While the Axis International Java SoulNation Festival 2009 has been contested for disregarding its promise of soul with UK-based The Ting Tings headlining - a band commonly described as either "electro pop" or "dance" - it became clear that the SoulNation festival wasn't out to accurately reflect the genre of soul.
This doesn't mean it was disregarded. Featured at the two-day festival held at Istora Senayan, Jakarta, was old-school soul band Atlantic Starr, perhaps falling into the soul genre without question.
There was also Musiq Soulchild, which has often been described as "neo" (new) soul. Its name Soulchild is a tribute to the soul greats such as Ray Charles, argued as the man who created the genre, Stevie Wonder, Billie Holiday and James Brown.
But even then, the artists who heralded the "soul" title had numerous influences weaving throughout their music apart from rhythm and blues, gospel and jazz influences that are at the base of soul.
Blending styles: Soul artist Taalib Johnson, better known as Musiq Soulchild, whose style blends contemporary R&B, soul, funk, alternative, blues, jazz and hip hop, has received awards from Billboard, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, and also been nominated for awards by MTV. (JP/J. Adiguna)
Artists, including international headliners Arrested Development, Tortured Soul, Australian R&B singer Jessica Mauboy, hip-hop king DMC and his DJ Charlie Chase, played everything from R&B to funk, hip-hop and rock, and some just didn't think they could be categorized in the first place.
So even though The Ting Tings punk, electro vibe may have missed the mark, the packed Axis main stage was testament to the fact that at the very least, this was what the audience wanted to see.
Perhaps the SoulNation festival wasn't so much about sticking to each convention falling under the "soul" umbrella, which arose in US cities Chicago, Detroit, Memphis and New York, with its roots in R&B and gospel, but creating music with emotion and spirit.
Atlantic Starr lead and backing vocalist L'John Epps said it well, "Our music is rooted in love".
The band's three lead singers swayed in unison to the music, showing their gospel influence and emanating a certain nostalgia from their heyday in the 1970s and 80s.
The talented musicians pleased fans with love songs such as "Message in the Bottle" and "Silvershadow Standup".
From the international headliners to the strong knit of homegrown bands NEO, Indonesia Unite by Glen Fredly and Joeniar Arief, and the likes of Corporate LoFi from the Philippines and DJ Moni from the US, Java SoulNation gave crowds a performance that, dare we be so sentimental, brought the festivalgoers together.
If there was one thing the renowned artists did over the two-day festival, it was to connect people, regardless of language, politics and religion.
International group Arrested Development, opening the concert Friday, set the scene with its popular "People Everyday". Other crowd favorites were "Fishin' 4 Religion", Bob Marley's "Redemption" and "Ease my mind".
Festivalgoers and press were initially concerned recent earthquakes and terrorist attacks might keep international artists from coming to Indonesia.
But the world-renowned musicians assured they were not affected.
"We're very happy to be in Jakarta," Arrested Development's lead vocalist Speech said. "Hopefully we can come back here again."
Famed hip-hop artist DMC from Run DMC Darryl McDaniels agreed.
"If people are scared, let *em stay away. Then there's more for me. I'll keep coming back."
The soul festival's ability to create togetherness was also something DMC articulated.
"One nation, one rhythm," he said, quoting the 2009 festival's slogan. "That's what this event is about.
"I'm from Queens, New York, and the music we produced used to only to be in America. But now it's in Indonesia, it's in Russia, it's in the Ukraine."
DMC added that this type of music was one of the only things on the face of this earth that broke down all the conflicting political and religious ideas.
"It brings two very different people together and let's them sit down and understand each other."
Shirt on or off, DMC gave his audience an energetic performance at the Avolution Stage and certainly knew how to play on his charisma. DMC asked the audience, "Who is the King of hip-hop?"
The audience cheered.
"No!" he protested. "I don't think you understand what I'm saying here. I'm saying - who is the legend?"
The audience might have agreed he was the legend, but there was another talented artist on stage that night, DJ Charlie Chase.
The DJ put on an impressive show stopping the audience in their tracks and scratched records with his nose, turned 360s as he mixed and gave the crowd some syncopated rhythms to move to.
Earning brownie points from their audience, acclaimed UK based The Ting Tings opening their set with the Indonesian National Anthem, "Indonesia Raya" (Great Indonesia).
If you wanted to see The Ting Tings at the Axis main stage, you needed separate tickets from the event. But this didn't hold back crowds with the auditorium packed to hear the British band.
New to the Indonesian music scene, The Ting Tings performed well-known songs "Great DJ", "Shut up and Let me Go", "Traffic light" and "Be the One", finishing their one-hour set with perhaps their most popular hit, "That's not my Name".
Another Indonesian music industry newbie was Australian Jessica Mauboy.
Growing up in Australia, Indonesians appeared surprised when the rising star announced, "I don't know if you guys know but I'm part Indonesian."
The 20-year-old R&B singer and songwriter impressed her audience with her strong vocal skill capable of singing both upbeat songs such as "Up/Down" and "Burn" as well as ballads including "Because".
"I'm so happy to be in Indonesia to perform at this great festival and celebrate my origin - I love this place!" she told her audience at the Avolution stage.
Music Soulchild, decked out in denim and dark glasses, known for his chart-toppers "Just Friends", "Teach Me" and "Don't Change", didn't take long to gain the crowd's affection with his syrupy vocals and the ability to make complex scatting techniques seem a walk in the park. His rocking band shouldn't go without mention including his strong female backup singers.
What strongly figured at the festival was the lineup of homegrown bands including Maliq n d'Essential, Adyita, NEO, Indonesia Unite R.I.S.E with Glen Fredly and Joenier Aief.
Whether typical of soul genre or not, the concepts of passion and collaboration was present. After his set, Joeniar Arief told the Post behind the scenes, "There are really good vibes out there. There's a strong spirit."
He said regardless of whether he was singing R&B or pop, soul was at the very essence."When I'm on stage," the local star said. "I'm not just singing - I'm singing totally from the heart."
Whether local or international, artists at the festival had a passion for music that went beyond entertainment.
It ran through their blood and stamped their souls but it didn't seem enough unless the crowd felt it too.
"It's serious, it's real and it's from our hearts," L'John said.
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