Syaharani: Making music from all that jazz

Syaharani: Making music from all that jazz

Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

There is no such thing as jazz in this country, singer Syaharani
says. What is termed jazz is actually a jazzy variation.

"So, it's not pure jazz. Usually it's more pop. But, maybe,
that's what's made available here," the 30-year-old singer told
The Jakarta Post recently.

After years of consistently remaining in the genre, and being
one among the very few jazz singers in this country, Saira
Syaharani Ibrahim is entitled to give her opinion.

Born and raised in Malang, East Java, her career started in
1989, when she brought her deep, husky voice from
club to club, performing music to a very limited audience.

"I don't really like popular things. I like to do something
focused, segmented, even if not many people are interested," said
Syaharani, whose striking looks are owed to Greek and Indian
heritage.

The jazz market is so limited here that she only released her
solo album, a self-titled one, 10 years after she began her
professional career.

"I understand why producers are reluctant to produce jazz
albums because the market is very segmented. But I think
segmented is good, because the people who like jazz or classical
music are very loyal. They don't switch to other genres. I know
because I'm like that, too," she said.

Several producers asked her to venture into the more lucrative
market of R&B.

"Well, I like R&B but it's just that it's not really me, and
besides, there are already too many R&B albums. I think if we
want to sell something, at least we have to offer something
different, something fresh so that people can choose," said
Syaharani, the every flick of her hands showing off an array of
gold rings.

She is working on a new album which she co-produced and
expects to come out later this year.

The music will be a bit different than her first album because
it covers more musical territory, although it's still got her
distinctive jazz.

"There will be a touch of ethnic music, pop but not really
pop, maybe progressive pop. And then there's hip hop, trip hop...
There are so many mixtures, I don't know what I should call the
music," she said, laughing.

"Most of them are mid-tempo numbers but easy listening, coming
down, a bit dancey but light. The jazz element is still there,
though. But if jazz is swinging, it (the sound of the new album)
will be more grooving."

Syaharani wrote several of the songs. She also recruited the
talents of many musicians, from ethnic contemporary musician
Sujiwo Tejo, jazz musicians like Adi Darmawan and Dian HP, to
Anto Hoed from Potret band and Ipank from alternative band
Plastik.

"I used to work with older people but, now, they're about the
same age as me," she remarked.

The change in her music, she added, is not because she wanted
to break out from the insular world of jazz.

"I see that music development in the past three and four years
is static. The pattern is similar. The newcomers are great,
though. They work hard, their physical condition and their stage
act is great. But the material -- they sound the same. The same
kind of pop, the same kind of R&B," Syaharani said.

"The market has potential. Some got lucky in selling millions
of copies. But, in general, the sales have decreased a lot in the
past two years. So, I want to get the segment that is still
vacant. I'm pretty sure that there are people who'd like to
listen to it."

The upcoming album is the result of a journey in absorbing
music like New Age, the creative works of artists like Enya,
defined by a simple beat but full of rich nuances.

It's only now that she has the chance to produce for herself,
making her own concept and choosing her own team.

She also collaborate with Eksotika Karmawibangga Indonesia
(EKI) Dance Company which managed the finances, production, stage
and marketing.

It is not their first collaboration; last year she starred in
one of EKI's much publicized theater productions, Madame Dasima.

Syaharani played the main role of a wife in the adaptation of
Betawi (native Jakarta) legend Nyai Dasima, a mistress of Dutch
man.

"I like working with EKI. They have solid experience on stage.
Working with them is an amazing experience. There are like over a
hundred people involved in a production, who do a difficult and
accurate job ... but I never see a single person who frowns or
whine. They work with a smile, you know. That's really amazing. I
mean, how can you manage so many people and have them do their
work happily?"

As a jazz singer, relatively young and pretty, and also
involved in theater, Syaharani is also someone whose name and
face sells on the popular TV gossip shows. It sounds like the
usual star lament, but Syahrani said she does not like to be a
celebrity in that sense of being public property.

If she could, she would be like Sting, who not only sings, but
also writes songs, has the courage of his convictions but is
still very down to earth.

"He has a nice private life, a nice family without being
bothered about being a celebrity and stuff."

She wants above all to become a singer who can communicate
with the audience, to go beyond singing at her fans to really
conveying the message of her songs.

"I want people who watch my concerts to go home with
something. You know, once I watched a concert of (American
singer) Erykah Badu. And I cried! Because she said something
really good and touching that I still remember until now. She
talked about human rights, how young people should become
themselves, how music means a lot ...

"There's something to be conveyed in a concert -- I want to be
able to do that."