From Pontianak to Jakarta: The untold story of Arwana Band’s rise

Pontianak, Thekabarnews.com—The Arwana Band’s roots go back to a group of café musicians from Pontianak, West Kalimantan. They loved live music and felt strongly connected to their region. Three musicians—Hendri Lamiri (violin), Yudie Chaniago, and Yan Machmud—got together to form the band X-Bart. 

Their goal was simple: to create a professional band by bringing together excellent musicians from their hometown. They also wanted to add a local touch to the national music scene.

X-Bart’s band grew over time to include Yudie Chaniago (vocals and drums; born January 9, 1965), Hendri Lamiri (vocals and violin), Yan Machmud (lead vocals and acoustic guitar), Wansyah Fadli (vocals and guitar), Delsi (keyboard), and Nono (bass). The band mostly played Top 40 singles. Their lively shows in cafes all across Jakarta made them famous very quickly.

In 1995, they had their first big stage appearance at News Café. This was a big step forward in their professional lives. The group changed its name to Nacle Band that same year. However, they kept the same musical style: playing popular Top 40 tunes for café audiences. Senior Indonesian artists noticed them because they kept performing. They recognized a lot of promise in the ensemble.

Help from well-known artists was vital. Several well-known musicians told Nacle Band to go into the studio and make their own songs. As a result, the band produced 10 master songs at GIN Studio in 1996. 

At the time, it was a popular spot for prominent musicians to hang out. Billy J. Budiarjo and Dian Pramana Putra, both well-known people in the industry, helped and guided the recording process.

This first chapter set the stage for the Arwana Band’s later growth. The narrative of the band shows how hard work, pride in one’s region, and the necessity of having a mentor are all important in Indonesia’s music industry.