Four Indonesian-Native International Musicians
Most of the career paths of international musicians always inspire local musicians. Even, by their inspiration, few among local musicians present music that almost similar with band/ musicians they might idolized. We should realize that amongst abundant number of foreign musicians, there are also many Indonesians, whether they are half-breed, or real Indonesian national. Even some of them gave contributions to the development of local musicians. This is a review about four Indonesian-native international musicians.
The first one is The Tielman Brothers, the oldest music group from Indonesia. They played rock & roll, but some mentioned them as Indorock. They combined Indonesian and Western music in Keroncong root. The Tielman Brothers was the first Netherlands-Indonesian band which successfully was acknowledged in international scene during 1950’s. In addition, they were also one of rock & roll pioneers in Netherlands. The band was quite famed throughout Europe, long before The Beatles and The Rolling Stones appeared. Considering such mentioned proof, The Tielman Brothers is acknowledged as the oldest rock band in the world.
Andy Tielman and his family are from Timor. When the boys were still young, the band’name was The Timor Tielman Brothers. The music career of The Tielman Brothers was started in Surabaya in year 1945, where four brothers and one sister, Jane, frequently performed and delivered local songs and dances. Their talents were inherited from the father, Herman Tielman, a captain of KNIL forces, whose frequently played music with his friends at his house in Surabaya. Their stage was widely known attractive and amusing, even they jumped and rolled over on stage as well as presented outstanding guitar, bass and drums performances. In addition, Andy Tielman, the frontman, was believed had popularized attractions of playing the guitar by teeth, behind his head or his back long time before Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page or Ritchie Blackmore did.
There is also a singer, songwriter and guitarist from Ambon, Daniel Sahuleka, who was born in Semarang on 6 December 1950. He lived at Winterswijk, Netherlands. Few of his songs had been famed in Indonesia; such as “You Make My World So Colorful” which was appeared at the beginning of 1980’s in his album Daniel Sahuleka (1977), also “Don’t Sleep Away This Night” which was the single of album with the same title in 1978. On the brink of his career as a recording singer, Daniel was managed by Polydor (Netherlands). In 2004 he published an album contains ‘Berdendang’, which is heavily colored by tunes of his native, Molluca.
In 1995, Daniel returned to Indonesia and acknowledged an award in Yogyakarta. Daniel’s experience was reflected in his album “After the Jetlag” which was released by Sunflight in October 1998. Under his own label, Daniel also allows permit of releasing his best compositions to be marketed in Indonesia, in album The Best of Daniel Sahuleka, which was a joint production of Moedya Music & Alfa Records. In the latter album, besides the two hits earlier mentioned, which uses the version of album I Adore You (1993), there was also a ballad “Will You Still Be There”, “Lonesome on the Road”, “The Sunflight” and a song that contains humanity message, “Dust of Life.”
There are not only ballad compositions as the flagship of Daniel’s latter album. He also demonstrates dynamic aspect through “Imagine”, “The Rain” and an Ambon-traditional ethnic nuanced song, “Badendang”, which apparently proves his quality as a creative, innovative and international class musician. According to Daniel, he is very glad that finally met again his fans in Indonesia, although just through a record album. Since to him, Indonesian people would have special place in his heart.
Jamie Aditya was born in Canberra on 22 April 1978 of the couple Stuart Graham and Ati Ashyawati. His mother is the daughter of Achdiat K. Mihardja, a famed author and poem from West Java. Rather than as a musician, his name has been more familiar as advertisement star or presenter. During the golden era of MTV in 1990’s, he was chosen as the VJ of MTV Indonesia and VJ of MTV Asia, coupled with Sarah Sechan.
His roots as a musician had been prepared since he was a child. Since then Jamie already was capable of playing a few musical instruments. Few musical instruments that he mastered are guitar, bass, percussion and those of traditional instruments; kecapi, seruling (bamboo flute) and Sundanese drum kendang. His musical career was commenced in 90’s when he contributed his vocals for the first album of Humania in 1993. He also appeared in album Mystical Mist of Krakatau (1994). After then, his name was widely known as the VJ of MTV in programs MTV Asia and MTV Indonesia.
In 2007, he was as a judge of talent scouting event Indonesian Idol of the 4th season, whilst he also was preparing his solo soul album. A year earlier, he contributed his vocals for song “Good Times” in Glenn Fredly’s album, Aku dan Wanita. In 2007, Jamie also became a guest vocalist in the album of Rock N Roll Mafia, Outbox and sang in song “Questions”. He also had once been a background vocalist of garage rock band from Bandung, The S.I.G.I.T.
In 2012, finally Jamie released his long-delayed solo album. The album, entitled LMNOP (Love Me Now or Perish) contains 9 soul and funk songs. The element of IDM then was appeared as the obtrusive experiment material as it was combined with the vocal pace of black music-alike. The multi-instrumentalist Jamie Aditya is not only capable of playing some musical instruments in his song, but he also the producer of the album LMNOP. His first album was also supported by a row of Indonesian leading musicians, one of them is the jazz maestro, Indra Lesmana.
While Tielman Brothers, Daniel Sahuleka and Jamie Aditya are those of foreign nationals’ parentage, Dougy Mandagi (vocalist, guitarist of The Temper Trap) is the genuine Indonesian national. He was born from a family that has strong art and music traditions, among others was influenced by church’s tradition. His father was a fan of country music, whose had influenced his musical pattern. Before he arrived in Australia, Dougy had once visited some provinces in Indonesia. He also had once lived in Hawaii. He started his career in Melbourne as a portrait artist and even street musician until he took a job at particular shop.
To be a shop attendant was surely not Dougy’s main target. His dream ever since long time ago was founding a band. He believes that Melbourne is a city for anyone who has a dream. Indeed, he had to get rid of his dream within quite a long time until he met Toby, a drummer who has long-insightful experience in music. They both started to do rehearsals. Jonny, Dougy’s old friend, then joined in as a bass player. Within a year, the three men always did rehearsal whilst performed at a few shows. An old friend of Toby, Lorenzo, then finally joined in as the guitarist. The Temper Trap was then founded.
Led by Dougy, The Temper Trap ran their musical tour in Australia. Their appearance had charmed everybody’s ears, including producer Jim Abbis, who came to Melbourne by purpose to help The Temper Trap in producing a debut record. Presenting some new songs, the band successfully got their fans. One of The Temper Trap’s captivating performances was on the final match of AFL 2012 in Melbourne. Witnessed by over dozens of thousands people, Dougy and his friends presented their satisfying performance. Dougy has became part of Australian tradition and people. He is the best art ambassador from Indonesia for Australian public.
