Indonesian star hits the big time in US
Barely a year after breaking into the glitzy US music market, Indonesian singer-actress Agnez Mo is already rubbing shoulders with the bigwigs.
She goes to events where the likes of Justin Timberlake and Ariana Grande are in attendance. She has even had a photo taken with the latter, whom she calls a "sweetheart".
For her first international album, Agnez got to work with some of the industry's most notable producers, including Timbaland (Timberlake, Beyonce and Jay Z), Da Internz (Nicki Minaj and Jennifer Lopez), her "new best friend" Makeba Riddick (Rita Ora and Rihanna) and Jim Beanz (Demi Lovato and Chris Brown).
Oh, by the way, the star who used to be known as Agnez Monica is being managed by Wright Entertainment Group, which manages the likes of Timberlake and rapper Akon.
In short, it has been a whirlwind year for Agnez, 28, who has been living her dreams since she arrived in Los Angeles last year.
This, coming from someone who was once dismissed as "arrogant" when she spoke about her wish to go international and aim for her first Grammy Award.
The music biggies have had their eyes on her since she released her first international single, Coke Bottle featuring Timbaland and rapper T.I., in April.
Speaking to The New Paper from Los Angeles, she recalled a meeting with Riddick: "She said to me 'Oh, we finally meet.'
"I was taken aback because, hey, that's supposed to be my line to her!"
Agnez said that Riddick, who wrote Beyonce's Deja Vu and Jennifer Lopez's All I Have, had her name on her shortlist of people to work with.
"She heard Coke Bottle on the radio in Los Angeles and asked, 'Who is this girl?' Some things are just meant to happen," said the chatty singer.
Agnez is a big deal in her birth country and the region.
At the age of six, she released her first album and has since released eight more albums. She has also acted in various drama series, including the highly popular Pernikahan Dini in 2001.
With over 11.4 million Twitter followers and over 85 major accolades, Agnez is one of Indonesia's biggest pop stars.
NOMINATED
It is no surprise that she is also in the running for the Best South-east Asia Act in this year's MTV Europe Music Awards (EMA), which will take place in Glasgow on Nov 9.
Other nominees include local singer Stefanie Sun, Yuna (Malaysia), Ho Ngoc Ha (Vietnam), Noah (Indonesia), Sarah Geronimo (Philippines) and Slot Machine (Thailand).
Fans get to vote for their favourite at mtvema.com.
Agnez is set to make waves in the US, like her fellow Asian counterparts Yuna and Priyanka Chopra.
But she remains grounded, saying that she "focuses on the learning process and growth instead of just (her) dreams".
Is there pressure to be or sound Americanised in the cut-throat industry?
Agnez quickly dismissed the idea of stereotypes, saying: "I meet a lot of people who try to define who Agnez Mo is. I'm too Asian, not Asian enough, this and that.
"Everyone has opinions, but I need to remember who I am and what I set out to do."
In the Coke Bottle music video, which has attracted more than 6 million views on YouTube, she busts some moves in shorts and bra top and also dons her traditional outfit.
"Just do what you are comfortable with, no matter where you are from. Create your own image and be your own person," she said.
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