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Marcel Siahaan: A sneaker freaker with soul
MARCEL SIAHAAN: (JP/J
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MARCEL SIAHAAN: (JP/J. Adiguna)
There are joggers with leashed dogs, street vendors and even a muay thai fighter showing off his moves in the Senayan Sports Complex on Friday.
Even without his trademark afro, and hiding his fresh cornrows under a gray beanie, Marcel Siahaan is easily recognizable. Folk yell out his name and he responds courteously, with a wave and a smile.
Marcel is a natural conversationalist and breaks into laughter easily. He pulls up a plastic stool and pats it, indicating for The Jakarta Post to sit down.
What does a singer with a busy solo career do with his spare time? Marcel likes to read. His favorite books, he says, are spiritual ones by the Indian guru Osho and Sri Dhammananda of What Buddhists Believe fame. But he mixes it up with DC and Marvel comics.
Marcel converted to vegetarianism following the example of his son three years ago and says he can't live without tofu and broccoli. He also admits to being a bit of a "sneaker freaker" who once owned around 30 pairs of trainers.
His musical influences and interests are eclectic, as he appreciates Stevie Wonder, Incubus, Seal, Boys II Men to rock bands such as Led Zeppelin, Rush, Pantera, Machinehead, Everything But The Girl, Duran Duran, Nine Inch Nails and even Depeche Mode.
He is definitely a natural crooner and born to sing. However, Marcel has always thought of himself as first and foremost a drummer and then a singer.
He started learning the drums when he was 11 and got his first drum kit a year after. He was also into skateboarding in his early teens and began to appreciate skate rock, trans-metal and hard core. Subsequently, he was a heavy metal drummer in a university band.
"I did acappella in high school, and was in a Christian choir called Glorify the Lord for a year at university. But I'm still thinking that I'm a drummer who can sing. People are always telling me I'm a singer who plays the drums."
Between 1996 and 2001, after attending St Aloysius high school in Bandung, Marcel studied law at Parahyangan Catholic University but sacrificed a master's degree for a career in music.
His big break came in 2003 when he did a duet with Shanty on the remake of her song Hanya Memuji, which was an instant hit.
After signing on with Warner Music Indonesia, Marcel's self-titled album came out in 2003. He has since released three albums.
Born on Sept. 21, 1977, Marcel is the middle child in a family with three boys. His parents split up and eventually divorced and he remembers growing up under the guidance of a fairly strict father.
Marcel was told to put his studies before music practice and up until five years ago, he found it hard to talk openly with his family about his love of music.
"My dad, he's a very hard person. (He was) always telling me to go to school a lot. 'Don't play music because when you play, you forget school'... It was hard to have a conversation with my dad."
Marcel's eldest brother, now 36, and his 23-year-old younger brother are quite different people. Marcel remembers the three years when his big brother took drugs, a habit that almost cost him his life when he overdosed on crack.
Witnessing this turned Marcel away from drugs and encouraged him to keep to himself and stay focused on school.
Marcel credits his first serious girlfriend, whom he was with for nine years, for his self-confidence.
"Since 1991, when I was 12 or 13, she taught me how to be a good boy, have discipline, confidence, taught me how to stay on track -- until we split up because she didn't like me playing music," he said.
The other thing that has a big influence over Marcel's life is Buddhism -- he converted to the religion over three years ago.
Marcel was raised as an unbaptized Catholic but recalls being very interested in Taoism and Buddhism from an early age.
"At the age of 4 I loved to practice martial arts and watch TV shows about Buddhism ... I didn't realize it that day (as a child), I didn't have the guts to choose (my religion) that day."
Marcel says his religion has also taught him to be a balanced person and face up to his role as a public figure.
"We have to be responsible because the public follows our everyday lives. My family and friends, they still know I'm Marcel, the person I was years ago before I become famous, and I am quite happy with that."
Marcel is married to singer-turned-author Dewi Lestari, with whom he has a 3-year-old son, Keenan Avalokita Kirana Siahaan. The pair met in 2002, when Lestrari, then a talk show host, interviewed Marcel who was promoting his first movie.
The couple had their first date in Bali just after performing in the "Bali for the World" concert tour for the Bali bombing victims. After dating for nine months, they married in September 2003.
Marcel reckons the most romantic time is when they have pillow talk: "Pillow talk is when we discuss everything, from politics to love to family. I think that's the most romantic time, (having) quality time to talk. My yin is bigger than my yang, so some say I have a feminine side."
One of Marcel's greatest fears used to be being alone. "I was really scared of being alone. I spent most of my childhood alone, because my parents -- they have their own business -- didn't always have time for me. In the last four years I experienced the opposite; that sometimes we need to be in silence alone," he said.
Marcel describes himself as a moody person who is sporty and caring. His hope for the world is that everyone will be more happy and positive in their thoughts and processes. As the interview draws to a close, Marcel rejoins his trainer for his weekly Tai Chi lesson and looks like he has finally found his Zen in life.
