A sense of calm and solemnity fills the mind when listening to the intro in harmony of the song just released by Archa on August 10, 2024. The title is Ten. This music group from Maluku raises the theme of humans.
They are Delon Imlabla (bass), Jemmi Radjabaycolle (flute, tahuri, sequencer), Eirene Marpay (kalabasa, maracas, bells), and Ryan Suneth (djembe, tifa, darbuka) who choose to continue exploring the richness of sound in natural living spaces, looking for new sounds on traditional/modern instruments, and prioritizing vocal strength with lyrics in the local languages of Maluku as material to fill our listening space with sounds they call “spiritual music”.
Without any complicated rhythm, it only takes appreciation in listening to this song. The function of the song as a spiritual medium can be felt. After being lulled by the guitar strumming and background music in an intense “spiritual frequency”. The percussion begins to enter slowly. A simple rhythm, even easy to follow by the sound of the “klak klok” mouth of a 4-year-old boy who is listening. He recites the rhythm along with the song Ten.
The song Ten flows without realizing almost five minutes have passed. The first lines of the five verses in the lyrics of the song Ten all take the form of reflective questions. Departing from cultural awareness, this song consciously invites humans to look far into the future while carefully arranging their steps today.
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“The song Ten is a measured reflection on tragedy as a possibility. Springs can turn into tears, if the land is completely seized. Since the beginning, the earth has been a mother who gave birth to human children as brothers. However, that brotherhood can also easily turn into a futile feud, if the children of humanity forget the sacred bonds and noble values, and then are busy competing to catch up on who is the greatest among them,” explained Jemmi from a press release received by Media Indonesia, Tuesday (13/8).
The lyrics of the song Ten were written in Teuwa, an old language from Yamahaipate, Ulahahan State, on Seram Island. Chalvin Papilaya (1992-2023) wrote the lyrics of this song and then worked on the music with Archa who at that time was still a trio (Delon Imlabla, Chalvin Papilaya, Art Waifitu).
“In the Indonesian translation manuscript that he left behind, there were several key words and phrases that he still copied into Teuwa. It was only during a long conversation with Art Waifitu, Chalvin’s younger brother and friend, who accompanied him during his time in Negeri Ulahahan, that Archa got clarity about the meaning of words, phrases, as well as the cultural context and their meaning,” said Jemmi.
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Archa’s vision, especially regarding the exploration of themes and issues, has been laid down by Chalvin Papilaya in the early works he worked on with Delon Imlabla. Archa has worked on songs with important/critical themes/issues (humans: material/spiritual, human relations (conflictual/harmonious), marine issues and the welfare of coastal communities).
“Chalvin is no longer with us, but his strong concern for the history of Maluku, as well as his persistence in experiencing up close the actual human situation in the countries he visited, and his respect for the sacredness/nobility of culture have become the breath of Archa’s musical journey,” concluded Delon.
Ten means crying, and that is the first song of all human children. This song is dedicated to the listener and to the life that we have to cry about more than once or twice, but we still love and fight for—as we should. Enjoy listening on Spotify and YouTube! (Nov)
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