Exclusive Marcell Siahaan, A Journey to the Light

JAKARTA - In the midst of the commotion of algorithms that force everyone to keep running, Marcell Siahaan actually chooses to step aside. The singer known for his distinctive baritone vocals is back not just to meet the quota of discography, but to share a process of self-purification.

Through his latest religious single titled Menuju Cahaya, the singer who made his solo debut in 2003 invites his listeners to take a moment to pause in the midst of the world's increasingly noisy disruption.

Released in late February, Menuju Cahaya became a spiritual marker of Marcell in the middle of the holy month of Ramadan. Interestingly, unlike the pattern of the music industry in general which releases religious songs before the fasting month in order to pursue market momentum, Marcell chooses to release it when Ramadan is already running. For him, this work is a natural process that cannot be forced by commercial deadlines.

"Because I showed that this is natural. I do intend to release a work in Ramadan, but it doesn't have to be that it is released before Ramadan," said Marcell when visiting the VOI office in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta, recently.

This song was worked on by Marcell independently through his own label, Ruang Menyusui Records. He designed the basic arrangement and the composition of the lyrics from scratch. Even though he was helped by several musicians, the spirit of this song is entirely derived from the results of his own inner retreat. His main inspiration is a great concept in Islam, namely tazkiyatun nafs or purification of the soul.

Marcell said that the lyrics of Menuju Cahayamerupakan a sublimation of his contemplation of several letters in the Qur'an, such as Asy-Syams, Al-A'la, and An-Nur. The focus is simple but profound: how a human being is able to cleanse himself of an ego that is often uncontrollable.

"I feel that so far I personally still have many shortcomings, in the sense that the shortcomings are in the form of unawareness of myself. And many of the events I experience every day happen because I am not able to control and master my ego," he said reflectively.

For him, humans are like a room. If the doors and windows are never opened, fresh air and light will never be able to enter, making the room stuffy and unhealthy. This song is Marcell's attempt to open the inner windows so that a calming spiritual circulation can occur.

In the midst of uncertain global situations - from war conflicts, the onslaught of artificial intelligence, to the post-truth phenomenon on social media - Marcell offers a method he calls PLC: Pause, Listen, Comprehend.

"There is no other way than the kit to retreat. The term for me is a pause. So if it's like on the tape, we can pause first and then listen, then comprehensively, so comprehend. So pause, listen, comprehend," said Marcell.

The personal touch in this song is felt even more with the presence of his wife, Rima Melati, who contributed a poem in English. The presence of Rima, according to Marcell, gives an aesthetic dimension that is "beautiful" and strengthens the universal message of the song.

For Marcell, talking about religious music in Indonesia means talking about a unique ecosystem. Unlike the fluctuating pop music trend, the religious music market has a very strong and stable root. This is inseparable from the sociography of the Indonesian people who are religious and the momentum of celebrating big days that are routine every year.

"The religious music market, as far as I know, is the same as spiritual songs, it's a market that I think is very stable. Because spiritual songs, besides that, they also have momentum and also (have) a clear market," said the singer who was born in Bandung.

However, Marcell emphasized that the stability of the market does not make him a slave to the industry. Although he understands the marketing and business strategies of music, the urge to release religious works for him is more a spiritual call than just meeting market demand. He considers that religious moments are the right of every individual who can be expressed at any time, without having to always be tied to the holiday calendar.

He also gave high appreciation to his colleagues, such as the Ungu band group, who consistently produce religious works every year. For him, this consistency is proof that religious music can be managed professionally without losing its essence.

Responding to the steps of the Indonesian Music Conference which formed the Music Development Team with the Religious Music Division in 2025, Marcell also welcomed it with great optimism. For him, the protection of the rights of musicians in the religious realm is a crucial issue but is often overlooked because of the "worship activity" reason.

"The hope is that whatever it is, whether it's a spiritual event or a religious event, as long as there is a commercial side to it, it's important for us to think about the rights of those who create songs," he said.

He highlighted the importance of distinguishing between the use of songs for pure worship (fair use) and use in events wrapped in paid commercial concerts. According to him, an objective mindset regarding royalties must begin to be developed for the welfare of religious song creators in the future.

After more than two decades of career, Marcell Siahaan has gone through various eras of the music industry, from analog physical releases to the current digital dominance. This transformation automatically changes his way of producing works. If he was under the auspices of a large label with high expectations for physical sales, now he feels more free with his own digital strategy.

Marcell said that he was no longer "so busy" in pursuing superficial ambitions such as going international. According to him, technological advances have naturally broken down these boundaries.

"I don't bother anymore to 'Wow, I have to go international.' No. Because now we can already DM (direct message) international singers and get a reply. That's also one of the things that makes us not bother at all," he said.

However, the attitude of not "being lazy" does not mean that he has lost his way. On the contrary, Marcell has become more tactical. With the help of data analysis from social media, he can map his market specifically. Promotional strategies are also more efficient than in the past CD distribution era, which tends to spread its net anywhere.

Even though he is now moving more calmly, the fire of his creativity has not gone out. Marcell is preparing for the next big step: the eighth album. Unlike previous albums that have involved many other songwriters, the upcoming album will be a proof of his independence as a musician.

"And this time I'm pretty specific, the majority wants to be dominated by my own work. So, I'm the one who writes from the beginning, makes everything myself," concluded Marcell confidently.

Marcell's journey to the light seems to be not just about a song, but about how he finds a balance between artistic idealism, business independence, and spiritual peace at an increasingly mature age.