The Arp Frique and Family band

No two people have exactly the same musical taste. Everyone appreciates music differently.

Now that music can come from virtually anywhere with a wealth of styles and influences — not to mention the rise of music streaming platforms such as Spotify and Soundcloud — it’s safe to say that there’s always something for everyone.

Relatively speaking, there is no such thing as bad music.

This view is shared by Dutch musician and instrumentalist Arp Frique.

“I think all music is good music,” Frique told The Jakarta Post.

“Everybody has their own flavor, interest or taste, and so do I.”

Frique, whose real name is Neils Nieuborg, has been accompanied by talented musicians from around the world on his journey to create extraordinarily groovy beats with roots based in 70s disco. As Frique considers the band his family, they are aptly called Arp Frique and Family.

The name “Arp Frique” is derived from two elements that have influenced Frique’s musical style.

“Arp” refers to a now-defunct American electronic musical instrument manufacturer, ARP Instruments, a symbol, For Frique, of collaboration between music and technology.

“Frique” refers to a song by American R&B band Chic titled “Le Freak”, which is where the musical phrase “Freak Out!” originated. Frique considers the song the hallmark of 70s disco and a major source of his love for the genre. 

For Frique, 70s disco was an important moment in the history of music and society, a time when people from a variety of backgrounds, ethnicities, genders and sexualities came together in clubs to enjoy good music, regardless of their differences. This message of unity in diversity became the underlying theme for Frique’s musical pieces.

“I try to bring everybody together and communicate,” he said. “So we look for common ground with each other.”

While Frique started as a 70s disco-inspired musician, he was later influenced by African musical styles. This influence was reflected in his band’s lineup as well as his wild and energetic performance at Dutch cultural center Erasmus Huis in Jakarta on Nov. 14.

Frique said African music had a more fundamental significance than disco.

“In my opinion, African music is the basis for a lot of musical genres,” he explained.

“I wouldn’t say all kinds of music, but a lot of pop music is derived from African music.”

While all of the band members are Dutch, they come from different countries, including Ghana, Suriname and Curaçao. All band members bring the musical styles of their countries of origin alongside years of professional experience to produce a highly energetic and groovy musical combo.

One such example is the band’s keyboardist, Erik Ritfeld.

Originally from Suriname, Ritfeld has known Frique for almost 20 years, and has collaborated with the Dutch musician on multiple occasions.

“We did some albums together,” Ritfeld told the Post. “We’ve had a long journey and we’re still moving on to new projects.”

While Ritfeld has his roots in Suriname music, he became known for reggae and dancehall, a genre of Jamaican popular music that originated in the late 1970s. This combination of South American and Caribbean styles is a result of his experience playing for prominent dancehall singers such as Moses “Beenie Man” Davis and Oneal “Elephant Man” Bryan.

“This style is very special because the music is very diverse and I put my own feelings to the music,” he explained. “Suriname music is music where I came from, so it all fits together.”

Another source of Frique’s colorful musical creations is Marissa “Mariseya” Nyamekye, the group’s lead singer, from Ghana.

Marissa’s addition to the lineup was relatively recent. She first connected with the Frique on Instagram.

“I posted a video of myself singing. Then I followed him [Arp Frique] on Instagram,” recounted Marissa. “He saw the videos of me singing and saw a little bit of a high vocal range.”

“He messaged me, saying he needed that for his band.”

Although a new addition, Marissa remained a valuable asset to the group, as her vocal range allowed her to keep up with the band’s loud and lively beats, adding another layer to the group’s rich and free-flowing compositions.

Like Ritfeld, Marissa relates to the group’s African-inspired style deeply.

“The music is something I grew up with, which has a lot of African instruments and rhythms, so it’s something I’m familiar with,” she said.

“I feel very comfortable, and I learned a lot from them, so it’s nice.”

— The writer is an intern at The Jakarta Post.

— Photos courtesy of Erasmus Huis.

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