Singer/songwriter Rifan Kalbuadi and Mariani collaborate on hauntingly beautiful new single about finding peace of mind
Some paths are just meant to cross. If it were not for Mariani’s decision to stick around longer during a night out at a gig, the encounter between the songstress and singer/songwriter/producer Rifan Kalbuadi would never have occurred.
After initially chancing upon Mariani at one of her shows, Rifan’s long-running fascination towards her delicate musical talents finally reached its apex when the pair agreed to jump in on a day-long workshop session to see if something good could come out of it.
However, Mariani came prepared as she brought a song she had written on a whim the night before to the table titled “Tempur Diri”. It immediately got Rifan’s production gears clicking. With their chemistry in sync, they worked their magic and completed the track in less than six hours.
“Mariani is a natural-born songwriter. [Everything she writes] sounds personal yet concise; precisely what I am trying to do for my upcoming debut album, “Rifan says.
“Tempur Diri” further validates his glowing appraisal of Mariani, with the song becoming a new experience for the pair as it is the first-ever track each has worked on to feature another artist.
Within the first few seconds of the four-minute track, Mariani gracefully encapsulates the anguish and turmoil of being at war with oneself in no time,delivering the meaning of the song’s title with aplomb.
“We’re almost always at war with ourselves, so much that we’ve begun to accept it as a normal state of affairs,” Mariani explains. “I just want things to calm down every once in a while.”
Mariani and Rifan tenderly yearn for a calmer state of mind, their velvety vocals intertwining on top of a willowy folk soundscape, which has undeniably become a hallmark of Rifan’s sound, sugar-coated by Mariani’s distinct traditional Javanese sinden-inspired singing.
“I believe it is safe to say that I have found my comfort zone as a producer. Much like what the song implies, I would more often than not find myself in a constant struggle over a song’s composition and its elements. Less is more, I suppose,” Rifan admits.
Rifan’s signature production work shines brightly in “Tempur Diri”, with the exquisite-yet-undemanding marriage between atmospheric sounds, gentle acoustic guitar picking, and soothing harmonies managing to put a clearer emphasis on the essence of the lyrics. “My job was simply to beautify the song further while still ensuring that its message remains intact and can be conveyed to its listeners,” Rifan clarifies.
“Tempur Diri” thematically offers a hint of what is to come from Rifan, who is currently crafting his debut full-length album. “My songs are usually brimming with problems but never necessarily supplemented with a solution,” he adds.“It’s never a dot, always a comma. ‘Tempur Diri’ became the first song to challenge me on that front.”
“Tempur Diri” is available on all digital streaming platforms starting from May 12, 2023.