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Art of Tree makes a genre-busting debut
Courtesy of Art of TreeArt of Tree recently released its eponymous debut album, offering a blend of hip-hop, jazz, reggae, rock and EDM (electronic and dance music) while seeking to spread positive energy to fellow Indonesian musicians
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Courtesy of Art of Tree
Art of Tree recently released its eponymous debut album, offering a blend of hip-hop, jazz, reggae, rock and EDM (electronic and dance music) while seeking to spread positive energy to fellow Indonesian musicians.
Founder and drummer Muhammad Ibnu Rafi said that the album was the result of a continuous exploration of music and creativity by the band's six members.
'It is hard to describe our music,' said the 19-year-old drum prodigy during the album launch in Central Jakarta. 'We have all sorts of jazz, hip-hop and rock attitudes.'
Art of Tree, Rafi said, started from his desire to make something new and powerful.
After launching his solo career at the age of 9, Rafi said he wanted to form a band that represented many voices, instead of just one.
'Three years ago, I began searching for the band members. I jammed and did a lot of projects with a lot of people. I met and gathered my band mates one by one,' he said.
Art of Tree now comprises Rafi, guitarist Felix Tri Kurnia, keyboardist Abram Lembono, Dimas on vocals, MC Andre 'Shotgun Dre' Rugebert and Fajar on bass guitar.
'Dimas sings rock, Andre comes from the hip-hop scene, Abram plays textbook pop jazz, Felix shreds alternative rock and Fajar plays jazz-rock fusion. These differences combine into our music,' Rafi said.
The group is a combination of promising young talents of Indonesian music.
Felix supported Rafi in his solo project; Abram is known as back-up player for famous musician such as the jazz siren Syaharani and jazz guitarist Barry Likumahuwa; and Dimas was a vocalist for urban pop group 21st Night.
Andre, who already made a name for himself in Jakarta's underground hip-hop scene, wrote many of Art of Tree's lyrics, trying to discuss more serious youth and social issues.
Art of Tree began preparing their album in early 2012.
Since the beginning of the project, the band has piqued the interest of the local music scene and has been invited to play in a number of music festivals, including, most recently, Soundsfair 2014.
Album producer Eki Puradiredja said he was facing an exciting challenge in overseeing the band's work and album recording.
'They have a bunch of crazy ideas. It was my job to present these ideas so that it would make sense to the public,' Eki said.
Eki says that Art of Tree is part of a new generation of Indonesian music makers that has been filled with amazing talents with groundbreaking musical styles.
'That said, it's definitely a challenge to present the band during this dynamic period: the music industry and market behavior are changing. Musicians need to step out of a single genre frame and create something new and fresh,' Eki said.
He said that Art of Tree was off to a good start on the long journey to find their true sound. 'All big groups have a long and grueling process to find their signature music. Art of Tree has got a solid start to develop over the next three to five albums. They'll find their sound,' he said.
Art of Tree's debut album was recorded live over a tight production period of two weeks at a vacation cottage in Puncak, West Java.
The album was produced by Senyawa Records and distributed by Demajors, both independent labels
Rafi said that more than anything else, the band was a performance band. 'There are more things that we want to convey more through our performances,' he said.
