7 Portraits of Ariyo Wahab Bringing a New Single 'Cinta', Finally Returning to the Music Industry After 8 Years of Hiatus

In a press conference held in the Senayan area, Central Jakarta, on Thursday (6/2/2025), Ariyo shared stories about his long journey to return to the music world. He revealed that the process of rising again and creating was not easy.

"From those 8 years, I had been thinking about making a new single for almost half of that time. Maybe because of that, it wasn't a trauma to make that single. Since 2017, I have been working on it myself, recording, promoting it myself. I think, it seems like a huge effort, really hard work to break through," said Ariyo.

Although he felt tired managing everything alone at times, that experience became a valuable lesson for him. Ariyo now realizes the importance of having a team or a music label that supports the creative process and distribution of his work.

"And I think if I make a single again, I need to have a label that takes care of me," continued the singer who was once part of a famous band. This process of returning to create is also a form of proof for Ariyo to himself. He admits that for years, he felt he had a "debt" to produce new work, which he could finally settle through the song Cinta.

"From there, I tried to fight again, to motivate myself again. If I were to have another single, I truly wouldn't be like before. Paying off the debt from the past when I didn't have time for a single," he expressed. Ariyo is now more focused and consistent in preparing his latest work. He compares the process of creating a song to caring for a baby that needs full attention and affection.

"Because I feel that a single is like a baby that we have to raise. The essence is that it needs time and our own affection. I am now more prepared in terms of time, promoting the song, and everything else," explained the man known for his distinctive voice.

Although the journey back to the music industry feels heavy, Ariyo feels that his spirit to create continues to grow. He considers the song Cinta as a form of repayment for the works that had been delayed in the past. "There was a struggle to get there, it was quite heavy. There used to be a song that I didn't have time for, and now it's paid through this song Cinta," he said.