Indonesia's Melody Maker was once known as a black metal sensation but now the band goes by this saying "Whatever they said. We just play rock music with metal attitude." With that said Melody Maker's music is a variation and cannot really be classified by a specific genre to them they consider it to be a "one-genre band" since they listen to a variety of music from rock, metal, to even what they've former done with the black metal and even metalcore it's a bit of everything nowadays. So now with the freedom that is within their grasp the independence that is now theirs is purely nothing but a mission to be that one band in the world with a positive way of life and music. Frontman vocalist Ahmad Mehdy Ghazali discusses the band's latest album "Introduction to the Unfamiliar" as well as what these guys have in-store for us.
1. Please tell us about the history of your band and its members.
Ahmad: We were born in January 2004 from the Eastern Jakarta Indonesia. We have Mehdy on vocals Ali on guitar, Fahrul on guitar, Zakky on bass, Ibrahim on drums, and Terry on keyboard. We're all brothers from the same family hehehe.
2. How would you describe your style? Which bands influenced your music?
Ahmad: So many influences in our music. We love combining many different kinds. Like black metal, metalcore, deathcore, electronic and rock. But we prefer to say "This is rock music" a lot of the bands we look up too are; Avenged Sevenfold, Asking Alexnadria, Nine Inch Nails, Dir En Grey, Parkway Drive, Killswitch Engage, Evanescence, etc.
3. What lyrical theme do you guys use in your music? What message do you want to send?
Ahmad: We're writing about a relationship between the humans and God. How we can show and appreciate everything that God is giving us. We've also done songs about social critics, politics, love, friends and family. Our songs contain a story to tell.
4. How have the gigs you guys been doing been? What equipment do you guys use?
Ahmad: We're creating good music. Have 2 records, a few singles, playing shows during our nine years together. Thanks to God every show that we do is a party so we give the public our best performances and energy because of the many fans we have here. For equipment we use;
Shure Beta 58 for Microphone
LTD,Jackson and Shecter and Bugera /Marshall for Guitar Amplifier
Bass we use a Mexico Fender Bass with SWR bass Amplifier
Keyboard we use Yamaha and Controller from Behringer
Drum set we choose the Ludwig " 100th years edition "
5. What made you guys decide to form a band?
Ahmad: It's simple everyone had a hobby. We started our love to sing and play music so we wanted to show the world our creativity and believe that our music can make the world unity and peaceful.
6. What is your opinion on sites posting your guys material and other bands materials?
Ahmad: All musicians have different tastes and will power in creating music. We just feel free to create good music just making it our best, showing our respect to everyone else who likes or hates our songs and music.
7. How do you guys feel about the classifications in metal? like deathcore, metalcore and other subgenres and how some get a negative rep.
Ahmad: For us that's not important it's just a different opinion about the music classification and for us all kinds of music is beautiful and must be respected. We play everything we want too because we love to play so let it be hehe.
Ahmad: We wanted to present our new music to a mainstream industry in our country. We wanted to say something different and unfamiliar. It's also something bigger and deserves to be consumed by the mainstream public. It's independently made music metal, black metal, hardcore, etc. There's a lot of good things and great values of life with so many positive things to consume.
9. How has the band’s sound evolved from "The Revenge from Bleeding Lolita" to "Introduction To The Unfamiliar"?
Ahmad: We had 4 years distances between the two albums "The Revenge" released in 2008 and "Introduction" released in 2012. Of course we just felt we had to grow and do something fresh! Our new album has more quality sound because we worked really hard during the process. We're more mature, different and have more influences. So enjoy!
10. What's your favorite song on the album right now?
Ahmad: We have 3 songs we play at every show.
1. Love is a Blessing from God
2. Palestina
3. Breaking the Waves
11. When did you start writing for this album? How was the songwriting process different/similar to previous Melody Maker albums?
Ahmad: We started recording this album 2 years ago. We collected one song one by one adding new arrangements day by day. Yes of course we had a different process while recording, we just wanted more discipline wanting to do it more professionally when recording this album. We also had a producer help us out.
12. Can you go into one or two tracks on the new album? If so, can you give us the track title and brief description of how the track sounds and how it came about?
Ahmad: Okay hmmm "Breaking the Waves" is about how we forced ourselves to be different in life. We can teach other bands "Don't be afraid to be different" we have the power and creativity to just move forward.
13. Where is this new material headed?
Ahmad: In our home studio in Jakarta.
14. What is your opinion on the current state of metal?
Ahmad: Metal is great music having great crowds just the good value of life but remember we have a God to obey hehehe.
15. With so many metal bands out there, what do you think makes Melody Maker stand out from the crowd?
Ahmad: We have a different lyrical concept than most bands. We don't want this music to just be for fun we talk about the truths of life and God. Do not avoid GOD if you wanna survive in this life. Also we always show the energetic stage act with every show it's a special gimmick for our fans at every show that we do.
16. What’s coming up for tours and shows?
Ahmad: We just finished our new album promotion tour last month. It was so amazing so we have many big experiences getting many new fans from that tour. For things coming up we have a few concerts and one day hope we can play shows in the U.S.A. Europe, and Japan.
17. What can the fans expect to see from you in the future?
Ahmad: Melody Maker will always be humble and show their respect to the fans creating good music with a good attitude.18. Anything else you'd like to say or add?
Ahmad: Just say what you wanna says...and do what you wanna do but always remember we have a GOD for our forever guidance in this life.
You can download our 4 new songs at www.reverbnation.com/melodymakerindonesia
Follow us on Twitter @MelodyMakerband and like us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/MELODY-MAKER/49046939212
Thanks Natalie for this cool support for our small band..God bless you, and success for your career and family!
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