Ratu

One of the most popular female groups in Indonesian history, Ratu formed in Jakarta in 1999. Keyboardist Maia Estianty and pop singer Pinkan Mambo comprised the band's original lineup and released their debut album, Bersama, in 2003. Featuring R&B-influenced songs written by Estianty and her then-husband, Ahmad Dhani, the album was a commercial success, winning two awards at the 2003 MTV Ampuh Awards and selling more than 250,000 copies in Indonesia. Work on a follow-up album was postponed in October 2004, when Mambo quit the group. Replacement singer Mulan Kwok joined Ratu's ranks in 2005, bringing with her a new sound dominated by electric guitars and rock & roll influences. Later that year, Kwok made her official debut with Ratu & Friends, a compilation album featuring the newly-recorded single "Teman Tapi Mesra." A massive radio hit in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore, "Teman Tapi Mesra" helped push Ratu & Friends to double-platinum sales in the group's homeland. 2006's No. Satu was even more popular, selling 200,000 copies on its first day of availability — a record-setting feat for a female Indonesian act — and spawning the singles "Lelaki Buaya Darat" and "Dear Diary." Tensions within the group worsened over the course of the year, however, as Dhani assumed more and more influence over Ratu's schedule. Kwok officially quit in January 2007, and Estianty briefly toured Indonesia as Ratu's only member. Dhani maintained legal ownership of the band's name, however, and the couple's divorce in 2008 prevented the band from reforming. After Ratu's dissolution, Estianty pursued dual careers as a musician and actress, while Kwok topped the Indonesian charts with her 2008 solo album, Mulan Jameela, before pivoting to politics as an elected member of the People's Representative Council.

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