Exclusive The Rain, Join With New Works And Challenges

Exclusive The Rain (Photo: Bambang E Ros, DI: Raga/VOI)

JAKARTA - It's been a long time since The Rain released their last album, They Say We're Not Trapped Together (2019), but they're still consistent in issuing new works. In the last five years the band consisting of Indra Prasta (principal vocals, guitar), Iwan Tanda (guitar, vocals), Ipul Bahri (bass, vocals) and Aang Anggoro (drums, vocals) have released dozens of singles, most recently entitled Alone.

The song tells the story of someone who has not found a life companion but still believes that there is a time for everything to be happy which is not only about achieving goals, but can also be felt on each travel sheet.

The theme of confusion is still the mainstay of The Rain today. Not without reason, Indra as the songwriter said, the message and hope that he wanted to convey would be more effective through confused songs.

"We are very happy to slip hope through sad songs. It must be admitted, sad songs are easier to enter, people are easier to enjoy with sad songs," said Indra when The Rain visited the VOI office in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta recently.

Not only the theme of confusion, but the band from Yogyakarta is also consistent with their creative process one song is arranged with various versions, until in the end the best is chosen together by the personnel.

Indra said this method was the most effective for The Rain. They do not want to regret that the cultivation was deemed less than optimal.

"So, sometimes we can spend months in the studio working on a song, and the results are very satisfying," added Indra. Because when the song was released, well, I can't come back anymore.

The Rain did not explain why it chose to release many singles rather than new albums. However, Ipul said, the band was already at a time where it did not want to hold back the works that were eligible to be heard to the public.

In the past there was a time when we wanted to release it, thinking about it after a long time from the previous release. So, the release of the song one, half a year later we just thought of having to make another song. We had a time, and it was frankly, it made it difficult, "said Ipul.

"There is pressure on us ourselves that we have to bring out our work, then there is a production time that will also be tight, because if we postpone it, it will be a long time for the next release. Finally, we will understand whatever the existing song is, so just enter it, then we will have a workshop per period that can be three songs at once, we don't have to finish everything, but at least we have a song that is ready for us to work on more seriously," he added.

For bands that have been around for more than two decades like The Rain, rearrangeing old songs is a natural choice, but Indra cs chooses to produce new works that are still fresh for listeners.

Indra said the satisfaction of releasing a new song was much bigger than bringing back old songs. Working like breath for The Rain to continue to challenge yourself as well as an excuse to stay in the music industry.

"Because we still feel the excitement when working on new works, waiting for the surprise brought by the new work, the song will take us where and give us what surprises it will be. Yes, purely just because of that," said the vocalist.

After all, writing a new song, said Indra, like fingering for a guitarist. As a group of musicians, The Rain also wants to continue to grow.

"In working on the song, it's not only the lyrics and notations, but also the arrangement. We must continue to hone that ability so that it's not blunt."

Ipul added, "If the remake is actually not something easy either. At least it's the same as the original song or better. If we make a remake, it's still like yesterday, it's still similar, why?"

Making a new song is also The Rain's way to continue to follow the development of the music industry, not only in terms of musicals, but also other aspects that follow it.

"We adapted to the conditions of the music industry, from the start we participated in the label, yes we also saw, studied, until finally we decided to go our own way. That's part of learning and adapting," said Ipul. The music is the same way, we have a band reference that we have each. At the beginning we seemed to look there the reference. In the course of time, in the end we formed ourselves from that reference.

Hope that a new song is heard by many people, but The Rain doesn't make it a burden. Moreover, the personnel agreed with the stigma which stated that it was difficult for musicians to produce hits when they were four-headed.

The most productive mouth will definitely pass, the imagination of the wildest is the time and it will definitely pass. But if we return it to imagination, there is no limit. The limit is that we make it. We just like to challenge ourselves, how far can our imaginations go, to create new works that maybe I don't think about it," said Indra.

"We also don't force us to follow the current trend. The problem is that sometimes it doesn't fit us either. So, just make a song," added Aang.

The Rain's goal is not to make hits that can be hits like the Trained Patah Hati, which they don't think is to repeat, given its big role as a "saving work".

For The Rain, the song is one of the rescuers. The song is an encouragement for us to create many new works which of course we will not force to make Coached Patah Hatipart two. Because you won't be able to. There are things that won't be repeated. One of them is the hit songs," said the vocalist.

Furthermore, Tertrain Patah Hati can also be seen as the reason The Rain continues to survive and has not changed its formation since it was formed 24 years ago.

"That song is arguably a turning point for us too," said Iwan.

Reflecting on the beginning of his journey as a band, The Rain personnel even admitted that they never imagined to become a band known as the country's music lovers with works that are still heard across generations.

When we banded in the beginning, his dreams were simple at that time, only had works and were heard by many people. That's all," said Ipul.

"And after that, I don't have long thoughts about where The Rain will arrive. Yes, the band's children, at least have an album and sign the label, that's all," said Indra.

"And it's been 24 years, how long do you want to be?" Yes, as best we can, we are given age and as much as we can afford it.