Suhermanto Harsono is a proffesional guitarist, guitar teacher, session player, arranger, and songwriter.
He was born in Surabaya, a second largest city in Indonesia. He started to develop his interest in guitar at early age of 12, when he saw some young men played guitar in his neighbourhood. Not long after that, he saw Mr Big concert. A legend that inspired him even more. Eventhough he didn’t have an electric guitar at that time, he always tried to seek any chances to practice in a church nearby his home. Books, videos, cassette, and any other media, were his main sources in developing the guitar skills. Learned by himself, and no formal guitar lessons/education.
2 years passed, as he grew, the passion for guitar, especially in electric guitar, also grew strong and stronger. He played a lot with local bands, performing songs from Mr Big, Yngwie Malmsteen, Dream Theater, Extreme, Toto, etc. In 2000, he started to give private guitar lessons. In 2002, he became a session player in some local band in his hometown, and also some Indonesia’s famous artists. In 2004, he joined a band, and he won the best guitarist in a competition within that year. The band last only one year. After that, he focused on teaching guitar and becoming a session player. And it’s still going on. One of them was, he played for Indonesian Idol’s finalist concert tours in 10 cities in Indonesia. Also, he ever played as session player for many Indonesian Christian artists.
He started as a recording guitarist in 2008, as he was involved in a local church’s projects. In 2010 he started his other talents as a songwriter in his church (MDC Church) project for a Christian song album. He also joined as main guitarist and as one of the arranger for the album artist, Royal Priesthood. One of his song is To be loved by You. In the same year, he also involved in various guitar clinics.
Early 2013, he joined an international online competition for the very first time, the Jakarta Guitar Festival, and he got through until top 10 finalists. After that, he joined many online competitions. He got through as finalist in French Guitar Contest 2013, with his own song titled Fighter. He won 1st winner in Cesar Huesca “Bring your own solo” guitar contest, 2nd winner of Waves of Shred Competition, and the latest, 1st winner of T.E.N and friends guitar contest. In break time during those competitions, he regularly did some guitar pedal and amp reviews in his own Youtube channel.
His guitar play was influenced by Paul Gilbert, Richie Kotzen, Andy Timmons, John Petrucci, Yngwie Malmsteen, Nuno Bettencourt, Marco Sfogli. In 2008, he saw Tom Quayle played in Guitar Idol, and he started to totally change his guitar style. Tom Quayle was such a big influence in Suhermanto’s guitar style, until now. His style are mainly funk, fusion rock, and blues.