road Sessions,...

Indojazziamusik
2016

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The Gift of Love

From: The Gift of Love
By Erik Sondhy

The Love of My Life

From: Abbey Road Sessions Vol 1.
By Erik Sondhy

Song For My Mother

From: Abbey Road Sessions Vol 1.
By Erik Sondhy

Hope

From: Abbey Road Sessions Vol 1
By Erik Sondhy

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