Musician Indra still true to his roots

Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Amid a crowd of young girls in pink tutus at a ballet school owned by former top ballerina Farida Oetoyo, a group of noted jazz musicians chatted in a music studio inside the building.

Indra Lesmana, pianist Riza Arshad and Farida's son, drummer Aksan Syuman, were among them, talking on a diverse topics, ranging from music to presidential elections, as well as making jokes on their shortage of cash.

"I'm sorry to keep you waiting. It's just that we don't see each other very often, so it's nice to catch up," smiled Indra, 38.

These days, Indra is tied up in his role as one of the judges on the star-search TV program Indonesian Idol.

He has been part of many pop projects, which led to him being attacked by local jazz purists, so what is this about taking part in a hyped reality show?

Indra said he was worried about the regeneration of new singers resulting from the lack of opportunities provided for young talent, aside from taking their chances by sending their demo tapes to record companies.

"Not everyone can afford to make a demo tape, and even if they do, record companies may not be willing to listen to them. So, the Idol is like an alternative. And I see the process of finding new talent is fair, so I agreed to join in," Indra said.

"A TV show is always about rating and commodity. But it's their business to do their business. At least the music industry has new talent. Time will tell whether they will survive or not."

However, it seems like other judges are all trying to be the local equivalent of American Idol's harsh Simon Cowell -- being mean for the sake of being mean.

"We're just being honest. What's the point of candy-coating things? Through this program, I guess, people are one or two steps forward to be more open minded."

In person, Indra is friendly and polite, with a tolerable dose of bluntness.

Just as Cowell can afford to be harsh because of his reputable background as a TV producer, Indra is also entitled to be critical given his strong 28-year experience in the local music industry.

A former jazz whizzkid, Indra is one of the most prolific local musicians with 40 albums, 14 of them done solo.

His first big gig was when he was 10 years old, playing piano in front of an audience of some 3,000. His debut album, Children of Fantasy, was released in 1981, a collaboration with his jazz legend father, the late Jack Lesmana.

A year later, Indra launched his singing career through the poppy album Nostalgia.

His family was very supportive of his goals, agreeing to move to Australia so Indra could have a proper music education in the country, where he also recorded a jazz album.

Another highlight of his career took place when he was 18, recording in the United States with a group of noted jazz musicians, including Charlie Hayden.

Returning home a year later, he joined pop/fusion band Krakatau, along with Pra Budi Dharma, Donny Suhendra, Gilang Ramadhan, Dwiki Dharmawan and singer Trie Utami -- all of them already recognized in the jazz community.

After a couple of hit albums with Krakatau, Indra and longtime friend, drummer Gilang, left the band due to an internal conflict.

"The band was, like, pop paranoid... We were thinking of ourselves as selling out by making pop albums, although we liked doing it and people loved it. But deep down inside we still wanted to play jazz, and make music that is out of the ordinary."

While Krakatau veered into traditional music with a mix of jazz and has stayed that way ever since, Indra has produced a series of pop projects aside from jazz ones.

In 1989, he released the solo album Aku Ingin (I Want To), which was a big hit, and another hit followed a year later, Jangan Duakan Cintaku (Don't Divide My Love).

Purists condemned his venture into pop, but Indra said that as long as he was being honest in making music, it did not matter what people said. He did not deny that pop projects were a way of making money.

"I can't hide the fact that I make a pretty good income out of making pop music. But I do it because I love it. I've always liked pop, like Elton John and The Beatles. And I think I'm still able to make pop until now."

He has never left jazz, however, working and performing with a series of jazz musicians, as he feels he "is still needed by local jazz community, it's my responsibility".

Part of the responsibility is realized in a regular workshop for young artists called Concert Practice at Farida's studio in Pondok Pinang, South Jakarta.

"It's so that young artists have stage experience. Because chances are few, only gigs at cafes, for instance."

Through concert practice, Indra is no longer worried about jazz regeneration, seeing young people with tremendous talent who play much better than when he was their age.

Personally, Indra has also led an interesting life, especially related to his previous relationships with beautiful women, including singer Titi DJ and first wife, singer/actress Sophia Latjuba.

The divorce from Sophia, however, left him in the most turbulent and frustrating period in his life.

"Not just because of the divorce, there are things that make me feel sick and lost. I felt like not knowing where God is, what is my role in this world, and so on."

Indra claimed to have experienced some sort of revelation and enlightenment that restored his faith in God, and helped him recognize his role as a human being, a father and a musician.

Later on, he met the love of his life, his wife and manager Hanny Trihandojo, with whom he has been married for five years and has two sons.

The series of spiritual moments are at the heart of 2000's Reborn, where Indra returned to his jazz roots. The album sold very well in the mainstream despite the common assumption of jazz as a segmented market, thanks to the urban jazz and a wide combination with Latin and also techno.

Last year, Indra also hit big with his swing, big band album, which is the original soundtrack of the feature film Rumah Ketujuh (Seventh House), produced by his sister, the filmmaker Mira Lesmana.

Indra is now working on two albums, the second Reborn and a compilation of his works in the past 28 years.

He said he was content with his life now, with beautiful kids and a happy marriage.

"The downside, however, is I become too content. I don't have the same anxiety, whereas great artists are said to produce their best works when they are in an unstable state. But I'm working on it," he smiled.

He regretted the fact he cannot be a daily presence for his daughter from his first marriage, Eva, who lives with her mother.

"I'm worried about the effect of the divorce on her. I mean, it's difficult to tell the child about adult relationships. We still find the formula as we go along," he said.

His obsession right now is to make sure that his children get a good education.

"Until I can save up enough money for their college, maybe I can think about myself again."