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SHE looks forward to new formation
Courtesy of RiomanadonaIt seems nothing can stop the all-female band Sound and Harmony Eclectic, or SHE, from making music
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Courtesy of Riomanadona
It seems nothing can stop the all-female band Sound and Harmony Eclectic, or SHE, from making music.
Even without a vocalist, the band continues to share its music.
The band's keyboardist, Ester 'Yayo' Yolanda, said they were on a mission to find a new vocalist by holding auditions in Bandung of West Java, and Jakarta.
'Melly quit the band to pursue her solo career. And because we're playing instruments and none of us can sing, we feel the need to find a new vocalist,' Yayo said.
Melly Herlina, the band's vocalist, quit in January this year.
Yayo said the band was looking for someone who had a distinguished voice and the ability to master the stage when performing.
'We have been playing music for 14 years, so I think it's important that the the future vocalist is able to feel comfortable on the stage and know how to deal with the audience because she will be our front woman,' drummer Adisty Sofie Anggia said.
'More importantly, we have to have the same vision and mission and have the chemistry to work together,' Yayo said, adding that in the meantime, they would collaborate with other singers on live performances.
SHE was formed in 2000 in Bandung, West Java. The band's first lineup consisted of Yayo, Adisty, Melly and Arnie Christanti on bass, Roxanna 'Riry' Rufolda on acoustic guitar, Jessica 'Kika' Lindross on guitar and Asri 'Achi' Dewi Lestari on violin.
After performing at so many music events in Bandung, SHE released their debut album, Tentang Aku, Kamu dan Dia (About Me, You and Her), in 2005 under the Sony-BMG Music Indonesia recording label.
Not long after her debut, Kika had to leave the group as she moved to Finland with her husband. The spot was soon filled by Qotrunnada Fitriana, better known as Qoqo.
With Qoqo, the band found a solid formation. In 2007, it released a second album, Tersenyum Lagi (Smile Again), which offered a rock sound thanks to Qoqo's guitar playing. One of the singles from the album, 'Slow Down Baby', became a huge hit on the local music scene.
SHE released its third album, Tak Sekedar Kembali (Unusual Come Back), in 2009 and launched a best-of album, She Is the Best, in 2013.
Unfortunately, the band faced another change when Achi decided to leave the group last year, followed by Melly a year later.
Yayo said she felt very let down when she learned another member was leaving.
'Then I realized, people also come and go in our lives, not only in the band, and there's no point brooding over it for too long ' we've got to keep it going,' she said.
'We keep making new songs and are always practicing. So once the new vocalist has joined us, we can immediately work, and release a new single to introduce her to the public.'
Yayo said SHE had been like a home for them ' a place where they had grown together for 14 years.
'We develop our musical skills here, share good and bad times together, and of course we fight and we make up a lot,' she said.
Arnie said it was not easy being in an all-female band because there were times when emotions greatly affected their relationships.
'We can be very moody. Trivial things can sometimes upset one of us,' Arnie said.
Adisty added they had experienced many fights and arguments but always found a way to solve the problems.
'We've thought of splitting up because of the problems that we face. We have been together for 14 years, and we're like family,' said Yayo.
And their closeness as a family was also shared with the band's former members. They always keep supporting each other, both for personal and professional matters.
Achie was even present at SHE's recent performance at Rolling Stone café in South Jakarta, jamming together with the band onstage.
'We always welcome them [former members] because SHE is also their home. If they want to come back to the group, they're welcome,' Yayo says.
