Naif's lineup might have shrunk from five members to four, but in 14 years, there has never been so much as a whisper the band might break up.

With such a long musical history - and a strong recognition for their music and fashion styles - the only way is up, to bigger and better things, right?

Maybe not.

"The fact that we have been able to survive until today has made us grateful enough," says band's lead singer David Bayu Danangjoyo, speaking after a small concert in Singapore that was part of their 14th anniversary celebrations.

"We got whatever we were dreaming of. We wanted our own studio; we got it. We wanted to go independent; we're now on it ."

Huh? Wait a minute. Going indie?

He answers with a nod. Although setting up an indie label seems unusual when most bands are chasing down deals with major recording companies, Naif doesn't think it's a na*ve decision at all.

"We just don't want to depend a lot on a *major* label," says David, who established Electrified Records with the other three band members - drummer Franki Indrasmoro Sumbodo (Pepeng), guitarist Fajar Endra Taruna (Jarwo) and bassist Mohammad Amil Hussein (Emil).

The decision, David says, has allowed the band to develop the way they want to, with no more of the restrictions or awkwardness that can come with signing with a major label. And they're ready for it, having already made a lot of progress, both as a group and as individuals.

Having built an image as retro music icons (Naif play 1970s-style sounds and fashionably dress accordingly), they also have crossed into other areas. Last year, they published a children's book and are now endorsing independent clothing label Cosmic, which gives them the chance to get creative. David, for example, had his own design reproduced on limited edition Cosmic sneakers.

"I can say now that I'm interested in two things: Music and graphic design. Well, at least I can make use of the knowledge I got at college, although I dropped out," David, former student of fine arts at the Jakarta Arts Institute (IKJ), adds with a burst of laughter.

He had another opportunity to explore both music and graphic design with his solo album released earlier this year, titled DVD Boy, on which he explored his interest in electro-pop and got creative with the album cover.

"Actually we can all have our individual projects," says the band's drummer Pepeng. Their one rule, however, "is that we have to take turns".

First, Pepeng says, the band's guitarist Jarwo released a solo instrumental album titled Mr. J.

"And then David had his turn with DVD Boy. So I guess now is my turn!" the 33-year-old chuckles.

Pepeng is finding yet another creative outlet: Writing a comic book.

"Even when I was young I wanted to be a comic-book writer. It seemed fun," says the IKJ graduate, who wrote comic books when he was a kid and sold them to his school friends. Now, he adds, "I'm going to write a comic book about Naif. But not a biography; it's going to be fiction, adventure."

The members of the band admit that pursuing personal projects would not be possible if they were still with a major label.

"I think it's good if we just do what we want to," says David. "When I released DVD Boy, at least I could express *my calling*. If you hold back things, you could get a boil, you know," he jokes, laughing again.

David says he and his friends just want to let everything flow. Back in their early days, for example, they let music bond the friendship that formed at the Jakarta Arts Institute. At the time, all of them, including former member Chandra (who left in 2003), were all studying graphic design, except Jarwo, an interior design student.

After some friendly jamming in between assignments, the boys formed Naif - a name bestowed by a friend who found their music simple but harmonious.

"Young people today have this ambition to make a band, right?" says David. "But not us, we just wanted to have some fun."

The fun heated up when a recording company, Bulletin Records (PT Indosemar Sakti) offered them a deal.

"We sent in our demo tape so the label could include one of our songs on a compilation album," David recalls. "But then they said our songs didn't fit the compilation album's theme. Instead, they offered us a deal. So why not?"

The Naif boys decided to adopt retro sounds to set themselves apart. "We wanted to do something different," David says. "People get bored with the same old music styles."

Certainly not na*ve. With catchy hits like "Possesif" (Possessive), "Piknik '72" (1972 Picnic), "Mobil Balap" (Racing Car) and "Curi-curi Pandang" (Stealing Attention), Naif built a strong reputation as a retro music pioneers in the late 1990.

"Honestly," Pepeng says, "none of us played retro before. Jarwo is all about rock music, Emil is world music, David is R&B.

"But then we came out with this retro music . and we're so into this style that even David forgets how to sing R&B now," Pepeng jokes.

Pepeng and his friends are indeed four guys who love to joke, especially on stage. At their mini concert in Singapore, 200-odd fans got into the swing of things as David entertained them with jokes and gestures. Although a small crowd - Naif draws thousands in Indonesia - the band says they're grateful for the response.

"For us, there's no difference between thousands or hundreds of audience members," says Pepeng. "This is our first time in Singapore. We actually didn't expect this much because we know we're still in an early phase here."

David agrees, saying the most important thing is their fans' enjoyment.

"Just that they came here to see us makes us happy," he says. "We saw them having fun, and that was more than we expected."

Of course, the boys of Naif also want to have fun. Through the many ups and downs over the past 14 years, David says, this "fun" factor kept them together.

"For any band, to maintain this fun mood is the most important thing," David says. "Without the fun, then you won't move together.

"And one more thing: We don't want to overdo anything," he adds. "We don't care whether our music sells or not; everyone has their own luck.

"All we have to do is keep our spirits moving."

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