If there is one thing that the all-female, rock 'n' roll trio FLEUR! believe in the most, it would be good things come to those who wait. Even though the trio had kicked off their debut single back in March 2020, FLEUR! decided to bide their time and wait for the right moment to release their debut full-length album, cheekily titled Fleur Fleur FLEUR!

Cut to two years later, the trio felt completely ready to seal the deal. The Jakarta-based trio was convinced that their brand of music could only be properly introduced to the mass audience once the pandemic-related lockdown was at ease. After all, their rousing sound was not meant for late-night musings.

"As a band, we should be known for our [live] performance. We don't want to simply, like, drop records," the trio's bassist and vocalist, Yuyi Trirachma, 35, asserted. 

"We were thinking and, considering the situation at the time was still unclear, perhaps we should postpone the album. We ended up delaying it for two years until we were convinced that it was the right time."

The wait is finally over. Consisting of 11 tracks that also feature up-and-coming musicians such as Adra Karim and Bilal Indrajaya, Fleur Fleur FLEUR! reveals itself as more than just the trio's breakthrough in the Indonesian music industry, but also a buoyant tribute to the unlikely friendship that started it all. 

To promote the album, the trio is currently gearing up for offline showcase concerts and a possible tour across Java. 

On June 22, FLEUR! had a virtual sit-down with The Jakarta Post to discuss their debut album and their journey so far.

No delicate flowers: The screenshot of FLEUR!'s official music video for 'Lagu Lama'. (YouTube/FLEUR! Records) (YouTube/FLEUR! Records)

Fluorescent flowers

The trio's formation began in 2017; at the time, the Europalia Arts Festival 2017 asked a curator from Indonesia to form and invite a music group to pay tribute to Dara Puspita, a Surabaya-origin all-female pop and rock 'n' roll group who made waves in the 1960s and the 1970s. A group named Flower Girls was immediately put in place which, unlike FLEUR!'s current formation, comprised four personnel. After the Europalia gig, the fourth member decided to leave the group to focus on her day job.

Now serving as the trio's guitarist, 33-year-old Tanya Ditaputri acknowledged that, before the formation of Flower Girls, she had been a novice when it came to rock 'n' roll music. Everything changed, however, once she got to know Dara Puspita and their discography.

"Honestly, when I studied them, it felt like having a crush on someone. Like a guy crushing on the ladies. They are so cool! Listening to their live [records] was, like, so feisty!" she enthused.

Yuyi, on the other hand, had grown up with rock 'n' roll music; her father had influenced her with the likes of The Beatles, The Beach Boys, God Bless and Dara Puspita. What is it about rock 'n' roll music that has fascinated her -- all the way to her adulthood? 

"The music has the ability to make you nod along," she answered, laughing. "I mean, you can enjoy it, you can 'shake' with it, you can go all out!"

After the fourth member departed Flower Girls, the remaining three decided to take over themselves, giving birth to FLEUR! -- the name was derived from the French word meaning flower. 

The trio understood that their brand of music might be considered unfashionable in the ears of the modern audience. They could never deny their love for the Swinging Sixties, however.

"The ‘60s had been ingrained in me. My love for that era is totally unparalleled. I also love music of the ‘90s, but the ‘60s feel like a must-repeat," said the trio's drummer, Tika Pramesti. The 38-year-old also divulged that she had been particularly influenced by ‘60s-era acts such as The Rolling Stones, Queen, Simon & Garfunkel and The Who. 

The year 2020 proved to be a tricky time for FLEUR!. Even though it was adamant about releasing its debut single that year -- the stirring kiss-off "Muka Dua" (Two-Faced) -- the trio observed that as time went on, the mass audience seemed to be more inclined toward the music of soft-pop styling. Still and all, the trio was also adamant about sticking to their creative guns.

Tanya explained the trio's principle: "First and foremost, what people are into at the moment is neither our priority nor the reason why we make music in the first place. The number-one reason is our desire to perform, to make music. That's why we decided to carry on, the pandemic notwithstanding."

Flow(h)ers:FLEUR!'s debut album 'Fleur Fleur FLEUR!' was made available on digital streaming platforms on June 24. (Courtesy of FLEUR! Records) (Courtesy of FLEUR! Records/Courtesy of FLEUR! Records)

Full bloom

Every member of FLEUR! had their hands on the songwriting and recording processes of what would be their freshman effort, Fleur Fleur FLEUR! Described as a rock 'n' roll album that coalesces the vintage sound of the Swinging Sixties with the more contemporary rock presentation, the emotional and sonic vibe of the record was "organically" inspired by the trio's journey of getting to know one another as they solidified their blossoming friendship.

Yuyi cherished how the process of recording the album inadvertently became "our way of getting to know each other, musically", she said. 

"Once we were working on the demo and jamming together, we finally found out who Tika was, who Yuyi was and who Tanya was."

From the lyrical standpoint, female friendships and their emotional intricacy serve as the focal theme that encapsulates the entire Fleur Fleur FLEUR! The cha-cha-cha-inspired "Agogo" is the trio's euphoric call for a good time with one's friends whereas "Merona" (Blushed) -- the number's vocal harmonies channeling the doo-wop female group of the ‘60s -- is an expression of concern toward a troubled, loved one. 

On the more pugnacious side of the album, the trio jovially addresses lies and false bonds with tracks such as "Muka Dua" (Two-Faced) and "Jangan Harap" (Don't Hope).

"We had to look back at situations involving hypocritical friends. Or, perhaps we were the ones being hypocrites. So, we came up with a story from there," quipped Tika.

Speaking of calling out hypocrites, another banger on the album titled "Lagu Lama" (Old Song) is addressed to a different kind of plaster saint: the country's politicians who can never make true their sweet nothings. 

The trio exuberantly sings in harmony: Omong kosong belaka / Masih saja sama / Hadirmu mengganggu tenangku / Habis sabarku dengar (The same nonsense / Still the same / Your presence disturbs my calm / My patience has run out).

Yuyi offered the inspiration behind the track: "I watched this televised regional election debate and it was, like, 'Here they go again!' Things were still the same, so I turned off the television. That was it," she said, laughing.

A couple of new pals came along to bring Fleur Fleur FLEUR! to fruition. Jakarta-based indie-pop singer-songwriter Bilal Indrajaya took the lead vocal of the trio's interpretation of Ismail Marzuki's classic tune "Juwita Malam" (Night Beauty). Adra Karim was invited as a guest keyboardist for "Break Sebat" (Take a break), the trio's playful ode to procrastination.

The most profound featured performer, however, manifested on the album's closer: The former member of Flower Girls, Rika Putri Anjani, assists the trio on a heartbreaking "Safe Flight". In addition, she is credited as the song's sole writer. It is the only English-language track on the album.

Rika's inclusion on the album was due to the trio's wish to "keep Rika's traces. It is her sonic palate and it is her song. It feels right to have 'Safe Flight' as a way to preserve the tracery that is Rika Putri Anjani on this album," explained Tanya. 

Out of all the songs on the album, Tika chose "Merona" and "Safe Flight" as her most personal ones. She treasures how the former song reminds her of her mother who passed away during the recording of the song, whereas she heralded the latter song as an appropriate send-off to a four-piece that was once known as Flower Girls.

"I experienced a pretty big loss when Rika was no longer around, so I ended up dedicating 'Safe Flight' to her. Every time I perform or listen to this song, she will be on my mind," she concluded.

Fleur Fleur FLEUR! is available to stream. To purchase the Deluxe CD format, visit lamunairecords.com.