Influenced by various musician that muster in different playing field, brought Endah and Rhesa to invent a one of a kind collaboration. While Endah taking Alanis Morissete as her original muse, Rhesa take in-depth interpretation on Ballad tunes, just like Norah Jones, Jack Johnson and Dave Matthews to name a few. Emphasizing the same domain in musical taste, Endah and Rhesa sways a groovy harmony throughout their lunges, giving almost distinct nuances that enrich the Indonesian music Industry with profound creativity in term of pop jazz genre.

Comprising guitar, bass and vocal acoustic, Endah and Rhesa tries to bring out shades of African melody in their latest album entitled as “Look What We’ve Found”.  Released on 2010, this dynamic duo serenade the mass with easy listening songs that spell beautiful and heart-warming in an instant, consist of light guitar thrums and Endah crispy voice, one could feel the romantic aura inside every tracks. This album was produced and mastered —and also self illustrated by these two, in prior of their sketchy first album layout, you could till witness the scribbles and funny graffiti all over the cover; but it’s come in full color this time.

Nice collaboration from the instruments augmented with sweet vocals from Endah still holds their own characteristic using english lyrics make those who have listens want to know more about this album. Song lyrics they served were not far from our everyday life. Songs titled “Tuimbe” using special native African language means let’s sing encorage our everyday life. Inspired by woods and beach, Endah n Rhesa creates tunes which can evoke calm feeling to their fans. Just try listening to the song  “Mirror Spell” which given a classic music touch, could release one from complex daily activities. As an achiever of best acoustic act in 2009, they assign nice integration instruments and lyric titled “Monkey Song” which tells the real life of this animal.  Light rhythm also can be enjoyed in “ Midnight Sun” at least wiggle our fingers. The many selections of songs such as Remember me, Wish You Were Here and others can be found here . Overall, the music they have arranged still holds their own originality and keeps it fresh. [Image courtesy of REiproject Entertainment]

Text by Monivia P

Although songs written about the ups and downs of life is nothing groundbreaking, Macdonald’s ability to write songs is worth the acknowledgement that she is one of the most talented singer-song writer in our decade. A prime example would be the song Sparks – written after she saw a murdered toddler on the news reflects the real effect a story can make to a woman. Other notable creation is in the song An Ordinary Life which was inspired by Z-list celebrities that she saw in one of the industry party she attends. In the age of status updates on microblogs, it’s just very unusual for people to write songs based on murder and low-life celebrities that needed publication more than they needed anything else in life. Not all songs in A Curious Thing are as depressing as it sounds. Macdonald also talks about the current love in her life, fiancé and footballer Steve Lovell. A piano rendition was specially written for him on What Happiness Means To Me and Troubled Soul – the latter tells a story about an incident that happened to Lovell.

Soft spoken, yet booming is how to best describes Macdonald’s voice and this album is the perfect soundtrack to make a lazy Sunday become more invigorating to welcome Doomday Monday. Her Irish roots gives you a certain tone of voice that makes her songs become folk mellow. Each strum of the guitar gives a more catchy pop sounds that blends together well, making her songs distinctively different from other musical artists of this genre. Macdonald’s down to earth personality is what makes her relatable to her fans and for us the everyday people. Those ordinary, small, curious things is what makes Amy Macdonald what she is today, and what she is now is for you to decide.

Amy Macdonald’s album A Curious Thng is available from Universal Music.

In many aspect, ‘Heart and Soul’ is a culmination of everything that has come before it as a confident statement from an instrumentalist and songwriter who remains true to his own voice after nearly three decades of artistically satisfying and commercially compelling recordings. The album, produced by longtime songwriting partner, Walter Afanasieff, featured guest vocalist such as Robin Thicke and Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds.

It didn’t take a long time to be reminded of Kenny G’s heaving saxophone sound. The first song which he claims to be his favorite piece in the entire record, “Heart and Soul”, had the similar feeling that Kenny gives you back when he started. It sounded so familiar in your ear that you just simply heave to the melodies of his saxophone. The track “Fall Again” featuring Robin Thicke had harmonies a little darker than usual and had Thicke on emotionally charged lead vocal that shift effortlessly between tenor and falsetto. The track “No Place Like Home” has a subtle but persistent groove and is slightly more upbeat, thanks to Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds who was featured in the song as guest vocalist. The last song on the album “After Hours” simply represents that times when the world slows down and people started looking for a darker yet gently churning rhythm and smoky melody for their alternate entertainment that continues after dark.

It has been a long time since I enjoyed listening to an instrumental music. But Kenny G is not easily forgotten. As my love for jazz music is slowly creeping back into my life since attending 2010 Java Jazz Festival, Kenny G’s new album felt so warm in my ear. It’s clear that he is trying to set his foot back to where he belongs in the music world and if you listen to his records, you will know that he is one artist that stays true to himself and ‘Heart and Soul’ is the example of that kind of clarity and integrity that Kenny G has as an artist and it is the kind of record that will last forever.

In Indonesia, Heart and Soul from Kenny G is release through Universal Music Indonesia.

Bring forth another Enrique Iglesias ninth studio album, Euphoria. This time Enrique comeback with another seductive pop, bouncing hip hop beats that will set ablaze any dance floor.

This album ranged from hip hop to intoxicating pop rhythm. Enrique’s Euphoria also concocted with special dash from various artist like Juan Luis Guerra in his Spanish language smash “Cuando Me Enamoro”, which debuted at number 8 and number 25 on U.S Latin Pop Songs and U.S. Hot Latin Songs respectively. The song became his 25th top 10 single on the U.S. Billboard Latin Pop Songs & after 4 weeks of its release date it became his 21st No.1 song on this chart. The second single, “I Like It”, which features Pitbull, this track represent the hip personality of Pitbull and Enrique funk side, topped with reprise from Lionel Richie’s chorus “All Night Long” was released on May 3, 2010 in the U.S and became the album candy-coated center, The third single will be “Heartbeat”, which features Nicole Scherzinger and was released on June 8 2010 in the United States. The fourth single “No Me Digas Que No”, which features Wisin & Yandel, was released on June 22, 2010.

Enrique tries to stabilize the portion between his two languages, one from his childhood and the other as a pop icon. In this album, Enrique tucks in many songstress and singer like PCD’s Nicole and Pitbull, which made him grasp a new level in musical industry, this new album somehow represent the personality that transcends in Enrique’s life, modern and electronic feel that led to the folk music hip. Enrique also showed his multi-talented singer act who can also maintain his characteristic even when he’s doing collaboration with other artist from totally different genre and mass, like Usher in “Dirty Dancer” and Akon with reggae-ish beat in “One Day at A Time”, this album try to explore the uncharted domain in music industry, and well, Enrique done well this time.

This time instead of having same album with two different languages for perspective country, Enrique made a brave move by producing only one instead two, and he sung some of his amusement bilingually. The song arrangement also did a major point in the overall rating for this Euphoria, started with head banging single, down to several mellow dramatic song, and ended with tangible Spanish influenced single “No Me Digas Que No”. An album worth to satisfy any listener whose crave for a taste of Spanish touch and a blink of American dreams.

Enrique Iglesias’ Euphoria is released through Universal Music Indonesia.