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umpy roads have always been important parts of the band’s story. And now, the boys are back in business.

It has been a while since The Upstairs’ latest musical effort Magnet! Magnet! was released. The album — its third on the bill — was an anticlimax. People anticipated it, but when it came out they were all surprised by how it sounded.

Right after the nationwide success of the band’s second album Energy — completed under major label Warner Music Indonesia — the band took a very brave change in direction that left everyone lost in their own translation.

“We jumped too far. Magnet! Magnet! should have been our fourth album, not the third. People were still expecting tunes similar to Matraman [a single from Energy]. At the same time, we always wanted to come out with something new,” said charismatic frontman Jimi Multazham, one of the country’s most influential songwriters.

The other two members are Andre Idris, a multitalented artist who works on songwriting and video directing for the band’s music videos, and Beni Adhiantoro, a mod guy who always has a classy beat on his hands.

Some time ago, it was The Upstairs that put a new genre on the map of Indonesian music. Pop singers of the 1980s, Fariz RM and Dua D (duo Dian Pramana Poetra and Deddy Dhukun) were long forgotten by the 2000s. But out of nowhere, The Upstairs came and rocked the scene.

It was some time in 2002 that friends from the Jakarta Arts Institute (IKJ) led by Jimi Multazham shook the independent scene with their do-it-yourself EP titled Antah Berantah (Nowhere). The music was completely bizarre. There were small portions of Iggy Pop, Devo and A Flock of Seagulls mixed with punk rock.

They started with gigs at small clubs or even at the opening party of an art exhibition. Jimi’s trashy words enthralled the audience and kept The Upstairs on their minds for a long time.

The admiration culminated with their debut full album, Matraman, which was released in 2004. At that time, the album was considered a masterpiece of the independent scene with more than five witty hit songs. By 2007, Energy proved to be a lifeline to stardom.

But then after years of being a constantly busy touring act, Magnet! Magnet! changed the game. The album left people and fans in major confusion. The Upstairs itself took a walk in the labyrinth of time when it seemed to be trapped in a status quo condition.

This led to goodbyes. A few members left and then there were only three men left in the lineup.

“The remaining three members of the band are actually those who really made a significant contribution to our musical construction since the beginning,” related Jimi. “We were the ones who took responsibility for writing and arranging music. The others were just accompaniments to the whole process.”

That’s why they have always had a smooth transition when integrating with new players in certain positions. Lineup changes are nothing new to these guys. Just after Magnet! Magnet! was released and they entered a short hiatus, Alfi Chaniago (keyboard and bass) and Dian Maryana (female vocal) left the band.

“The three of us were OK when Alfi and Dian quit. They both decided to say goodbye to the music industry. Alfi changed his name to Bani Muhammad Mustar, stopped playing music and immersed himself in religious activities while Dian got married and became a housewife. I felt since mid-2009 that she had been losing her passion in playing with The Upstairs,” added Jimi.

But both separations were good partings, Jimi reckoned, “Now we have two additional players who have more passion than those who left.”

The two new players he was referring to are Pandu Fathoni from The Porno and Jimi’s side band Morfem on bass, and Khrisna from Visco on keyboards.

With this formation, the band has already released a digital EP called Menaralara. Drummer Beni Adhiantoro took the producer role. Beautifully in this free-for-all EP they covered Kampuang Nan Jauh di Mato, a classic composition from Padang, West Sumatra, and Rocket Ship Goes By, Goodnight Electric’s 2004 song. These two tracks accompany the lead track, a catchy new single Menaralara.

The year 2010 also marks The Upstairs ninth year in the business. With Jangan Marah Records and H.O.R.E., they will be holding a celebration concert in Eastern Promise’s backyard in Kemang, South Jakarta, tonight.

The show starts at 6 p.m. with Backalley and Dikeroyok Wanita as openers.

“Basically, we just want to tell people who we are now. This is the new The Upstairs, the band that shines brighter than it used to,” said Jimi.

The new refurbished version of The Upstairs for sure is having a good time with its new look. And a new album is on the way, with recording starting in February 2011. Andre Idris has been productive in composing songs, and they have a stash of new songs in store that will be fun to hear.

“We’re a band. We make music and deliver change,” said Jimi.

In a way, he is completely right.

‘Mini Konser 9 Tahun The Upstairs’
Eastern Promise, Dec. 12, 2010
First drink charge: Rp 20,000 (US$2)
Show starts at 6 p.m.