Vero says ambient music is not it
The Debrief with Ali Savero Harahap, professional nepo baby
Welcome to The Debrief — the Monday edition of my newsletter, where I ask people for their burning thoughts and interests, in hopes of expanding mine.
This week I talk to Vero, who is a TikTok crush first above everything else. I forgot when he first appeared on my FYP but when he did, I immediately started forwarding his videos to friends, who eventually became equally obsessed. And then I guess the algorithm kind of did its magic because not long after I started training it to show me more of Vero’s stuff, I bumped into him at a party and we ended up sitting across from each other at the 02.00am dim sum meal that followed. Awkward pleasantries were exchanged. Instagram accounts followed. Mutuals identified, etc.
It’s tough describing your online faves because no one wants to be “perceived” these days and you don’t want to offend! But my attempt would be to say that Vero is one of those people for whom the combination of having attended high school in Tangerang (instead of Jakarta) Selatan, being chronically online, smoking too much Relx, and having daddy issues have worked like a charm to create a concoction of good taste, impeccable humor, and top-tier vibes in a person.
He currently goes by @kikokostadinaur on TikTok, although he has a habit of changing it from time to time. Some months ago, he went by “cancelled_adjacent”, which always makes me laugh (((nervously))) to think about. Offline, Vero is a professional nepo baby — that is all he will let the record say.
What’s an unpopular opinion you feel strongly about?
I hate ambient music. I think I saw a TikTok once that says Aphex Twin makes you feel like you’re doing groceries in a video game and I feel strongly about that. Bjork is so much worse. Ambient music with terrible vocal and harmony? Hard pass. Don’t get me wrong, she got some great hits— some tracks in “Vespertine” and “Volta”. The rest of her discography are just her smacking metal trashcan while screaming nonsense. She would love this opinion by the way.
The cinephiles are gonna get me for this, but I think that corny sitcoms are amazing and I think everyone who hate it don’t know how to have fun. I hate conflicts, drama, or any problem of sort so sitcoms provide the sort of safe space that I truly crave. To me sitcoms are very nurturing and wholesome, like obviously you don’t watch it for the plot. My favorites are “Modern Family” and “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” but if you want a more niche or a more intelligent one, I recommend “The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” written by Tina Fey, the greatest comedian/woman on Earth. The show is I think the closest rendition of Twitter humor.
What’s something you’re currently obsessed with?
The revival of Fred Perry polo shirts. It’s very versatile — you can hang out with literally any type of person and you would still look cool to them.
They offer various fits and colors so you can decide whether you want to look like a hot f*ckable piece of sh*t, a preppy corporate motherf*cker, or just a complete f*cking loser. I got one years ago (back when everyone would button their polo all the way up) and now they fit me like a charm. Thrifted some more pairs too.
I have also been obsessed with mechanical keyboards.
Something about it is so unnecessary, fun, and somehow queer. Fun colors, textures, tactile, and different sensory options? That’s so drag, baby. Like tell me why this switch (a thing that connects the keypads to the body) is called banana cream pie? You can clearly tell that I am not a writer, but mechanical keyboards drive me to type — it makes me excited work (?).
Who’s someone you think more people should know about?
Rachel Sennott. Pretty sure a lot of people know her already after her Hollywood breakthrough, but I feel like if she became mainstream, people would understand my brand more.
You can always catch someone saying “you make all white girls from Connecticut feel so special” in her comment section, and that’s exactly it. I always have this urge to be the most banal, NPC-looking, and effortlessly funny and sexy person in the room but sometimes people would just take me as a natural bimbo. Like, no sir, this is pre-meditated and much deeper than you think.
Another one I’d like to mention is Chris Black, one half of the “How Long Gone” podcast. I can say he would beat me up in real life if he ever saw me write this, but I trust that man’s recommendations with everything.
Every stuff he approves of always makes sense and is just simply the best. I also find his opinion on literally anything that he shares on the podcast to be solid and hilarious. My ex used to make fun of me for basing my entire taste and style off him — he would question my recent purchase and then come to the understanding that Chris Black has just posted a pic with the same exact shoes I purchased.
What’s a life hack or advice that recently changed your life?
It’s not disgusting to take your morning coffee to your morning dump. I used to think that the fecal-infused air would get into my beverage, but you know what, that is not a thing. My coffee still tastes amazing and now I get to go back and forth between my coffee and my dump.
What are you looking forward to the most in the coming week?
I’m going to the countryside next week so any chance to not breathe the rotten air of this city is pretty exciting to me. Other than that, I’m kind of looking forward to blasting “American Teenager” by Ethel Cain, romanticize my business trip, and experience the record like she intended. Thanks to her, everyone understands that the countryside is not always like “The Sound Of Music” and more like “Paris, Texas”, if you know what I mean.
Generally, though, I’m always looking forward to whatever is going on Friday night. It could be me sitting in a dark room by myself or throwing up on the curb. the vibe would still be much better than the rest of the weekend. No responsibility, no rules, just vibes. I know i sound like a freshman, but I am sure that I would still feel this strongly about Fridays in years and years to come.