Rising Southeast Asian artist Rangga Jones bares soul in his most personal album yet

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Singapore-based Indonesian artist Rangga Jones released his latest album, "Everything I've Wanted To Say," in May. Known for blending pop and R&B in self-produced tracks like "Call Me," "Confidence in Me," and "Favourite Things," Jones brought his heartfelt sound to the Philippines for the first time.

During his visit, Music Geek caught up with the singer, songwriter, and producer to talk about his craft — from early influences to the stories behind his songs.

Jones shared that his love for music began at home, with his mom often playing Indonesian classics, especially rock songs. Music eventually became a daily part of his routine.

n Singapore-based Indonesian artist Rangga Jones. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/JUDE NG

"From the moment I wake up, I'm already listening to music," he said. "Music is everything to me."

He also revealed that watching Justin Bieber's documentary, "Never Say Never," inspired him to pursue his music career. Along with Bieber, he named Ed Sheeran, Keshi, and Lauv as his biggest musical influences. He also named fellow Indonesian artists Noah (formerly of Peterpan), Beto, Gangga, and Nadhif as his current favorite Indonesian artists.

Reflecting on his beginnings, Jones recalled his first attempt at making music as simple and unplanned. "I just uploaded my first song to Spotify," he said.

He also spoke about joining the Noise Music Mentorship Programme, which helped him connect with fellow artists and gain confidence in the Singapore music scene. Though his first live performance was nerve-wracking, he saw it as a necessary step.

As a singer, songwriter, and producer, Jones admitted that production currently brings him the most joy. "I do love writing lyrics, but sometimes I hit a creative block," he said. "But producing beats — I love that feeling."

Lately, he's been obsessed with BTS J-Hope's "Mona Lisa." "I can't stop listening to it. I play it at least once a day."

Talking about Everything I've Wanted To Say, Jones explained that the 10-track album was born out of a painful breakup.

"I didn't know how to deal with it, so I started writing songs — and that helped," he said. "I kept it all to myself until I was ready to share it with everyone."

The result is a collection that highlights his smooth vocals, introspective lyrics, and emotional journey from heartbreak to healing. It includes earlier singles like "Infatuated" and "I Confess."

He revealed that "Love Again," the album's focus track, was inspired by his girlfriend. "Honestly, I wanted to give up on love. But when she came into my life, she inspired the song."

Asked which song came together the easiest, Jones pointed to "Move On," which he wrote during a solo trip to Tokyo.

"I opened up my laptop, and the melody and lyrics just came naturally. I didn't even think that hard."

The final song added to the album was "More Than That," which took months to complete due to writer's block.

Among all his musical projects so far, Everything I've Wanted To Say stands out as his most fulfilling. "I'm being 110% true to myself and I've never done a project this personal."

Like many creatives, Jones also experienced self-doubt. "There was a time when I kept comparing myself to other artists who were more successful. It became a downward spiral. I lost motivation and felt uninspired."

Fortunately, his support system pulled him through. "They told me they'd be there when I was ready — and they were."

On another note, he eagerly expressed his intention to collaborate with Filipino artists, revealing that he met OPM hit-maker Maki during his visit. "I met him last night, and I'd love to work with Maki one day, hopefully."

Before wrapping up, he teased the possibility of a deluxe version of the album adding, "We're trying to make that work, and hopefully, fingers crossed, we'll have shows around Southeast Asia."