Ali is a Jakarta-based trio whose music fuses funk, disco, Afrobeat, and Middle Eastern influences. The band, with Arswandaru on bass and vocals, John Paul "Coky" Patton on drums, and Absar Lebeh on guitar, has taken their sound to stages across Europe, Australia and Japan.
Before forming Ali, the three were already playing in separate bands. They kept crossing paths in Jakarta's music scene, started hanging out, and eventually ended up jamming together in the studio.
What sets Ali apart is that all their lyrics are written in Arabic. According to Arswandaru, the choice complements the music's sound. "The challenge is getting it grammatically correct. Writing in Arabic isn't as simple as writing in English; it has to be poetic."
Performing in Melbourne felt special because Ali usually plays to international audiences unfamiliar with Indonesian culture. This time, they had the chance to connect directly with the Indonesian diaspora. For those missing home, Arswandaru recommended "Malaka", a track that organically brings out Malay influences and a touch of dangdut.
Listen to SBS Indonesian's full conversation with Arswandaru and Absar Lebeh about their musical journey and what it means to bring Indonesian identity to the world stage.
