Ricky Valentino is a progressive rock guitarist from Indonesia. He has won several guitar competitions, including JTC Jam of the Month and the MGF Ibanez Guitar Contest.
Transcript:
JRok: Hello everyone, I’m Angel from JRok Music. Today we’re chatting with guitarist Ricky Valentino from Indonesia. Hi, Ricky! How are you doing?
Ricky: Thank you for asking. I’m doing fine.
JRok: I’m curious, Ricky. When did you first get into music, and was guitar the first instrument you picked up?
Ricky: No, it was actually the keyboard. I started when I was in kindergarten. I took keyboard lessons and learned the absolute basics, but I put it down because keyboards were pretty expensive at the time. I started playing guitar in fourth grade. Guitar was not my first instrument, it’s definitely the isntrument I spent the longest time on.
JRok: So guitar became your main instrument. Did you grow up in a musical family, and were they supportive of your interest in studying music?
Ricky: Probably my dad, he played Ukelele. He showed me the basic chord shapes, like D, A minor, E, G, like that. The rest I had to look up on YouTube or from other people. I learned it by myself. I actually participated in a guitar course in 2018 if I’m not wrong. But my dad did show me chord shapes. Yes, they are really supportive. They pay for my guitar course and my Dad would take me to my guitar course right after work so he basically had no time for rest. I really respect him for his discipline and I know it was for my well being. He sold everything to fulfill my music. We didn’t come from a rich family and instruments are expensive but he made it work for me.
JRok: It sounds like you learned a lot on your own, through YouTube and local music communities. Did you also take formal lessons?
Ricky: I took lessons for around seven months in 2018, if I’m not mistaken.
My dad was also involved in supporting my music education. Of course, they paid for my lessons, and I really appreciate that. I know it was for my own good. We didn’t come from a wealthy family, and music lessons can be pretty expensive, especially when you’re young. But it worked out for me.
JRok: It must have been nice to have such a supportive family. Who were some of your guitar heroes and influences? What inspired you most to pursue guitar?
Ricky: I think it would prbably be my dad you know.
JRok: I’ve heard that you’ve entered a lot of competitions and won some awards. Let’s talk about that. In 2022, you won JTC Jam of the Month. How did that opportunity come about, and how strong was the competition?
Ricky: The competition was pretty strong. There were around 200 participants from different countries, so it was a great experience. It took me about a week to develop the concept and work on my entry. I always try to make my entries interesting because of the complexity of the parts I create. There were around 200 participants, so it was a great feeling.
JRok: Congratulations! Your white guitar with the missing headstock is really beautiful. Is that your main guitar, and can you tell us a little about it?
Ricky: [inaudible] The company contacted me about creating content, and I said yes. Why would I refuse?
JRok: How many strings does your guitar have?
Ricky: Nine strings. I’ve been using it since the first run.
JRok: How would you describe the music scene in Indonesia to someone who has never been there?
Ricky: If you’re an instrumental musician or a guitarist, it can be very difficult to find opportunities. People generally prefer music with vocals rather than instrumental music. There is potential for instrumental music to reach a wider audience, but it can be challenging.
Unless you have a unique personality or a lot of energy, it can be difficult to stand out. You also need to find the right opportunities to perform. Organizing events isn’t easy either, because everyone involved needs to share the same vision and mindset. I think that’s one of the biggest challenges.
People tend to like simpler music, so instrumental solos aren’t particularly popular with most listeners. There are some people who enjoy them, though.
JRok: Do you currently play in a band, and what have you been working on recently?
Ricky: I’m not in a band right now, but I’m interested in the possibility. I really want to do that. I love composing, and I’d like to contribute to a band if I had the opportunity.
JRok: What kind of music-related content have you been sharing recently?
Ricky: I’ve been working on short pieces and short songs to post on social media, including Instagram and Facebook. I’ve also learned a lot from YouTube. I compose music and post my videos online.
JRok: It’s been great chatting with you, Ricky. Thanks for spending time with us, and we wish you all the best. You mentioned your social media accounts. Can you tell us the names of your accounts on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook?
Ricky: On instagram it’s ricky_valentino_guitarist. Youtube is the same username. And Facebook, I think is the same as well.
JRok: Everyone, please check the description, where you’ll find links to Ricky’s social media accounts. We hope you’ll follow him and support his music.
Thanks again, everyone. This is Angel with JRok Music, and we’ll see you in the next interview!