Maliq and d'Essentials: On the cusp of international stardom

Eric Walker ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Sat, 08/02/2008 12:35 PM  |  Lifestyle

"No one in the band is actually named Maliq -- it's a common misconception," Maliq and d'Essentials vocalist Angga says, sitting poolside at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Central Jakarta.

"It stands for Music And Live Instrument Quality," he tells The Jakarta Post.

Well then, who are d'Essentials?

"Well mostly the band. But the fans, everyone who's involved, they're all essential too."

The pulsing beat inside the hotel's club, Kama Sutra, is making its way outside the venue, making the pool chairs vibrate. It's almost showtime.

Maliq and d'Essentials are about to take the stage to kick off the Jakarta leg of the Urban Jazz Crossover, a 5-city concert tour blending traditional jazz with hip hop, funk, rock and pop.

It's the band's third performance of the day, as they have been tirelessly promoting their new album, Free Your Mind, trying to make the jump from being just a local Jakarta band to a household name.

And this event is a perfect fit for the group, who have been blurring the lines between musical genres for the past six years.

Conceived in 2002 with the collaboration of lead vocalist Angga and electronic beat-man Widi, Maliq started to carve out their place in the Jakarta music scene by emulating the jazz-funk style of some of their heroes, namely Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Earth Wind and Fire and Sly and the Family Stone.

Incorporating electronic sounds and pre-mixed beats into the funky tones of their idols has allowed them to tap into hip-hop, house and techno music, helping them to develop their own style.

"In terms of musical development, every song starts a different way," says Widi, the rhythm mastermind behind the group's beats.

"But usually Angga and I come up with a basic melody arrangement for a song, and then every member of the group adds their own flavor to it."

Angga and Widi are joined by Indah (vocals), Ifa (keyboards), Jawa (bass), Lale (guitar) and Amar (horns) to complete the group's standard seven person lineup.

But the band often takes the stage with around ten members, including backup singers, a DJ and percussionists. They say that 10 people crowded on a stage is not a problem, and that it actually adds a lot of energy to their performances.

"Our live performances always offer something different -- something for the ears and something for the eyes," says Ifa, the band's keyboardist.

"We never play our show the same way twice," says Amar, who's trumpet playing often takes the band back to their jazz roots.

In 2005, the group delivered their debut album, aptly titled 1st, and got their first big break at the first annual Java Jazz Festival, held in March of that year.

"Our first album had just come out, and we were hardly known, so we really had no expectations," says Ifa.

"As it turned out, the place was packed and we got a huge response from the crowd. Soon after that, our album went to number one."

The band released their second album, Free Your Mind, in 2007, and have benefited from increased exposure and popularity.

Angga admits that studio recording doesn't always go as smoothly as planned.

"When we get into the booth, I'm a bit nervous," he says. "Recording is always more difficult than you think, but it's amazing watching the whole band come together."

The band members all agree that most of their songs have one underlying theme: Love.

"It's not necessarily always about love for a girl or a guy, sometimes it's about the concept of greater love; love of parents, love of friends, of band mates, of God even," says Indah with a smile.

After the interview, the band slips into the venue, takes the stage and pounds out a tight 45-minute set featuring a rendition of Marvin Gaye's "Sexual Healing", as well as many of their popular original songs including "Dia", "The One" and "Heaven".

Sitting in the VIP area after the performance, Ifa says the band has enjoyed success abroad, even in countries where their album has not been released commercially, highlighting their online popularity.

The band has profiles on websites like Last.fm and Myspace music, where fans can listen to tracks, view pictures and videos, and even chat with the band members. Sites like these have provided bands like Maliq and d'Essentials a musical outlet outside of the mainstream.

"We actually won an award in Singapore a little while ago, and I don't even think we've released our albums there -- it really shows the power of online music," says Ifa.

Looking toward the stage, now occupied by Indonesian pop legends Glenn Fredly and Audy, Ifa comments on how he's been dealing with the band's increased popularity.

"You know, sometimes I pinch myself, to see if it's really happening, if we're really sharing the stage with these guys," he says.

"I mean you always dream about it, but for it to actually come true -- it's an incredibly humbling experience. I've just been enjoying the ride."

-- The writer is an intern with The Jakarta Post.

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