Maliq & D'Essentials

Maliq & D'Essentials

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Maliq & D'Essentials is a jazz and soul music based band^[1] located in Jakarta, Indonesia. Maliq stands for Music And Live Instrument Quality. Since their appearance in the Jakarta Jazz Festival in 2005, Maliq & D'Essentials popularity has increased, especially among young people in Jakarta.

The combination of Indonesian and English in their songs has become one of the typical flagships of their music. Their music is distinctive, but often people view it as too melancholy.

Maliq & D'Essentials has released three studio albums and one EP.

History

MALIQ & D’ESSENTIALS was conceived on May 15, 2002 with 8 personnel’s under a genre they call soulful music. The name MALIQ itself is an acronym from MUSIC AND LIVE INSTRUMENT QUALITY as the brainchild of brothers Angga & Widi Puradiredja (the group’s vocalist and drummer, respectively; as well as producer, composer and arranger for the group). The completion of the band became full circle with the presence of Indah & Dimi (vocals), Ifa (keys), Javafinger a.k.a Jawa (bass), Satrio (guitars) and Amar (horns). The group started out performing soul and soul-inspired music at different lounges and/or cafes. The two years intro they went through was part of the solidification process for the group; as well as a way to introduce soul and/or soulful-inspired music to the Indonesian public; as it is yet to be widely known at the time of the group’s establishment.

Come 2004, MALIQ & D’ESSENTIALS officially became part of the Indonesian music recording industry with the release of their premiere album, 1st MALIQ & D’ESSENTIALS with the single “Terdiam”. A second single, “Untitled”, soon followed and became the hit song that put the group on the map. The third single from their premiere album, “Sampai Kapan”, is a collaboration with Malaysian songstress Camelia. The fourth and final single from 1st MALIQ & D’ESSENTIALS is entitled “Kangen”. By 2006, the group released a repackaged version of their premiere album entitled 1st MALIQ & D’ESSENTIALS Special Edition with a hit single entitled “The One”. The group’s first record had not only given them a name for themselves in the Indonesian music industry, but also gave way to their rise to fame in neighboring countries of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam.

By this time, the group has achieved so many as a new artist: whether commercially and critically, domestically and regionally. They were nominated and/or won awards such as MTV Indonesia Award, Planet Muzik Award (Singapore), AMI Awards (Indonesia), & MTV Asia Awards (Bangkok, Thailand).

In early 2007, MALIQ & D’ESSENTIALS released their sophomore record, Free Your Mind with a hit single entitled “Heaven”; followed by “Beri Cinta Waktu” as a second single not long after. Two more noteworthy achievements happened during this particular time. The first was being awarded “Best Jazz Album” for Free Your Mind in the 2008 AMI Awards (Indonesian Music Awards). The second was a soundtrack for a major motion picture. Thus, two singles from Free Your Mind (Repackaged) (released early 2008) “Dia” & “Kau Yang Bisa”, became the original soundtrack for the movie Claudia/Jasmine.

Around this time, the group went through another change in their core personnel. After Dimi’s departure around 2006; Satrio, the group’s guitarist decided to leave and was quickly replaced by Arya Aditya Ramadhya, more widely known as “Lale”. By 2009, the group released their newest record entitled Mata Hati Telinga. Now the youngest member of MALIQ & D’ESSENTIALS, Lale with his rock background had interestingly added another color to the group’s unique sound. Thus the song “Pilihanku” was chosen as the first single from the third album. The pop-rock up-tempo number was somewhat different than what the public would know of MALIQ & D’ESSENTIALS; although the group’s color never faded away from the newly explored influences. Along with second single “Coba Katakan”, MALIQ & D’ESSENTIALS was able to broaden the horizon of their listeners and/or fans.

Another milestone for the group; along with the release of Mata Hati Telinga album was the introduction of The One Management and Organic Records. It was created to accommodate the group with a comprehensive, open, secure, proper and prestigious management; along with a record company that would give them as much freedom to explore their music. In addition, through Organic Records MALIQ & D’ESSENTIALS assumed the role of executive producers for great new talents such as Twentyfirst Night, Boogiemen, Soulvibe, and Renita.

On March 2009, MALIQ & D’ESSENTIALS performed for the fourth time at the 5th annual Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival (Java Jazz 2009), after being absent the previous year. The performance featured The Organic All-Stars which included Twentyfirst Night, Boogiemen and Renita. Recorded live at the Jakarta Convention Centre, the performance became an addition to the group’s discography as a DVD distributed by early 2010.

Over the years of the group’s existence, they have developed a following of loyal fans, eventually named “D’Essentials”. By 2010, more than 250.000 members of D’Essentials were enlisted. By early 2009, a few months before the group’s 7th Anniversary, a formal D’Essentials Team was established. As a result, a premiere (and not to mention quite successful) collaboration between The One Management/Organic Records and D’Essentials happened at MALIQ & D’ESSENTIALS “7th Year Celebration” to celebrate the group’s 7th Anniversary; as well as a form of appreciation to all D’Essentials who had been supporting them.

After going through so many struggles, changes, trials & tribulations, as well as of course many successes, praises and appreciations, it is certain that MALIQ & D’ESSENTIALS had taken all their experiences into account and will be able to turn it all into a form of art no less expected of them. After more than eight years, the group had significantly matured into an entity that is quite iconic in the Indonesian music industry. With that and so much more to come, their upcoming, much anticipated, fourth album will be aptly titled The Beginning of a Beautiful Life. The album (their second one under their own label, Organic Records, in collaboration with Warner Music Indonesia) was released on to the market June 2010, with the song “Terlalu” as their first single.

Many new projects under The One Management and their own Organic Records will soon follow; whether their own, or others artist and/or product under their supervision. With that, one can say that the sky is the limit for MALIQ & D’ESSENTIALS.

Discography

Albums

2005: 1st
2006: 1st Special Edition (Repackaged)
2007: Free Your Mind
2008: Free Your Mind (Repackaged)
2009: Mata Hati Telinga
2010: The Beginning Of A Beautiful Life

References

1. ^ True, Chris. "Maliq & D'Essentials: Biography". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/maliq--dessentials-p1071771. Retrieved 2010-12-20.