Asian Powerhouse AFGAN Reveals Striking New Video for ‘Criminal (Over You)’ Featuring R&B Star Thủy
Ben Madilynn
November 4th, 2024 – Indonesian R&B icon Afgan unveils a mesmerising new music video for his single “Criminal (Over You)” featuring Vietnamese American R&B star thủy, following the release of his ‘Sonder’ EP in June, his second all-English and most ambitious project yet, out now via EMPIRE.
Known for his soulful voice and powerful storytelling, Afgan takes viewers on an emotional journey in this visually captivating piece that mirrors the heartache of lost love, where his and thủy’s vocal chemistry shines through.
The music video captures a story of regret, delving into the raw emotions of letting someone down and the pain of a ruined relationship. Set in an abandoned factory with dark, moody visuals, the scenes unfold across two countries – Afgan’s filmed in Indonesia and Thuy’s in Los Angeles – emphasizing the distance and disconnect felt within the song.
“Thuy is amazing, she jumps on the song at the very last minute and just elevates the whole thing. I couldn’t believe it when I first heard it. Her voice just blends perfectly with the song and I’m so grateful that she is willing to do this collaboration.”
“Working with my longtime collaborator and director, who has directed my recent music videos, we created a mysterious world that represents my artistic vision. By filming separately, we tried to convey the feeling of drifting apart, of a relationship losing connection. To capture this visually, we used a monitor to project Thuy’s image, emphasizing the emotional distance between our characters, who are supposed to be lovers in the song,” Afgan shares of the collaboration.
“Afgan’s team reached out to collaborate and I’m already such a huge fan that I immediately said yes once I heard the song! When his team sent the creative, I got to work getting the styling together, and I love how it all turned out and our team worked so well together. I think the song is really relatable to anyone going through a relationship that continues to pull them back in. I love the production and writing on this song so it was a seamless collaboration for me,” thủy elaborates.
Afgan, thủy – “Criminal (Over You)” [Official Video]
‘Sonder’, recorded entirely in London, is Afgan’s most personable body of work. An artist since he was 18 years old, who’s been an Indonesian household name for over a decade, Afgan has found his voice. “I’ve come so far and have grown and experienced so much,” Afgan shared.
“I didn’t have a say back then on how I wanted my music to be. I was controlled by the market, by what people expected me to be. I really didn’t have the confidence to speak out. But through the years, I’ve become more and more courageous to explore new sounds and to open up more about myself, for people to get to know me on a deeper level. That’s the direction I want to go with my artistry – I want to be more honest. I don’t want to fit in a box and stay in that box forever, because it’s comfortable for everyone. I see myself leaning more towards this direction and evolving.”
The stories he tells on ‘Sonder’ include collaborations with two groundbreaking female Asian acts: “Criminal” featuring thủy and “Escape” with K-pop icon Jessi. Through these tracks, he courageously opens up lyrically and further departs from his pristine image as his nation’s darling, bringing an unprecedented sense of relatability to his fans.
Afgan has been redefining Indonesian music on the global stage with his commanding vocals, emotionally charged songwriting and R&B sensibilities. Over his illustrious career, he’s built a massive passionate fanbase of nearly 20 million followers across his social media and hundreds of millions of streams across his music catalog. His 2021 groundbreaking album, ‘Wallflower’ – his first English project and foray into the global pop market – spotlighted his influence and opened new doors for the Jakarta-based superstar. The album’s top singles, which included “M.I.A” featuring Jackson Wang, “Touch Me” (Remix by Robin Thicke), “Say I’m Sorry”, and “If I Don’t Have Your Love”, have generated more than 40 million streams. Afgan’s star quality is making groundbreaking strides on the international stage, as he continues to capture attention and acclaim worldwide.
Watch the music video “Criminal (Over You)” here
About Afgan
Afgan, the shortened moniker for Afgansyah Reza, grew up in Jakarta, as a shy individual, finding solace in music and honing his natural talent in the privacy of karaoke rooms. His mother’s love for powerhouses like Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder and Brian McKnight would come to shape his vocal style – he would imitate these artists, practicing their belting and runs.
One day, serendipitously, a label VP overheard Afgan’s captivating rendition of John Legend’s “Ordinary People” during a karaoke session and offered him a record contract on the spot. Afgan released his debut album, ‘Confession No.1’, in January 2008 and since then, has become an influential, beloved name in Asian entertainment with eight solo albums under his belt. Known for his soulful, buttery vocals, which are rooted in R&B and ballad traditions, Afgan has performed at iconic festivals throughout Asia, including at Java Jazz Festival and Joyland Jakarta. He has headlined shows in Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, and Singapore in 2024, and toured 60 dates in 2023 alone.
His dynamic performance extends from the stage to TV and film, such as the popular Korean reality series, Tripmate: Who Are You. Over the years, his exceptional talents have been recognized with accolades such as winning the MAMA Award for Best Asian Artist Indonesia in 2018 and the VLive Award for Favorite Artist Indonesia in 2019.
He’s collaborated with fashion brands, like Louis Vuitton, Prada, Coach and Kenzo, and with artists such as B.I, Jackson Wang, Robin Thicke, and Raisa. Most recently, two of his singles, “Panah Asmara” and “Lenggang Puspita” went viral on TikTok with millions of videos created. As he embarks into his next era, a year that’s already brimming with promise, including a new album and more world dates, Afgan is unabashedly him.
