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."