Dewi sang in public for the first time at Independence Day ceremonies on 17 August 1975. When this was received well, she began singing at different formal occasions, by request of her father. The family returned to Bandung in 1975, and Dewi enrolled at Halimun Public Elementary School. She continued to perform and receive vocal coaching, and by the end of elementary school had already competed in the Children's Pop Singing Festival (). While still at State Junior High School 13 – where she caught several times skipping school and not paying her school fees – Dewi competed in the Teenage Pop Singing Festival (). Although she intended to be a singer, her father wanted her to find another occupation.