Singer Nugie comes of age on national music scene

Singer Nugie comes of age on national music scene

By Helly Minarti

JAKARTA (JP): A convoy proceeded down a Kuta street in Bali
during the recent campaign. Waiting for the youngsters at a
crossroads was a police line determined to keep them from
reaching the main street.

But the youths swerved their vehicles unexpectedly into a
small alley and sang in chorus Tertipu.... (Deceived).

Flashback to Milan last year. Indonesian actress Ria Irawan is
riding on a bus on one of those rainy days which can drag one
down into an emotional slump. Ria had been to Italy after the
hullabaloo of a police investigation into a friend's death at her
home.

She hummed along to a song with tears streaming down her
cheeks. She repeated the coarse, sad lyrics Aku gagal dan merasa
lelah (I failed and feel tired) from the ballad Lelah (Tired).

Both songs were from Nugie's album Bumi (Earth) which sold
90,000 copies, not bad for a debut.

His music, stamped as "alternative" by some music critics,
affects people in different ways. Eric Martin, a member of the
U.S. group Mr. Big, praised Nugie's compositions in a television
interview.

Nugie admitted the response from the public was beyond his
expectations.

"Actually my music is simply rock," the 25-year-old singer
said. "I'd like to survive by playing one of music's roots rather
than rely on something trendy and temporary."

Nugie, born Agustinus Gusti Nugroho, is the younger brother of
Katon Bagaskara, a popular pop singer. But Nugie's roaring tunes
are shockingly different from Katon's easy-listening pop songs.

Bumi, released in January 1995, is the first of Nugie's trilogy
Bumi, Air, Udara (Earth, Water, Air). He released the second album
Air (Water) last November and it has sold 110,000 copies.

"All three represent the trilogy of my personal life, though
others may eventually add other elements like soil or fire."

His personal mission is to focus attention on environmental
issues on every album he produces. "I'm not an environmental
hero, but I like to include the issue."

His song Burung Gereja (Sparrow) explores the environment. He
also addresses the turbulent mood swings of adolescence in Kamar
Tidur (Bedroom) and Bola Volley (Volleyball). Teenagers searching
for their identity are described in Si Badung (The Naughty) and
Loni. His Kucing Kecil (Kitten) contains the curious refrain "...
lick me, Mother".

Air (Water) is a six-minute, heart-rending grappling with the
meaning of life. He expresses his apathy in Kecewa (Disappointed)
and is a cynical critic of feudalistic attitudes in Hormati Aku
(Honor Me).

In his latest hit, Teman Baik (Good Friend), Nugie combines
the aggressive riff of electric guitars, interspersed with
bleating-like sounds in the playful arrangement and background
vocals. It indeed sounds like rock, with all the elements of the
1990s.

"I like to play with the pentatonic structure in my songs," he
said. "That's how I put some Indonesian elements into my music."

Rock music may be identical with rebellion but it won't be
found in Nugie's songs. Nor does he churn out the standard
bittersweet love ballads. "I have a personal barrier in composing
love songs -- it just sounds awkward when I sing it, I don't know
why," said Nugie.

In addition to his provocative singing style, Nugie's lyrics
are the strength of his songs. "I want to show that there are
plenty themes outside of romantic love that still can be
explored," he said.

His formula is simple. "I know that most Indonesians are fond
of melancholic melodies although mine are not. But I "package"
them so they are acceptable to them."

Delicate melodies, easy to understand lyrics, solid vocals,
all the shrieks and shouts, are not enough. Nugie seems aware
that something more is needed to capture the audience's
attention.

On camera and stage he has developed a distinctive shoulder
swing. "I was inspired by Scott Weyllend from Stone Temple Pilots
and Eddie Vedder," Nugie said. "But my present style actually
came about by accident."

Before shooting his first video clip, Nugie was hurt in an
accident and his right ankle continues to hurt.

"I was determined to perform on camera but had also to deal
with the pain -- that's how it first came about," said Nugie, a
chainsmoker who swears he never drinks or takes hard drugs.

Early days

A University of Indonesia student majoring in social welfare
at the School of Political and Social Sciences, Nugie has
demonstrated his love for music since he was young. He won one
national singing contest at the age of 13 in 1994, beating
well-known child stars like Chicha Koeswoyo and Adi Bing
Slamet. The win brought him a studio recording. Even though his
album did not sell, he did not give up.

It was his brother Katon who encouraged him to continue in
music.

"Mas Katon helped me make the demo of my first album by paying
the studio fees," Nugie said. "He was my producer for my first
two albums. He has a very good ear in judging which songs to put
on the first album."

Nugie began to study guitar seriously after he graduated from
high school.

"Before that I was the lead vocalist in my high school band,"
he said, adding that he was judged best vocalist in a
competition.

The future

After two popular albums and with a third on the way, Nugie
seems to have found his future in music.

"I have no doubt that music is something in this life that I
am willing to do," he said.

Along with a few friends, he founded ALV. But he is looking to
do more.

"I've been asked to produce albums, to compose songs -- even
Vina Panduwinata asked me to write a song for her. All of these
give me confidence that there are many things I can do in music."

This includes going international, with Asia as the starting
base.

Although feeling lucky in finding a producer who believes in
his music and would take a risk on him, Nugie said he is
concerned about the Indonesian music scene in general.

"I see a lot of talented musicians who can not make their way
in music. I'd like to hear various types of music I know they can
play well, but it is still an empty hope."

He applauds the recent breakthrough, known as indie-labels, of
young musicians who produce, promote and distribute their music
themselves. He says he pities "idealistic" musicians who compose
their own music without considering other variables such as
public acceptance. He faults those musicians who blindly explore
the experimental.

Pragmatism is his middle way to survival. "Ideally we have to
be an idealist and a realist as well," Nugie said. "For me, we
musicians only exist if there are people who buy our cassettes,
who listen to our music. It's not for the sake of the money but
for our existence."