Sore itu, Minggu 13 September 2015, Melbourne Town Hall diguncang oleh riuh reda suka cita sekitar 1800 penonton yang hadir untuk memeriahkan ajang musik Soundsekerta 2015. Bagaimana tidak? Acara yang dihadirkan oleh PPIA Monash University tersebut, menghadirkan tiga musisi besar Indonesia sekaligus dalam satu panggung; Tulus, Nidji, dan NOAH.
Bisa dibilang ketiganya berhasil menampilkan yang terbaik dan mendapat sambutan yang luar biasa.
Dipandu oleh dua MC yang mampu memancing interaksi penonton; Reno dan Raisa, acara dibuka dengan tampilan tarian dari Sanggar Widya Luvtari. Turut hadir sekaligus memberi sambutan pembuka, Ibu Dewi Savitri Wahab, Konsul Jenderal RI untuk Victoria dan Tasmania.
Sebagai penampil pertama, Tulus berhasil merebut hati penonton yang terdiri dari berbagai lapisan usia. Sekalipun ini tampilan pertama Tulus di Melbourne, tapi karya-karya indahnya mampu memukau semua yang hadir di sore itu. Tulus dikenal akan lagu-lagunya yang easy-listening, suara merdu, dan lirik-lirik yang indah dan meaningful. Lagu-lagu andalan dari album Tulus dan Gajah dibawakan dengan apik dengan iringan keyboard, bass, dan drum. Di setiap lagu Tulus selalu menceritakan tentang latar belakang dan cerita di balik lagu dan lirik. Penonton hanyut dalam lagu-lagu yang kebanyakan bertema cinta, seperti: Sewindu, Teman Hidup, Gajah, Baru, Bumerang, hingga Sepatu. Tak kurang 10 lagu dibawakan dengan vokal yang stabil dan interaksi yang baik dengan penonton. Tulus berhasil mengangkat mood sebagai penampil pertama di panggung Soundsekerta 2015.
Tanpa jeda waktu yang lama, Nidji hadir membawa suasana yang lebih panas. Lagu-lagu yang rancak dan gerak yang energetic dari seluruh personil Nidji mampu membawa penonton untuk larut dalam music party tersebut. Giring, vocalist, lincah berlari kesana kemari, mengajak penonton untuk bernyanyi bersama, meloncat, hingga menari mengikuti gerakan yang dicontohkan oleh Giring dari atas panggung. Lagu-lagu up-beat seperti Disco Lazy Time, Hapus Aku, Biarlah, Di Atas Awan membuat lantai Melbourne Town Hall bergoyang oleh hentak dan lompatan penonton. Lagu-lagu yang dinamis diimbangi dengan lagu-lagu yang lebih slow seperti Child, Bila Aku Jatuh Cinta, Kau dan Aku, membawa suasana romantis. Apalagi aksi Giring dalam mengajak penonton wanita bernyanyi dan berdansa bersama di atas panggung, sungguh membuat suasana menjadi semakin hidup. Sempelan lagu dari Coldplay, A Sky Full of Stars, aksi menari bersama saat melantunkan lagu Laskar Pelangi, hingga wefie bersama penonton, rasanya tak dapat dipungkiri tampilan Nidji hari itu mampu mencuri hati Melbournians. Bisa dibilang band yang juga digawangi oleh Andro (bass), Randy (keyboard), Rama (gitar), Ariel (gitar) Adrie (drum), adalah puncak kemeriahan hari itu.
Bukan berarti antiklimaks, karena memang tampilan NOAH sebagai penampil terakhir tetaplah menjadi band yang paling ditunggu-tunggu. Beranggotakan Ariel (vocal), Uki (gitar), Lukman (gitar), David (keyboard), NOAH memang mempunyai pesona yang tidak biasa. Kharisma sang vokalis, Ariel, mampu membuat penonton terhanyut dalam lagu-lagu lama saat masih berlabel Peterpan hingga lagu-lagu hits baru. Penonton seolah diajak bernostalgia dengan lagu-lagu yang sempat merebut hati penikmat musik Indonesia di awal tahun 2000an, seperti Mimpi Yang Sempurna, Topeng, hingga Yang Terdalam. Hentakan-hentakan lagu Cobalah Mengerti, Hidup Untukmu Mati Tanpamu, Langit Tak Mendengar, membawa penonton untuk habis-habisan sing along dan berjingkrak bersama. Sebagai lagu yang paling ditunggu, Separuh Aku, dinyanyikan oleh seluruh pengunjung yang hadir di perhelatan musik terbesar di Melbourne tersebut dengan sepenuh hati. Dengan kualitas lagu dan tampilan yang selalu maksimal di atas panggung, tak heran nama NOAH tetap melambung sebagai band papan atas Indonesia.
Sukses Soundsekerta 2015 tentulah tak lepas dari persiapan yang matang dan kekompakan tim Panitia-nya. Perhelatan musik yang berkualitas seperti ini, selain memang ditunggu-tunggu oleh warga Indonesia yang tinggal di luar negeri, juga sebagai upaya untuk membuat musik Indonesia tetap jaya dan dicintai. Kalau bukan kita yang membuat industri musik Indonesia mampu bertahan, lalu siapa lagi?
That afternoon, Sunday 13 September 2015, a boisterous crowd rocked Melbourne Town Hall with around 1800 spectators in attendance to enliven the music show Soundsekerta 2015. How couldn’t they? The event is presented by PPIA Monash University, with three great Indonesian musicians all on the one stage: Tulus, Nidji and NOAH.
It can be said that all three managed to show their best and received an overwhelmingly positive response.
Guided by two MCs who were able to lure audience interaction; Reno and Raisa, the show opened with a performance from dance studio Widya Luvtari. Also present to give the opening address, Mrs (Ibu) Dewi Savitri Wahab, Indonesian Consul General for Victoria and Tasmania.
As the first performance, Tulus captured the hearts of spectators of various ages. Even though, this was Tulus’ first performance in Melbourne, his beautiful works were able to connect with all those present that afternoon. Tulus is known for songs that are easy-listening, his melodic voice, and lyrics that are beautiful and meaningful. The mainstays from the album Tulus and Gajah were delivered with a slick keyboard accompaniment, bass and drums. In every song Tulus always gave the background and the story behind the song and the lyrics. The spectators were lost in the songs that were mostly about love, Sewindu, Teman Hidup, Gajah, Baru, Bumerang, until finally Sepatu. The vocalist with stable vocals and good interactions with the audience sang no less than 10 songs. Tulus managed to lift the mood as the first performer on stage for Soundsekerta 2015.
Without having to wait long, Nidji appeared on stage to make the atmosphere even hotter. The dynamic songs and energetic movement of all the personnel of Nidji able to dissolve the audience in the party music. Giring, vocalist, agile running around, inviting spectators to sing along, to jump, to dance along with the movements as exhibited by Giring on the stage. Upbeat tunes such as Disco Lazy Time, Hapus Aku, Biarlah, Di Atas Awan made the floor of Melbourne Town Hall rocked by the pounding and the leaping of the audience. The dynamic songs were balanced with songs that were more slow such as Child, Bila Aku Jatuh Cinta, Kau dan Aku, bringing a more romantic atmosphere. Furthermore, the actions of Giring to invite a women on stage to sing and dance together on stage, really made the atmosphere more alive on stage. Borrowing a song from Coldplay, A Sky Full of Stars, actions to dance together while singing Laskar Pelangi, until doing a selfie along with the crowd, it seems undeniable that day that Nidji was able to steal the hearts of Melbournians. Arguably the band that was fronted by Andro (bass), Randy (keyboard), Rama (guitar), Ariel (guitar) Adrie (drums), was the peak of the day’s festivities.
It doesn’t mean it was anticlimax, because the display of NOAH as the land band was indeed the band most eagerly awaited. Comprised of Ariel (vocals), Uki (guitar), Lukman (guitar), David (keyboards), NOAH does have an unusual charm. Charismatic vocalist, Ariel, was able to make the audience immersed in his old songs with the label Peterpan as well as his new hits. As the audience are invited to reminisce with songs that have captured the hearts of Indonesian music lovers since the early 2000s with songs such as Mimpi Yang Sempurna, Topeng, as well as Yang Terdalam. A rang of songs such as Cobalah Mengerti, Hidup Untukmu Mati Tanpamu, Langit Tak Mendengar, made the audience sing-along and dance together. As the most awaited song, Separuh Aku, sung by all the visitors who were present at the biggest (Indonesian) musical event in Melbourne with all their hearts. With the quality of the songs and the performance that is always the maximum on stage, no wonder the name NOAH remains as a top Indonesian band.
The success of Soundsekerta 2015 can certainly not be separated from the preparation and teamwork of the committee. A music event of this quality, besides being eagerly awaited by Indonesian citizens living abroad, also makes an effort to make Indonesian music continue to prosper and be loved. If it’s not us who can make the Indonesian music community survive, then who else?
Written by: Katrin Nathisarasia
Translated by: Tim Flicker
Photo by: Windu Kuntoro, Ineke Iswardojo, Steven Tandijaya
