Maliq & D'Essentials

Maliq & D'Essentials is a jazz and soul music based band^[1] located in Jakarta, Indonesia. Since their appearance in the Jakarta International Java 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, which is pretty uncommon among Indonesians.

Maliq & D'Essentials has released four studio albums and two EP.

Biography

Maliq & D'Essentials was conceived on May 15, 2002 with 8 personnels under a genre they call organic 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), Jawa (bass), Satrio (guitars) and Amar (horns). The group started out performing soul and soul-inspired music at different lounges and cafes in Jakarta. The first two years they went through was a 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.

2004-06: 1st

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". At the same time, Dimi one of the vocalist decided to leave the band to pursue a solo career. 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 for and/or won many awards such as MTV Indonesia Music Awards, Anugerah Planet Muzik, AMI Awards, & MTV Asia Awards.

2007-08: Free Your Mind

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. The second was a soundtrack for a major motion picture. Thus, two singles from Free Your Mind (Repackaged) (released early 2008) "Dia" and "Kau Yang Bisa", became the original soundtrack for the movie Claudia/Jasmine. In August 2008, they also performed a concert at Brisbane, Australia to entertain Indonesian students who are in the country.

2009: Mata Hati Telinga

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. The pop-rock up-tempo song "Pilihanku" was chosen as the first single from the third album. It was somewhat different from 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. The third album Mata Hati Telinga also received the title as the "Best Album 2009" by Rolling Stone Indonesia magazine.

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, Renita, Djemima, Sir Dandy, Rock n Roll Mafia and The Upstairs.

On March 2009, Maliq & D'Essentials performed for the fourth time at the 5th annual Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival, 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 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.

2010-11: The Beginning of a Beautiful Life

Their fourth album, The Beginning of a Beautiful Life, was released to the market on June 2010, with the song "Terlalu" as the first single, followed by "Menari" and "Penasaran" as a second single and third single. At this time, Ifa, the group’s keyboardist decided to leave and was replaced by Ilman Ibrahim Isa, more widely known as "Ilman".

In 2011, they had perform in Melbourne, Australia on May and a solo concert Maliq & D'Essentials Live in Malaysia at the KL Live, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on December. The concert tickets were sold out by their fans in the country.

2012: Radio Killed the TV Stars

In 2012, Maliq & D'Essentials with some indie musicians from various genres of music participated in a compilation album titled Radio Killed The TV Star, which was released by The One Management and Organic Records. This compilation is a movement from indie musicians and indie record label for Indonesia's music industry. The musicians that have contributed in this album include Maliq & D'Essentials, Endah N Rhesa, Twentyfirst Night, Zore, The Upstairs, Rock 'N Roll Mafia, and others. The single from Maliq & D'Essentials from this compilation album was titled "Berlari dan Tenggelam".

2013: Sriwedari

Their fifth album, Sriwedari, was released on January 25, 2013. The first single from this album is "Setapak Sriwedari" and followed by the second single with a dangdut genre, "Drama Romantika". The third single of this album is "Dunia Sekitar". Different from the previous albums which sound 'American', this fifth album has more of a vintage feel. On behalf of the totality, the album was inspired by several classic British band, mastering a passing phase in the legendary studio where The Beatles worked on music, Abbey Road Studios. The fifth album also received the title as the one of the Best Album 2013 by Rolling Stone Indonesia magazine.

The album was launched in Gandaria City Mall, Jakarta, with Setapak Sriwedari Concert as the event title on February 10, 2013, attended by thousands of Maliq & D'Essentials fans. After "Setapak Sriwedari Concert" was done, the concert was also held in Java Jazz Festival, Bali, and Surabaya. In October 2013, they also performed a showcase named Maliq & D'Essentials Live in Singapore 2013 at The Home Club, Singapore.

After going through so many struggles, changes, trials & tribulations, as well as numerous 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 a decade, the group had significantly matured into an entity that is quite iconic in the Indonesian music industry.

2014: Musik Pop

In 2014, Maliq & D'Essentials released their sixth album, Musik Pop, on May 15, 2014. "Ananda" is the first single of the album, featuring Indonesian legendary musician Indra Lesmana. The launch of the album itself was held in Jazzy Nite Citos along with the 12 years anniversary of the band, attended by thousands of fans of Maliq & D'Essentials and recorded by Kompas TV. In May 2014, they performed a concert at Sydney, Australia to indulge their fans such as Indonesian student in the country.

2016-Present: Pop Hari Ini

In 2016, MALIQ & D'Essentials alongside other 8 indie musicians released a compilation album titled, "Pop Hari Ini." In this compilation album, MALIQ & D'Essentials also released their latest single, "Mendekat, Melihat, Mendengar." Both album and song are only available on Blibli.com

Band Members

Discography

Albums & EPs

Compilation Albums

Other Singles

• "Tafakur" (2008, Kompilasi LCLM 2008)
• "Prasangka" (2011, A Tribute to KLa Project)
• "Berlari dan Tenggelam" (2012, Kompilasi Radio Killed The TV Stars #1)
• "Mendekat, Melihat, Mendengar" (2016, Pop Hari Ini)

DVD

• "MALIQ & D'ESSENTIALS feat. Organic All Stars - Live at the Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival 2009" (2010)

Book

• The Beginning Of A Beautiful Life, "a story yet to be told." (2010)

Awards and Nominations

Anugerah Musik Indonesia

Anugerah Planet Muzik

Dahsyatnya Awards

HAI Reader's Poll Music Awards

Indonesia Cutting Edge Music Awards (ICEMA)

MTV Asia Awards

MTV Indonesia Music Awards

NET. Indonesian Choice Awards

Yahoo! OMG Awards

References