New Clothes of Malay Songs

Through the addictive Malay chant, Supriyadi Hasanin packages the cultural artifacts wrapped in dust with a new look so that they can be enjoyed more freely and happily.

KOMPAS/PANDU WIYOGA

Supriyadi Hasanin

In Riau Islands, Supriyadi Hasanin (31) is making new clothes for a Malay tradition that has nearly eroded. Through the addictive Malay chant, he packages the cultural artifacts wrapped in dust with a new look so that they can be enjoyed more freely and happily.

The sun had nearly set in the west, when a skinny man slowly drew his violin with a bow on the porch of his house overlooking the sea. The music is like an unpredictable ocean wave. Airing sang sad tunes at the beginning, then suddenly kicked excitedly.

The islands’ people know this man better by the stage name Adi Lingkepin. According to the man who goes by the name Lingkepin, short for Lingga, Kepri (the Indonesian acronym for Riau Islands), Indonesia. Lingga is Adi\'s hometown, a group of islands in the southern part of Riau Islands. It is located about five hours by ship from the capital of Riau Islands, which is Tanjung Pinang.

Wow, this is very cool! What musical instrument is that? I\'ve been looking for it, I can\'t find it in Lingga

"In the past, there was no electricity in my village. Our only entertainment was playing soccer or playing music. It was in such a limited environment that my interest in music initially grew,” said Adi when met at his home, Tanjung Pinang City, Riau Islands, Saturday (5/12/2020).

Adi\'s musical journey began when he was in the fifth grade, when he joined a half-religious, half-dangdut music group that was trending in his village. Together with the Malay orchestra, he often appeared at weddings or official district level government events.

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When Adi was in grade IX in junior high school, his brother returned home with a gift of the Bond quartet VCD. He was amazed to see four foreign women strum a musical instrument that resembled a guitar, but smaller and only has four strings. The sound of the instrument was so beautiful that Adi\'s guitar and tambourine suddenly no longer looked attractive.

"Wow, this is very cool! What musical instrument is that? I\'ve been looking for it, I can\'t find it in Lingga," he said innocently.

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KOMPAS/PANDU WIYOGA

Supriyadi Hasanin

Since then, Adi has been secretly in love with the violin. He looked for the songs the Bond quartet played and then played them on guitar. However, since it still didn\'t fit, Adi\'s desire to have a violin grew stronger. For the first time, he was irritated by life on an isolated island far from the city.

Adi had the opportunity to play the new violin after he graduated from high school. At that time, he met Hamzah, the owner of a traditional music studio in Lingga, who was good at playing Malay music with the violin and lute. "I did not blink seeing him playing the violin," said Adi.

Hamzah then lent one of his two violins to Adi. He gave Adi one month to learn to play the "compulsory song", which is "Tari Persembahan Melayu" or Malay offering dance. However, it only took Adi one week to be able to play the song smoothly.

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"Not because I\'m smart, but maybe because I\'ve harbored that desire for so long. It took more than three years to see a real violin, imagine how long I had to wait for that opportunity," he laughed out loud.

In 2009, Adi moved to Tanjung Pinang to study at the Raja Haji College of Social and Political Sciences. Besides studying, he also joined the Penyengat Island Heritage Cultural Center which is led by a veteran artist in Riau Islands, Azmi Mahmud.

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"If you can play Malay songs correctly, believe me you don\'t have to bother with other work here," Adi said imitating Azmi\'s words.

The advice was conveyed by Azmi to calm Adi who was worried about finding a side job to pay for college fees. Azmi\'s words proved to be true. Adi slowly felt the sweet fruits of his perseverance in art.

If you can play Malay songs correctly, believe me you don\'t have to bother with other work here.

Since joining the Penyengat Island Heritage Cultural Center, Adi performed more frequently in Riau Islands. From the results of playing music to accompany the show, he had enough income to pay tuition fees and start learning to live independently.

After some time performing with the Penyengat Island group, Adi then tried his luck playing the violin solo. He injects modern musical elements into traditional songs that are usually used to accompany traditional Makyong theater performances.

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KOMPAS/PANDU WIYOGA

Supriyadi Hasanin

The result of the arrangement titled Progressive Makyong quickly became famous in Riau Islands. Adi\'s music grew familiar to many people because it brings nostalgia that is full of memories, while at the same time feels fresh because it contains novelty that makes people curious.

"Actually, it\'s just giving new clothes to traditional culture, while the core message remains the same. That\'s how I attract the attention of young people. If young people like it, it will be hype,” said Adi.

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After a fairly successful solo career, Adi formed a Young Artists of Same Origin (Samudra) Ensemble to spread the world music virus in Riau Islands. He defines world music as works that are born from the local land. In music, Samudra Ensemble involves various types of traditional and modern instruments to play ethnic songs.

"It is from the natural surroundings that our music comes from. To give new clothes that fit into traditional music, people have to live in the environment where the thing come from,” he said seriously.

In 2017, Samudra Ensemble gave birth to their first album, Sedayoung Kepri or One Paddle Riau Islands, which contains eight songs. One of the titles, "Tanjung Pinang Kampong Kite" or Tanjung Pinang our hometown, soared to become known as one of the compulsory songs for school children in the old port city.

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Actually, in 2020 Adi plans to launch his second album. However, the plan fell apart. The pandemic turned this year into the toughest in the seven years of Samudra Ensemble\'s life. The dimming of the stage lights and the disappearance of the boisterous applause from the audience is an immeasurable suffering for these young people.

"Performing is the main requirement for art activists. When the desire to perform is not fulfilled, the effect is not only a matter of money, but also internal wounds,” said Adi.

Even so, he refused to sink into despair. During the pandemic, he used the time to further explore the diversity of Malay culture, both oral and written. He visited villages to learn from traditional artists. Day by day, his eyes opened more and more, there were so many things he didn\'t know about Riau Islands.

"It reminds me of the name of the first album, Sedayoung Kepri. Sedayung, means not far, just one paddle. What we have been telling about Riau Islands is only a little bit, there are still many other things waiting," he said with a smile.

Supriyadi Hasanin

Place, DOB: Lingga, 16 September 1989

Wife: Lutfhi Efira

Children: Alfi Zehan Khalifa and Muhammad Alfarabi Dwi Haqana

Education: State senior high school (SMAN) 2 Singkep (graduated 2006)

Works: "Sedayoung Kepri" Album