Nidji

Nidji is an Indonesian rock band based in Jakarta. Formed in February 2002, Nidji's name comes from the Japanese word niji (虹), meaning "rainbow". The band's music can be classified under the alternative pop genre, and the band has cited Coldplay and The Killers as major influences.[4] The band currently consists of Yusuf Ubay (vocals/saxophone), Andro Regantoro (bass), Randy Danistha (keyboards/synthesizers), Ramadhista Akbar and Andi Ariel Harsya (guitars), and Adri Prakarsa (drums).[5]

Nidji
Also known asNiji (2002–2005)
OriginJakarta, Indonesia
Genres
Years active2002–present (hiatus: 2018–2019)
Labels
Members
  • Yusuf Ubay
  • Andi Ariel Harsya
  • Ramadhista Akbar
  • Andro Regantoro
  • Randy Danistha
  • Adri Prakarsa
Past membersGiring Ganesha
Websitenidji.id

The band has released six singles: "Child", "Sudah", "Hapus Aku", "Kau dan Aku", "Disco Lazy Time" and "Biarlah". Two of the singles, "Heaven" from the Breakthru' album and "Shadows", taken from the Top Up album, were used as background music in the Southeast Asian third season promos for the television series Heroes,[6] and they provided soundtrack music for the Indonesian film Laskar Pelangi.

The album Breakthru' was released in 2005 with an English-language version the following year. The second album, Top Up, was released in 2007.

History

Nidji was formed in February 2002. The beginnings of Nidji came about through the friendship between Rama and Andro. They were joined by Arieland together they wrote a song entitled "Maria". However, "Maria" was not completed until Giring met them and added some vocals.

Afterwards, Andro recommended Adri who had often done jam sessions with him to fill the position of drummer. The four of them then invited Rama to join. At the beginning of April 2005, Nidji added another member, Randy, a keyboard player who was a close friend of Giring.[7]

In 2012, the "Liberty Victoria" song was used by Manchester United as a new anthem.[8]

Five years later, on April 5, 2017, the band released a new album entitled Love, Fake & Friendship.[9] It is the last album that featured the original vocalist Giring before he left for his political career. From December 2018 to January 2019, Nidji and Musica Studios opened auditions to find Giring's successor. From around 2,000 participants, 10 chosen candidates had the opportunity to perform with Giring and the band. At Giring's final concert "Mimpi adalah Kunci" on February 2, 2019, Yusuf Ubay, who was also a 2014 Indonesian Idol contestant, was chosen as Nidji's new vocalist.[10]

Side projects

NEV

In October 2013, Nidji formed a side project called NEV (Nidji Electronic Version), which they used as an avenue to explore their electronic side. In this project, they rearranged their songs to the electronic version. However, the remix version will not be released to be an album. They will play it in live performance only.[11][12]

NEV+

Following the departure of the vocalist Giring and the hiatus of Nidji, the other five members formed a side project called NEV+ (Nidji Electronic Version Plus) in 2017. Its concept is the same with NEV. Without Giring participation, NEV name was changed to NEV+. 'Plus' means the collaboration of Nidji with a number of other singers, to fill in the gaps left by Giring.[13]

In 2018, NEV+ alongside NOAH vocalist Nazril "Ariel" Irham and Hivi! former vocalist Dalila "Dea" Azkadiputri performed "Janger Persahabatan", a song written by Guruh Soekarnoputra. This song was made as one of the official songs for the 2018 Asian Games.[14][15]

Band members

Current members
  • Yusuf Ubay — lead vocals, saxophone (2019–present)
  • Andi Ariel Harsya — guitar (2002–present)
  • Ramadhista Akbar — guitar, backing vocals (2002–present)
  • Andro Regantoro — bass guitar, backing vocals (2002–present)
  • Randy Danistha — keyboards, synthesizers, backing vocals (2005–present)
  • Adri Prakarsa — drums (2002–present)

Former members

Timeline

Discography

Studio albums
Title Album details
Breakthru
Top Up
  • Released: April 29, 2007
  • Label: Musica Studio's
  • Formats: CD, digital download
Let's Play
  • Released: March 7, 2009
  • Label: Musica Studio's
  • Formats: CD, digital download
Liberty Victory
Love, Fake & Friendship
  • Released: April 5, 2017
  • Label: Musica Studio's
  • Formats: CD, digital download

Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result
2006 Nidji MTV Indonesia Awards — Most Favorite Band[16] Won
MTV Indonesia Awards — Most Favorite New Artist[16] Won
2014 "Sumpah dan Cintaku Matiku" Indonesian Music Awards — Best Original Soundtrack Film[17] Won

References
  1. True, Chris. "Nidji | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
  2. Maullana, Irfan (June 21, 2013). "Aksi Nidji di Konser K-20" [Nidji performance at K-20 concert]. Kompas (in Indonesian). Retrieved December 24, 2017.
  3. Zulmi, Nizar (June 20, 2014). "[Eksklusif] Oh, Ini Rahasia Sukses Nidji Go Internasional" [[Exclusive] Oh, this is the secret of Nidji go International success]. KapanLagi.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved December 24, 2017.
  4. Sukarno, Puput Ady (May 10, 2015). "Nidji Akan Tampil di Otobursa Tumplek Blek Malam Ini" [Nidji will perform at Otobursa Tumplek Blek tonight]. Bisnis Indonesia (in Indonesian). Retrieved December 24, 2017.
  5. Khoiri, Agniya (January 3, 2018). "Ditinggal Giring Jadi Caleg, Nidji Resmi Vakum" [Giring left the band for joining politics, Nidji officially on hiatus]. CNN Indonesia (in Indonesian). Retrieved January 9, 2018.
  6. "~ Life in Indonesia ~: Heroes Season 3 – Shadows by Nidji". Quirky Indonesia. November 9, 2008. Retrieved June 21, 2013.
  7. "Artist: Nidji". Musica Studio's (in Indonesian). Retrieved December 24, 2017.
  8. Suhardiman, Arief (April 4, 2012). "Nidji's song becomes MU's next anthem". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
  9. Ardian, Dicky (April 5, 2017). "Nidji Buka Puasa 5 Tahun Tanpa Album Lewat 'Love, Fake & Friendship'" [Nidji releases 'Love, Fake & Friendship' after 5 years without album]. Detik.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved January 9, 2018.
  10. Pramudya, Windy Eka (February 3, 2019). "Konser 'Mimpi adalah Kunci', Detik-detik Yusuf Ubay Gantikan Giring Nidji" [The 'Mimpi adalah Kunci' Concert, Yusuf Ubay Moment to Replace Nidji's Giring]. Pikiran Rakyat (in Indonesian). Retrieved February 11, 2019.
  11. "NEV, Sisi Elektronik Dari Nidji" [NEV, the electronic side of Nidji]. Hai Grid (in Indonesian). October 31, 2013. Retrieved January 9, 2018.
  12. "Nidji Bentuk Alter Ego 'Nidji Electronic Version'" [Nidji forms alter ego 'Nidji Electronic Version']. Detik.com (in Indonesian). October 30, 2013. Retrieved January 9, 2018.
  13. "Nidji Vakum, Lahir NEV Plus" [Nidji on hiatus, NEV Plus formed]. Viva (in Indonesian). September 9, 2017. Retrieved January 9, 2018.
  14. Riantrisnanto, Ruly (May 13, 2018). "Bareng Nev Plus dan Dea, Ariel NOAH Berpartisipasi di Asian Games 2018" [With Nev Plus and Dea, Ariel NOAH performing the 2018 Asian Games song]. Liputan 6 (in Indonesian). Retrieved June 4, 2018.
  15. Pangerang, Andi Muttya Keteng (May 2, 2018). "Guruh Soekarnoputra: "Janger Persahabatan" Cocok dengan Suara Ariel NOAH" [Guruh Soekarnoputra: "Janger Persahabatan" fits Ariel NOAH's vocals]. Kompas (in Indonesian). Retrieved June 4, 2018.
  16. Purwanto, Heru (November 9, 2006). "Nidji Raih Dua Penghargaan MTV 2006" [Nidji wins two awards at MTV Awards 2006]. Antara (in Indonesian). Retrieved December 21, 2017.
  17. Sulaiman, Trian (June 20, 2014). "Raih Piala AMI Awards 2014, Nidji: Berarti Karya Kita Diakui" [Winning the AMI Awards 2014, Nidji: our work is recognized]. KapanLagi.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved December 21, 2017.
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