The media have dubbed her as the next big thing. Critics have been in her favor. And now Neonomora, the newcomer young singer, have released her self-titled EP to show us that her music is worth the buzz.

Neonomora herself had described her style of music as “a folk rock with a touch of electronic,” and we certainly get the electronic feel on the opening track, Too Young. Without wasting too much time on the intro, we are greeted by the singer’s solid vocal. It’s an upbeat song with repetitive lyrics, which makes it fall as a little bland, but also gives it a potential to be a hit amongst the youths. Too Young is a kind of tune you can expect to be a sing-a-long anthem at a live show—the one song you’d want to sing loudly to without any remorse. The second track is You Want My Love, which also happens to be the first single to be released from the album. Electronic beats are still felt throughout the song, but we surely can feel the indie folk rock taste. Neonomora has that vocal quality that can easily adapt to multiple genres. Fight, the third song of the EP, begins with a whimsical, vintage horror show opening sequence-like intro. Neonomora’s powerful vocal resounds strongly throughout the whole song, singing out the word “fight, fight, fight!” in the chorus, prompting you to suddenly get the feeling to get on your feet and stomp the ground.

You would have thought that the penultimate track will give us some sort of break from all the fun sing-a-long and empowering stomps the first three songs have tempted us to do. But apparently with Neonomora, the strength never subsides. Verge of Universe, track number four, still features her ever so vigorous voice, with the addition of her occasional exuberant screams halfway through the song. It is no wonder that she received tons of cheers at this year’s 280 Festival. Neonomora, the EP, closes with Palace of My Dream, a more solemn track if compared to others in the EP. Consisting of five tracks, each with qualities that distinct one from another, Neonomora offers a fresh breathe of air for the Indonesian music scene. This could be Lorde all over again. Neonomora’s bold musical style that steers a little bit from the common music in the country, but still laced with catchy melodies and relatively relatable lyrics, have made the EP live up to all the positive titles media and public have hailed Neonomora as. The ‘next big thing’, being one of them.

At first, I was doubtful. I thought it was just another band that had a meaningless name, with low-quality recording and lyrics that are as deep as a goldfish tank, hence, I thought that Neonomora was no different. But oh dear, how wrong was I. This is definitely not what I had in mind. Ratih Suryahutamy, started singing at a young age, growing up with jazz introduced by her parents; music and Neonomora were a match made in heaven. It seemed out of the question how she possessed her diva-like gift, with her family’s background and a legendary list of muse, it is foreseen that she belongs in the highest peak of musical charts, both local and international. Her kind of music is one of the firsts in the country; mainly justified as ‘folk rock with a touch of electronic’.

‘You Want My Love’ was her first official single, released in November 25^th, 2013, undoubtedly became an internet sensation among local music enthusiasts. What was not to love? The drums and the synths that dominated the song, along with a three-minute of powerful yet haunting ambiances, a dynamic intertwine between today’s music and 30s jazz voice, the song was the freshest I’ve heard in a while. Her first single was followed by the second release within a six month interval, entitled ‘Fight’ that distinctly differs compared to her first radio-friendly song. ‘Fight’ highlights Neonomora under a different light, a mash between Florence Welch’s bold edginess and an influence of the great goddess of jazz, Ella Fitzgerald. The song involves strength, both vocally and musically, a character that local music tends to lack, it’s safe to say that Neonomora is leaping beyond a measurable threshold.

With merely two songs to gain fast international recognition, Neonomora is definitely on the spotlight. Great expectations are thrust upon her, so sit back and wait for her voice to echo even louder than ever.