Chong the Nomad

Chong the Nomad is the stage name of Alda Agustiano, an Indonesian-American producer, DJ, and artist based in Seattle. Agustiano spent much of her college career learning to score compositions for film, drawing from this cinematic background to develop a dynamic style of electronic music that blends sleek production with pop sensibility. Her artistic identity is rooted in a personal creative philosophy; her moniker is inspired by the animated series "Avatar: The Last Airbender," which sparked her early interest in music. Her experience in a college gamelan ensemble also influenced her approach, as she has described gamelan as one of the most beautiful and complex genres, noting its departure from Western scales and theory and its impact on her own compositions.

A self-described "bedroom groove" producer, Agustiano began making music at age 14. She released her debut EP, "Love Memo," followed by a series of singles and live performances that established her as a notable figure in the Seattle music scene. "Love Memo" received "Top Album" recognition from The Seattle Times, Seattle Weekly, The Stranger, and KEXP. A significant creative breakthrough came with the track "Pompelo," which Agustiano has cited as the moment she embraced her unique sound, blending club influences with elements reminiscent of cartoon soundtracks.

Agustiano's influence extends beyond Seattle, with music placements for Singapore Airlines, Apple, Universal Audio, Maybelline, Amazon's "Modern Love," Freeform's "The Bold Type," Comedy Central's "Nora from Queens," and Nike. As a producer, she co-produced a single on Marvel's "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings" soundtrack, featuring Rich Brian and 21 Savage, and co-produced Wafia's Atlantic Records single "Pick Me."

As a live performer, Agustiano has shared stages with The 1975, Odesza, Death Cab for Cutie, Head & The Heart, K.Flay, Omar Apollo, Toro Y Moi, and Japanese Breakfast. She has performed at events such as Sasquatch Music Festival, Capitol Hill Block Party, and Upstream Festival + Summit. Her debut full-length album, "Do We Make of This," marked a milestone in her career, highlighting her range as a songwriter, producer, and performer. With a sound that resists easy categorization and a focus on uplifting underrepresented voices, Chong the Nomad has established a distinct presence in contemporary electronic music, music production, and live performance.