SANTAMONICA
In the meantime, I interviewed Santamonica, a well-established husband-wife duo from Jakarta. It was almost obvious they were a couple when Anindita dominated the forum and Joseph deigned to silently listen. The music says it too. In 2001, Joseph Saryuf finished his studies in Hamburg, Germany and returned to his hometown in Jakarta to go full-time into music. Along came Dita, full time fashion editor for Elle Indonesia and freelance illustrator. They met through friends, they like the same music and he likes her voice and thus Santamonica formed in 2003. Thereafter they married in 2005. But how could a magazine editor turn into part-time musician? “I had to start listening to a lot of music. I actually have a bit of an arts background,” Dita said through her cigarette on Esplanade’s rooftop. “I take it as a hobby, a stress relief. I go to concerts and gigs to chill sometimes.” When I asked what sort of music they drew inspiration from, they provided a variety: Bloody Valentine, Carpenters, Franz Sinatra, LCD Sound System, European movies, surreal art and anything electronic, synthesized or weird. Talk about eclectic. She adds: “It’s very organic, natural. The first album (an EP titled “189”) had an unexpected sound. The second one (Curiouser and Curiouser) is very different. You never know what’s gonna’ happen next.”
Santamonica, signed by JVC-Victor Japan, released “Curiouser and Curiouser” under Sinjitos Records in Japan in April 2009. Dita has lovely, mesmerizing vocals, as talkative in the song as she is in conversation. But pair her with a jazzy/indie/electro-pop husband and they tango just fine.
CHECK THEM OUT
ONLINE: Myspace.com/santamonica
WHAT TO DOWNLOAD: Anais Lullaby, Ribbons and Tie
