After Burying Her Dreams of Becoming a Singer, Latoya De Larasa Returns Thanks to Going Viral on Social Media

Kapanlagi.com - After being out of the spotlight for a while, the singer from Yogyakarta, Latoya De Larasa, is back to shake up the music industry with her latest emotional single, "Sesal."

However, behind her return to the entertainment stage lies a dark story about past trauma that once made her bury her dreams of becoming a singer deep within.

The single "Sesal," created by Faishal Asahan, marks a new chapter in Latoya's career. This song not only signifies her return after years of hiatus but also reaffirms her identity in the Malay pop music scene with a strong slow rock vibe.

Read more news about Latoya De Larasa at Liputan6.com.

1. Bitter Experience

Who would have thought, behind her distinctive voice, Latoya once decided to completely step away from the music world. A bitter experience in high school became the main trigger that made her deeply disappointed and choose to step back from the stage.

"I had an unpleasant experience which I can't really talk about. It made me very disappointed at that time and I chose to stop singing," recalled Latoya when met in the Setiabudi area of South Jakarta on Thursday (23/10/2025).

However, fate had other plans. After years of burying her dreams, her curiosity in creating cover song content on social media in 2023 unexpectedly received an extraordinary response and went viral. This moment opened an unexpected path for her back into the professional music industry.

2. More Mature

Latoya De Larasa © instagram.com/latoyadelarasa

"At that time, when I was creating content, it was just for fun, you know, there was no intention for me to become a singer like I am now, there was none," she said.

"Then I was kind of wondering, what does this mean, God? I had buried my identity as a singer deep down," she added.

Now, Latoya returns with a more mature musical identity. She admits she fell in love with the song 'Sesal' because its nuances remind her of her idols, such as the late Nike Ardilla and Poppy Mercury.

"Yes. So when I heard it, I told Mas Faishal at that time, he said, 'yes, I made it just for you,' like that. Because my references are indeed Poppy Mercury and then Nike Ardilla," she explained.

3. Big Dreams

Not wanting to waste this second chance, Latoya has prepared a series of ambitious projects. After "Regret", she will remaster the legendary song from the band Exists.

"I am remastering one of the songs from Exists titled 'Mencari Alasan'. God willing, it will be released next month," she revealed.

More than that, she also harbors big dreams of collaborating with top musicians. When asked who her dream duet partner is, Latoya confidently mentioned big names.

"If in Indonesia, I would like to feature with Dewa 19 for sure, Mr. Ahmad Dhani, who wouldn't want to feature with him? That's it. Second, Charly," she concluded.

(kpl/aal/tdr)