Exclusive Monita Tahalea, Brave Shows Newness On Album Merona

JAKARTA - Monita Tahalea has just introduced her fourth album, Merona, at the end of last June. This album contains nine tracks, where Monita is back working with Lie Indra Perkasa as the main producer.

The first track is titled 'Angan', followed by theme-song Merona' which is also used as the album title. Monita said this number was the earliest work to be done together with jazz pioneer Sri Hanuraga.

"Indeed, I specifically asked Aga for help, I gave several references to the sounds that I wanted to try to make as a reference for this fourth album, and Aga immediately opened himself happily, immediately made all kinds of things and I wrote the lyrics, so the song Merona, "said Monita Tahalea during a visit to the VOI office in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta recently.

"And there is one more song, one of the earliest songs is finished, the last track, the title is 'Life'. It was also made together with Sri Hanuraga," he continued.

Monita did involve quite a lot of musicians in her latest album. Dave Lumenta was also involved in the 'Merona'. In addition, Kevin Jonathan Hansen was on track entitled 'Mr.Moon', and Rachel Victoria on the track city pop entitled 'Bunga Di Bank Jalan'.

The 37-year-old singer explained that the theme of the album 'Merona' starts from the choice of sound to the whole story' tells about the joys and sorrows that are really felt to be one of the integrity of life.

"You don't just enjoy life, there are many stories that maybe we don't always share with people: the stories of the dark processes, the failures, the things that we have to let go of when we want to achieve something, there must be something that we have to leave behind too. Let the people who walk with us and choose another path, "said Monita.

"So, there are a lot of things in that one word Merona, and I'm really happy to be represented. Hopefully my friends can hear that when they hear it. So, what I'm trying to say is: all the courage to feel," he added.

The curation was quite strict, until finally Monita and Indra decided on the nine tracks. Although there are several factors, the alignment of ideas and song stories towards the album's vision is the main reason.

"So yes, if there is a song that we like but it's not harmonious with the story, I'm grateful to have a music partner that I can believe, it's okay, it doesn't exist, we can work on it at the next project," he said. , "So we agreed for these nine songs, which we think we will present on the album Merona, because the storyline is in accordance with the vision of the album itself.

Update is an important element to view the album 'Merona'. Over the past five years since the third album, 'From Behind the Window' (2020) 'Monita said many new things had been passed.

"It's certain that in five years, a lot of things have happened, many references have been heard again, many things I'm trying to find and maybe I haven't met before, there are many things I'm not trying to find and instead come to me," said Monita.

"So, what happened on this 'Merona' album was actually not coercion at all, according to the running time process, there were many things I wanted to try, there were many things that grew in me, there were many things that caught my attention. And on this album I tried to have enough courage to step up."

On the previous album, there were some elements of electronic music. However, for the latest album, the electronic sound is increasingly being explored. Monita feels more daring to get out of old standard reveals many things that were previously still hidden.

In terms of novelty, said Monita, the presence of Lie Indra Perkasa is also important. He said the producer's ability to assemble electronic voices was a way for further exploration.

Monita said the exploration of electronic voices made him brave to get out of his music image which is closer to acoustic elements.

"On this album, I try to escape myself from the must-be acoustic, what must remain, what must remain. I try to let go of those must," he said.

"If there are many things that we can try to feel in its entirety, I want to feel it in its entirety. I want to feel alive in this album, by exploring new or bold sounds, to do things that I may have never done before just think about it but have never been executed.

Regarding the update, Monita is aware of the many expectations of listeners that are not met. The singer who graduated from Indonesian Idol admitted that he received many fan messages, who hoped for the era of Dandelion (2015) or Dream, Hope & Faith (2010). However, he mentioned that many fans were still accepting this new journey.

"A lot of hope from all my friends, and I really appreciate it, because for me it means that my friends are very close to my music. But on this album, I really believe, my friends will definitely be able to come on this new journey," he said. That's why track number one, I try to welcome and deliver all my friends to the new season I have this. And I hope my friends get the message. So, if you listen to the first track until the last track, I'm sure my friends will follow my journey by themselves."

"And those questions and hopes finally fused into a journey together. Because what I've seen since the album was released a few days ago, the feedback I've got so far has finally been like that... So it's like I'm really happy finally the expectations they put aside and they finally got on this journey."

The novelty shown by Monita cannot be separated from her belief in music. For him, singing is a spiritual activity that is being carried out, so there is no other choice but to continue to grow.

"I feel that music is really spiritual. Because it can't be denied, music is for me a gift," said Monita. . So I realized, this is a gift from God. If we are given the trust to write down something that can eventually reach someone else's life, for me it's a gift that can't be wasted.

He continued, "That's why sometimes if I become a musician, I'd like to get closer to God more, because what we give is not arbitrary. We never know, the message we bring through our words and songs can be what for others, hopefully it can be something useful. Something that heals, something fun, something that accompanies him like that."

Spirituality also has its own process, where Monita feels the time she goes through during the process as a friend. This can be seen from the cycle of release of her album every five years, although the cycle is not something planned.

And I realized that finally my pattern was like that. The first year we got to know his new album. The second year we started going everywhere. In the third year we started to get new ideas for the things we want to do next. The fourth year we started entering the studio. The fifth year where we work on it we can produce and release it," said Monita.

For Monita, singing is a gift in itself. He felt heard by God when singing. Therefore, as long as he is still trusted to sing, he will continue to do it.

"If it's for me personally, I always feel like I sing it's like God hears me. So, it makes me sing like it's as close as a prayer," he said. I used to feel I wasn't heard a lot of times, but as soon as God brought me together with the music world Moreover, when we were in the studio, it was very private, only us, words, and microphones. Nobody else, our friends were in another room I feel God just listen to my story.

"And for me that's the most important thing, where do the rest of the songs want to be taken, that's the part of God. So, as long as it is still given that trust, as long as the voice is still deposited, I will continue to sing. Even if God wants me to do something else, I believe he will definitely tell me and will show me the way too. But for now, as long as I am still given the trust, I will continue to sing."