TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Banda Neira launches new album, bids farewell
Tunes at night: Pop duo Banda Neira performs during the launch of its second album, Yang Patah Tumbuh, Yang Hilang Berganti (The Broken Will Heal, The Lost Will be Replaced) in Jakarta, with Rara Sekar on keyboard, Ananda Badudu on guitar and both of them singing
Change Size
Tunes at night: Pop duo Banda Neira performs during the launch of its second album, Yang Patah Tumbuh, Yang Hilang Berganti (The Broken Will Heal, The Lost Will be Replaced) in Jakarta, with Rara Sekar on keyboard, Ananda Badudu on guitar and both of them singing.(Courtesy of Rio Darmawan/Sorge Visual) (The Broken Will Heal, The Lost Will be Replaced) in Jakarta, with Rara Sekar on keyboard, Ananda Badudu on guitar and both of them singing.(Courtesy of Rio Darmawan/Sorge Visual)
T
span class="inline inline-center">Tunes at night: Pop duo Banda Neira performs during the launch of its second album, Yang Patah Tumbuh, Yang Hilang Berganti (The Broken Will Heal, The Lost Will be Replaced) in Jakarta, with Rara Sekar on keyboard, Ananda Badudu on guitar and both of them singing.(Courtesy of Rio Darmawan/Sorge Visual)
Banda Neira ' the band that branded itself as a nelangsa pop (miserable pop) duo ' recently launched its second album Yang Patah Tumbuh, Yang Hilang Berganti (The Broken Will Heal, The Lost Will be Replaced) in a small but intimate gathering.
Hipsters from Jakarta and nearby areas flocked to the small but cozy PGP Café in Rempoa, South Tangerang, which hosted the event.
The lights were dimmed and the audience sat cross-legged on the café floor as Banda Neira ' consisting of Rara Sekar on keyboard and vocals along with Ananda Badudu on guitar and vocals ' took to the small stage in the corner of the café.
The overall atmosphere of the launch was intimate as the duo performed very close to their audience and the relatively small space inside the café forced audience members to sit very close to one another.
'It has been a long, long time since we played in a small vicinity such as this one,' Ananda said as he greeted Banda Neira fans. 'I love it this way ['¦] with no barricades and all that. We can communicate with each other more easily and more intimately.'
Ananda and Rara kicked off the show by performing 'Matahari Pagi' (Morning Sun), the first song from their new album. They continued with other songs from the new album, such as 'Pelukis Langit' (Sky Painter), and old ones from their previous album, such as 'Esok Pasti Jumpa' (Tomorrow We Will Meet Again).
In between songs, Ananda and Rara spent time explaining to the audience about their new album and why it took them a while to release it.
Banda Neira started as a part time project for Ananda, who works as a journalist, and Rara, who is a social worker, back in 2012. What began as a hobby then developed into something more serious as they garnered a fan base of people who loved their pop music and sorrowful lyrics.
In 2013, Banda Neira released debut album Berjalan Lebih Jauh (Walk Further). In this first album, the duo relied on one guitar, their two voices and one glockenspiel to produce their music.
In between the first and the second albums, Banda Neira also released a mini album called Paruh Waktu (Part Time) in 2012 and a concert album called Kita Sama-sama Suka Hujan (We All Love The Rain) in 2015.
Rara said the second album, which took three years to produce, offered something different from the first one.
The second album consists of 15 songs divided into two discs. The first disc is titled 'Yang Patah Tumbuh' and the second one is 'Yang Hilang Berganti.'
Rara said the music offered on each disc was completely different in terms of style and lyrics. 'We consider the songs on the first disc are for our dedek-dedek [little brothers and sisters]. They are more suitable for those who are still young and under 25,' Rara said.
The songs on the second disc are aimed at those over 25 as they discussed more mature matters and issues.
'The songs on the second disc are very suitable for those facing a quarter-life crisis. If you are still young and have no idea what a quarter-life crisis is, then you can listen to the first disc. Once you get to 25, you can switch to the second disc and find the songs to be very relatable to your life,' Ananda said.
Banda Neira also collaborated with other musicians to produce the songs on their new album. Some of the musicians that collaborated with the duo included composer Gardika Gigih and a string trio group comprising Suta Suma Pangekshi, Jeremia Kimosabe and Dwi Ari Ramlan.
The production of the new album was different to the previous one. While the previous album was produced using the tracking method, the new one was made through a live recording session.
'We did not enjoy producing music using the tracking method and we believe if we cannot enjoy the production, then the end result will not be enjoyable either. So, we adjusted the production method to something we could truly enjoy,' Ananda said.
The mood during the album's launch turned a bit gloomy when Ananda and Rara revealed the show may be their last performance together because one of them is set to take a long break.
'Rara will go to New Zealand for two years to continue her study. So, during that time, Banda Neira will not perform,' Ananda said.
