“The world awaits”

It’s a buoyantly optimistic trope that Mardiana employs in her newest single, “Don’t Cry For Me”. The up-and-coming Malaysian synth-pop artist is fresh off the release of her debut album of the same name. The short but sweet tune is an ode to futures, not looking back, and personal growth. “Not everyone will understand my decisions, and I’m okay with that,” she says of the track, a sentiment any artist will understand. Don’t Cry For Me, the album, is crafted from “nostalgia, heartbreak, healing, and hope”, in her own words. Drawing from some of the most human emotions, it’s a simple, yet honest window into early 20s life; those of both Roman calendar and human clock.

Words by Andy Gorel
Photos by Syah

“It’s about entering a different phase in your life, where it’s the turning point of stepping into something that’s bigger than yourself.”

“It’s about entering a different phase in your life, where it’s the turning point of stepping into something that’s bigger than yourself. For me, the lyrics are about pursuing my dreams, not letting anything hold me back, and also telling my loved ones to not worry for me, hence the lyrics, ‘the world awaits, I’m on my way, please don’t cry for me.’ It’s also knowing that not everyone will understand my decisions, and I’m okay with that.”

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