I have been shocked by the news that our friend Dicki Hermansah, who I got to know through the band Sunny Summer Day passed away a few days ago. To be honest I don’t know the details, I have learned about this event on Facebook, through several posts of friends mourning him. I can’t believe this has happened.

I didn’t get the change to meet in person. Online we talked quite a bit. The first time we were in touch must have been more than 10 years ago, in 2007, on Myspace. I was then working on the Cloudberry 3″CD series and I asked his band, based in Bandung, Indonesia, to contribute 3 songs to this project. They were keen on it and even sent me 5 songs. 2 extra ones. The songs on this 3″ were “You’re The One For Me”, “Happy in the Summer” and “Something in Your Eyes”. The limited CD was a success as the 100 copies sold pretty fast. I remember when looking for imagery for the artwork he asked me to use some flowers, make it look kind of Sarah-ish but in colour. That’s how it ended being that way.

The other two songs he offered me would end up in other compilations I put out, for example “Shining Light” appeared on the first volume of “The Sound of Young Java” and “Colours of Fantasy” on the “Nothing Matters When We’re Dancing EP” that was given away at many indiepop clubs around the world. Later on, in 2008, the band would contribute the most amazing song they wrote, “In Summertime” to the “Sound of Young Java Vol.3”. This song was a collaboration between the band and the talented Cris Miller of Silver Screen. Many years later, at a NYC Popfest, Cris would play this song, and we all wished Sunny Summer Day was there to play it together with him.

I do know that Sunny Summer Day was invited to NYC Popfest. They applied and were up to coming to play here in 2016. I would have loved that so much. I think they had all the intentions to be here but visa issues made it complicated for them to get to this country. Seeing them and meeting in person would have been great after many years of chatting about music.

Now I remember too when he asked me to share on Youtube some songs he recorded with the band. I ended up uploading a video of them playing the Field Mice’s “Emma’s House” and also of “We’re Going Fun“. The next year they would cover Ride’s “Vapour Trail” and they asked me to add it to my channel as well.

He was just 34 years old. And with so much talent and great taste. His band spearheaded an Indonesian indiepop scene that in 2007 was just starting to make waves. Now we all think of Indonesia as a country that produces great indiepop. Back then it was new. He was one of the few that believed in our music.

The band released a perfect record in 2016 called “Traveled Backwards” that was released by Lisdia Records on CD and tape. Dicki was so kind enough to send me two copies and a t-shirt. I’ve played this record yesterday night on repeat. It is so good. I wonder how his next album would have sounded. Even better I am sure.

I think of his friends, his band mates and his family. Me being so far, not even having met him in real life, and I’m really sad about this. I can’t even imagine how they feel. Or how the Indonesian scene must be feeling.

His legacy and his songs will live on. That album and the two EPs they released will be cherished by everyone that will discover their jangly sounds. It is very easy to fall in love with Sunny Summer Day’s music let me tell you. And we’ll remember Dicki as one of the most enthusiastic popkids from Bandung, Indonesia, and the whole world to boot.

Rest in peace my friend.