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To completely understand the idea behind Sal Priadi's Markers And Such Pens Flashdisks, it might be wise to first listen to the album's closing track, "I'd Like to Watch You Sleeping".
Spanning 5 minutes and 9 seconds, the pop ballad that pays tribute to his beloved might initially come across as underwhelming, even to Sal's most devoted fans. But true to what the music industry has come to expect from the singer-songwriter’s unmistakable artistry, something wild happens in the ballad's final chorus.
Out of nowhere, Sal croons the chorus from Reza Artamevia's 1997 ballad, "Satu Yang Tak Bisa Lepas" (One that cannot be let go). The result is sweet, swoon-worthy and delightfully strange.
It is an ode to love, Sal Priadi-style.
In his typically cheeky manner, the 32-year-old artist said the 15 songs on the album, which was released a little over a month ago, did not center on a statement. Instead, it focused on a personal question: "Is it considered legit for me, in this day and age, to do this?"
Not a waste
It has always been Sal's tendency, deliberately or not, to catch the Indonesian music industry off guard.
In 2018, the alternative-leaning singer surprised the industry with an AMI Award nomination for Best Male Pop Solo Performance, thanks to his second single "Ikat Aku Di Tulang Belikatmu" (Tie me to your shoulder blade). The following year, his collaboration with Nadin Amizah, "Amin Paling Serius" (Most serious amen), became one of the country’s biggest hits.
One element of Sal's artistry that draws fans and inspires his juniors is his infusion of theatricality to live music performances. This does not come from ego or a desire for grandiosity, however. Instead, as mystifying as this may sound, he said it came from a sense of duty.
"I believe it's important to carry my responsibility, that is, creating an experience," Sal asserted. "I don't want my music to be a waste or simply digital junk."
Does Sal see himself as a visionary, then?
His answer was both humble and direct: "Never have I ever seen myself as such. But when it comes to gauging my strength [as an artist], here's what you need to know: I feel like I am simply a person who has an idea. I believe in my idea and I can 'sell' that idea to the people who may be able to help me turn it into art."
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Songwriter who sings
Markers And Such Pens Flashdisks can be considered unusual, ironically because of how it is not unusual in Sal’s discography. Departing from the bohemian soundscape presented in his freshman album Berhati(Have a heart), Markers finds the artist touching on romantic love, a lyrical theme encapsulated in pop-leaning tunes.
His vision might be heartfelt, but I was curious why he decided to continue his journey as a singer. At the risk of offending his hard-core fans, I couldn't help but notice that Sal is not exactly the most skillful singer in the biz and that perhaps Markers would have been brighter if the songs been performed by another, more adept soloist.
I was ready to brace myself for impact until Sal, in a humble tone, acknowledged that when it came to vocals, there were indeed more gifted singers out there. In fact, he was "very much" aware of his vocal limitations.
"Every single time I'm on a stage, I always introduce myself by saying, 'Good evening. My name is Sal Priadi and I'm a songwriter who happens to sing his own songs!' I never feel like my vocals are the greatest, that my vocals are my biggest appeal," he remarked.
If that was the case, then why did he decide to keep the songs in Markers for himself and not give them to other singers?
"Because I know the story [behind these songs]. I know the 'texture' of the story," Sal replied.
"I love how Ahmad Dhani sang the songs he wrote, I love how Widi Puradiredja [drummer of jazz-pop act Maliq & D'Essentials] sang 'Untitled'. Their vocal chops aside, they were the ones performing the songs they wrote.
“[Singers] Once Mekel and Angga Puradiredja, for instance, might have a more expansive vocal range, but the texture would feel different. It's the songwriter who understands the story."
Furthermore, Sal found it "a bit difficult" to categorize the album based on genre, even after its release.
"I see that the songs on this album have the potential to be more easily accepted compared to the songs on my first album," he mused. "But to call this record a pop album? Well, I have no clue!"
Sal pointed out that the album's fourth track, "Dari Planet Lain" (From another planet), a piano-driven mid-tempo number that lyrically explores unexpected romance, was resonating with audiences beyond typical pop enthusiasts.
"It's not just people my age or older that are listening to that song. Kids under 5 years old are listening to it and singing along with it as well," he said.
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Love’s 'souvenir’
But is it fair to label Markers as a “love album”? Sal answered with a resolute "Yes".
Especially now that Sal had become a husband and a father, he summed up love as "an opportunity to be kind to one another, a chance to contribute to other people's lives and make them better".
So far, Sal has already notched a couple of hits from Markers. "Mesra-mesraannya Kecil-Kecilan Dulu" (Our romance should be little by little) and "Kita Usahakan Rumah Itu" (Let's work on that house) have respectively racked up more than 78 million plays and 39 million plays on Spotify alone.
Meanwhile, "Gala Bunga Matahari" (Sunflower gala) has sparked various conversations on social media, with some theorizing the song is a love letter for the departed.
Sal acknowledged that "Gala Bunga Matahari" was inspired by death and grief. He also believed that a sunflower, uncommon to backyards in Indonesia, implied etherealness.
"There's a unique kind of sadness about death and grief because the latter is accompanied by the spirit to move on with our lives," he explained.
"If it's just heartbreak, the emotion is usually like, 'When can I get back together with her?' But when death is involved, who's to say our [late] beloved is hoping for us to move on? But you've got to believe that they would like us to move on."
Markers, as strange and sweet as it sounds, serves as a marker of this period in Sal's life. In both his life and artistry, love has proven itself a transformative force of nature.
"I made this album as a souvenir from all that has happened," he said.
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This article is part of The Weekender, which comes out on the Saturday edition of The Jakarta Post. It offers a variety of lifestyle and culture articles aimed at enriching your reading experience. Subscribe here to get access to the Saturday edition and all other premium content from the Post.
