Courtesy of Changcuters

Ask pop band The Changcuters anything but don’t expect a straight answer in return. In jest, they answer you in wisecracks and riddles. Sometimes they eventually concede a serious answer, sometimes they conveniently forget, but regardless everyone involved has a laugh.

Even the name of the band alludes to comedy. The Changcuters can easily be misinterpreted as the cuters withy the surname Chang. Local media has speculated the name means male underwear in Sundanese, a dialect widely spoken in their hometown Bandung, West Java.

The band insists their title was modeled on a parody of a friend’s name, Cahya. Considering their tendency for jokes, it is hard to tell if this is really true.

When asked if they wore eye makeup, the band exploded into laughter and claimed they had received black eyes from hitting each other. The question was answered without being answered.

During the launch last week of their third album, titled The Changcuters and the Mystery of the Black Scorpion, vocalist Tria quipped, “We deliberately named the album this, so that we would be asked about its meaning.”

Tria later delved into a serious answer. “Black is the symbol of darkness, while The Changcuters is the symbol of light. It is like Yin and Yang. The album deals with the lightness and darkness of existence and how adventurous that is.”

The band, one of the most well-loved in Indonesia, is well and truly out of the tunnel and basking in the light.

The Changcuters were originally formed by three university friends, Dipa, Tria and Qibil, and was later joined by two of Qibil’s former high school band members, Alda and Erick.

They caught the attention of Uki, a member of famous local band Peterpan, who later helped them produce their first album, Mencoba Sukses (Attempting to Succeed) in August 2006. Due to limited album distribution and promotion, the band did not make it big until they signed with Sony BMG (now called Sony Music) and re-released the same album with a new twist.

More promotion was the only thing in the way of The Changcuters achieving success.

New bands pop up every minute, but most of them produce a generic variation of melancholic pop- rock. The Changcuters released a unique sound from day one. Their album, Mencoba Sukses Kembali (Attempting to Succeed Again) captured the attention of music lovers with their rock-and-roll inspired pop.

The band, however, defines their style in more complex terms, as a pastiche of gres (new) rock, funk, punk revival, Indie pop, jazz and blues.

Their playful and light lyrics are easy to follow and their comical video clips bring laughter to old and young.

Their trademark fashion style – neat long-sleeves or suits teamed with stretch pants – have also given them a distinct style. They are not average band personalities who wear jeans. The Changcuters  are a comically dandy bunch, usually wearing very tight pants. Their hairdos were old-style but have now been upgraded to bombastic quiffs – which apparently have some loyal followers.

“We do not encourage people to imitate us. We discourage them. If they choose to do so, we won’t stop them,” Tria said jokingly.

Their best asset, however, is their lively performances.

“We are entertainers. That’s why it is better to see us on the stage visually because we are a whole package. I am not a singer but an entertainer,” Tria said.

Their popularity was sealed when their catchphrase “Beuu”, featured in a telephone advertisement, become the common jingle on youthful lips.

Part of their promotion includes a comedy film, Tarix Jabrix, in which they starred as five high school students who formed a motorcycle gang in Bandung. Unlike the usual mischievous gangs, their club was based on ethics. The movie was well-received and catapulted them to stardom.

The release of their latest album proves they deserve their place in the limelight.

The sequel to Tarix Jabrix is soon to be released and will trace the evolution of the biker-gang post high school.

For now they have invaded yahoo with audio clips of comic catchphrases like “I love you baby.”

A comic book of them as high school students is also soon to be released. Are they too old for these roles?

“Our fans are mostly from the younger generation. If we appear as working people, then people will not be able to connect with us. Even Shin Chan is always 5 years old right?” Tria said, referring to the popular Japanese animation series.

Despite their comic ways, The Changcuters have managed to identify their market their own way and have the passion to pursue it. The video clip of their debut song, “Pria Idaman Wanita” (Ideal Man), showcases their signature style. Now with more capital and a bigger team, the video clip for their  recent track “Main Serong” (Flirting) has a more polished Hollywood feel.

“We retain our style even though we already have a record deal. We did not especially nuture our style, we just found it,” Tria said while pointing to Qibil, the guitarist responsible for their must-have style.

Their participation in the campaigns of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s Democratic Party, they admit, have helped promote their new album. “It’s like being on tour. It’s good for us,” Tria said.

At the end of the launch, the band cavorted in various cute poses as if to reaffirm their fun- loving, cheeky reputation, one that deserves the full attention of everyone in the room and perhaps in the country.

DIPA

Full name : Dipa Nandastrya Hasibuan

nickname : Dipa Changcut

place & date of birth : Medan (North Sumatra), May 7, 1982

activity : public relations

hobby : sports, reading, watching movies, study

idol : mother and father

favorite food: fried rice plus half-cooked egg plus crackers

favorite musician : Arga Tania Prawita, Rizaldy Siagian, Abdi Negara, Thom Yorke    

first love with music : at junior high school

instrument : Fender Jazz Bass, Rickenbecker

favorite song : Just (Radiohead), First of the gang to die (Morrissey)

ALDA

Full name : Arlanda ghazali langitan

nickname : Alda

place & date of birth : Bandung (west java), nov. 8, 1981

activity : accountant

hobby : walking, staying home and playing games

idol : the Prophet Muhammad

favorite food :meatballs, peanut soup and spicy stuff

favorite musician  : Thom Yorke, Kurt Cobain

first love with music : second year in junior high school

instrument  : Fender Telecaster

favorite song : Paranoid Android (Radiohead), The man who sold the   world (Nirvana), Turn (Travis), Bintang dihatiku (ipank),  Angkuh (padi), Police in terror (rabies)     

TRIA

full name : Moch. Tria Ramadhani

nickname : Tria Changcut

place & date of birth : Padang (West Sumatra), June 22, 1982

activity : a lot

hobby  : to console women withproblems.

idol: Qibil Changcut

favorite food : brownies, tiramisu

favorite musicians : The Rolling Stones, The Rollies, Deddy Stanzah, The Changcuters, Koes Plus

first love with music : at elementary school

instrument : Shure Pax SM 86

favorite song : Sympathy for the Devil, It Began in Africa, studio    

ERICK

full name : Erick Nindyastomo

nickname : Erick

place & date of birth : Semarang (Central Java), July 15, 1982

activity : going to the auto repair shop

hobby : watching movies

idol : Robin Williams, Gaban

favorite food : pizza

favorite musician : Dresden Dolls, Imogen Heap, Sting

first love with music: at elementary school

instrument : drums

favorite song : Wonderful World (BJ Armstrong), Baby, you’re mine (Basia)

QIBIL

full name : Muhammad Iqbal

nickname : Qibil changcut

place & date of birth : Bandung (West Java), March 10, 1982

activity : stylist and designer

hobby : cleaning up, showing off and existing

idol : daddy

favorite food : anything spicy

favorite musician : Tria Changcut

playing music for the first time: in 1994

instrument : Fender Telecaster

favorite song : Juxtarozed with you (Super Furry Animals), Save me, I’m yours (Gene), Careless whisper (George Michael), It’s you I’m thinking of (Relish), Iris (Goo Goo Dolls), In a rush (Blackstreet), The girl is mine (Michael Jackson), Fill me in (Craig David), Something changed (Pulp)

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