LAS CRUCES, N.M. — Dzaki Sukarno, a country singer and songwriter based in Las Cruces, is determined to represent New Mexico as he climbs the country music ladder. Sukarno was recently featured in a profile for May’s Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month by KOAT.
Born to Indonesian parents, Sukarno explains, “I ended up in Las Cruces because my dad was in the military. We moved around a lot as a kid, from Mississippi to California.” Eventually, his family settled in Southern New Mexico, where Sukarno earned his degree from New Mexico State University.
In 2020, Sukarno competed on the popular television show American Idol, where he earned a coveted golden ticket. Reflecting on the experience, he shared, “Although I didn’t make it as far as I thought, American Idol was a great experience that made me realize, ‘OK, I’m hungry, I want to keep doing this.’ And I kept chasing it after that.”
Now, Sukarno performs both original and cover songs at local venues. He has big ambitions for his career and hopes to someday join the ranks of other country music stars from New Mexico. “I want to be one of the biggest artists to come out of New Mexico,” Sukarno said.
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