Musician Yusi Ananda finds satisfaction in going solo
By K. Basrie
JAKARTA (JP): Like other businesses, the booming music industry in Indonesia is concentrating on Jakarta and other big cities in Java.
It's a rocky expedition for musicians from Sumatra, Kalimantan, Irian Jaya and Sulawesi hoping to break into the industry. A star only begins to shine if he or she can lure the hearts of Jakarta's promoters and audience.
To get into the business, many participate in local and national contests, approach recording firms or do everything on their own.
Musician Yusi Ananda from the East Kalimantan capital of Samarinda was able to choose the last option because he has his own eight-track music studio at home. With equipment valued at Rp 100 million (US$41,670), 31-year-old Yusi records his voice and a variety of instruments, and then puts them on a master cassette recording.
"It's my personal collection I bought from several countries," Yusi, a well-known businessman in the province, told The Jakarta Post at a ceremony to launch his second album Jangan Jatuh Cinta & Tiada Lagi (Don't Fall in Love & No More) last week at a seaside cottage here.
His first album, Damaikan Dunia & Terang Dari Matahari (Bring Peace to the World & Light from the Sun), dealt with his concern over the destruction of nature, though it did not sell well when it was released in 1994.
The new album has seven songs about love and three instrumental pieces about nature. Two of the songs, Song For Carrie and Don't Throw Away, have lyrics in English, while the instrumental songs have English titles: Hegemony, Traveling and Last Dance.
"I don't want to be a hypocrite," Yusi said, referring to the current trend of love songs.
Rare bird
At the evening party for his new album, most of the entertainment-beat reporters learned that Yusi was a rare bird.
He did all the songs on the new album himself, starting from writing the lyrics, composing, arrangements, singing, programming and recording to putting the final touches on the master cassette in his bedroom studio.
For the song Tiada Lagi, he didn't have to hire anyone for the backing vocals, which he did himself.
"I always try to be a single fighter," said Yusi, who spent four years in Switzerland studying hotel management.
In general, his songs are similar to those of Chrisye. But Yusi said most of his songs were strongly influenced by Kitaro, Phil Collins and the Bee Gees.
On the new album, Yusi expresses his individuality through a sweet organ sound, electric bass, extra percussion, zany guitar effects, traditional Dayak flute and the sound of rivers and frogs.
The stunning instrumentals might cause one to dream about the rivers and animal species in the forests of East Kalimantan.
"It's my obsession to provide a special part in my works for the Dayak tribe and their unique culture," Yusi said.
Jangan Jatuh Cinta depicts the story of a photographer from Jakarta on assignment in the jungles of East Kalimantan who falls in love with a Dayak girl. But the man had no reason to marry the local woman because his wife in Jakarta was waiting for him.
The video for the song will soon be seen on TV, said producer Chandra Aryono of Cendana Production.
Yusi said that he is not obsessed with becoming a famous musician.
"What I' m doing here is to introduce me and my songs to the people of Indonesia," he said. "It's not a problem for me whether they accept them or reject them."
As an owner and managing director of PT Mesra International Group, whose assets in Samarinda include Hotel Mesra International, Mesra Tours & Travel, Mitra 102.3 FM radio station and Mal Mesra Indah shopping center, Yusi says he is not worried about how well his album sells.
"My pure satisfaction in this activity is singing the songs, doing the recording and taking part in preparing video clips," he said.