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If there's one adjective to describe Nidji's latest studio album, Manifestasi Hati (Heart Manifestation), it’s “electrifying”.
Who would've thought that this Indonesian band, after almost two decades of hustling and bustling in the industry, could still deliver a 10-song anthology so dynamic that it’s almost impossible to stay seated while listening?
Nidji kick off their new era with the most ferocious sound possible with "La La Song", then get audiences bouncing with "Bolehlah Ku Berharap" (May I Hope) and swaying with "Lampu Hati" (Lights of Heart) before tugging at the heartstrings with the raw vulnerability of “ABADI". Along the way, the band also celebrates the bond of brotherhood with "Teman Sejati" (A True Friend).
Manifestasi Hati is an album filled with zigs and zags, but somehow, Nidji—comprising guitarist Ramadhista “Rama” Akbar, guitarist Andi Ariel, synth player Randy Danistha, drummer Mochamad Adri, bassist Andro Regantoro and vocalist Yusuf Ubay—make this sonic rollercoaster sound so much fun.
As Rama put it: “Manifestasi Hati is not just a product of music, it’s a product of our synergy with each other.”
Patience makes perfect
Manifestasi Hati marks Nidji's first album with Ubay, who took over the role of the band's vocalist from Giring Ganesha. Even though Ubay joined the band back in 2019, it took some time for Nidji to be ready to make a new album.
"First, there were adjustments in [various] stages," Randy said, reflecting on the six years leading up to Manifestasi Hati.
"It began from adjustments in how we communicate and our taste in music to our synergy once we workshopped [the new album] and put everything together, because Ubay was born in a pretty different world from Nidji's."
That adjustment period ultimately convinced the band that with Ubay, now 28, they had the potential to reach new heights.
"With Ubay, [thanks to] his high level of musicality as well as his young age, we can push our limits," Adri remarked.
For Ubay, stepping into the role of Nidji's vocalist was, almost literally, transformative.
"I could very much feel the transformation in my vocals over those past six years," Ubay said.
"Early on, I didn't blend in. The process took more than just one year. It wasn’t until 2022 when I finally felt at ease. That's when I started feeling confident to be a part of Nidji."
A new zone
Even though Nidji have churned out some of the most commercially successful albums of this millennium, the band believes that Manifestasi Hati is their best album yet.
"We wanted this album to be an immersive experience," Ariel elaborated.
"We always try to make the listeners immerse themselves in the stories conveyed by our lyrics. It's like watching a film, but in musical form."
From a lyrical perspective, Manifestasi Hati is a collection of creative sparks, life experiences and pearls of wisdom that Nidji have gathered over the years.
The band worked on “La La Song” back in 2019, a track that Rama refers to as an “identity breakthrough” for the band. The following year, they crafted “Zayang - Zayang” and “Lampu Hati”, which Rama said were made of the “chemistry between the six of us”.
"Teman Sejati", penned by Ariel, might have what it takes to revive the once-lost trend of friendship songs. “ABADI”, meanwhile, is a minimalist ballad with heart-on-sleeve lyricism. Ubay, who co-wrote the song, drew inspiration from a deeply personal place.
"My late father should have seen my struggles. This song is bold because I dedicated it to him," Ubay revealed.
"I believe a song is not just for 'vibing'. Instead, it can be a reminder, an encouragement."
Sonically, Manifestasi Hati expands Nidji’s signature pop-rock sound, incorporating the piano pop, post-punk, soft pop and soft rock subgenres. One particular song, “Mutant Love”, even goes so far as to incorporate elements of the relatively niche accordion pop subgenre.
Nidji have never been afraid to experiment, and for a pretty empowering reason.
“We couldn't stay in the comfort zone. We needed a new zone,” Andro said.
“Especially now that we have new energy. If we stayed the same, we wouldn’t have discovered anything fun anymore. And we needed that fun. We needed that joy and that playground.”
Faith, action, fun
At the end of the day, Randy believes the secret to making a great album is the bond between its creators.
"Since our first album [Breakthru, 2006], what we learned after so many years is that we must put in the collection of our friendship stories [all] together in unison. It's as if the diary notes of Ariel, Andro, Rama, Adri and Ubay were all compiled into one single book," he allegorized.
With Manifestasi Hati, Nidji's infectious energy lives on, cementing the band as a benchmark for others in Indonesia.
Does the band see this as an honor or a heavy responsibility?
"We just keep our faith, then align it with our actions. Perhaps people see us as very cool, but that's not how we see ourselves,” Ariel said simply.
“We feel like we're just having fun, and time flew by so fast."
Thank you, Nidji, for making Indonesian pop music fun again.
