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."