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When the Java Soulnation Festival was held for the first time last year, it brought the likes of Akon and Ashanti to Jakarta. Most fans and observers assumed that subsequent festivals would follow this model and specialize in soul hip-hop, R&B and rap. They were wrong.

This year’s festival, which will take place on Friday and Saturday, redefines the Soulnation concept. Stealing the spotlight on the Special Show stage, supposedly the pinnacle of the program, is The Ting Tings, a British pop-rock duo known for playful songs like “That’s Not My Name” and “Shut Up and Let Me Go.” This hardly fits the festival’s implied character.

So, has Soulnation lost its soul?

“The Ting Tings is a British group that falls under electronic and dance, which is an extension of Soulnation’s concept,” said Eki Puradiredja, program coordinator of the festival.

“The name Soulnation doesn’t refer to just a particular genre, as it’s more about the spirit and attitude of the urban lifestyle in big cities like Jakarta.”

Having said all that, the presence of The Ting Tings doesn’t mean this year’s Soulnation is totally bereft of the kind of artists audiences expect.

Award-winning hip-hop band Arrested Development will showcase its alternative hip-hop talents on Friday. The Atlanta-based group, which won a Grammy for best new artist in 1993, is responsible for early 1990s chart-topping songs such as “Tennessee” and “People Everyday.”

Also on Friday will be a performance by zesty electro-meets-soul group Tortured Soul, which is becoming a Jakarta regular as it plays its third gig in the capital.

“Ever since their first performance at the Java Jazz Festival the demand for them has kept on growing,” Eki said

Earlier this year the three-man Brooklyn group, which plays soulful house music, released its second album, “Did You Miss Me,” with playful lyrics and upbeat tunes such as “We Like Tequila.”

Saturday’s highlight is undoubtedly Musiq Soulchild, Taalib Johnson’s stage name. Musiq has released five albums, with two of them going platinum, and bagged many honors, including four Grammy nominations. An artist who blends soul with hints of funk, blues, jazz and hip-hop, some of his best-known songs are “Love,” “Halfcrazy” and “Buddy.”

The second day of the festival will also include appearances by New York R&B group Atlantic Starr and Darryl McDaniels.

Darryl McDaniels is better-known as DMC, of Run DMC, which has been hailed as the greatest hip-hop group of all time by both MTV and VH1. In 2006, McDaniels released his hip-hop-meet-rock album “Checks Thugs and Rock N Roll,” which featured artists such as Kid Rock, Kiara and Sarah McLachlan.

The festival lineup also includes an array of local acts. Boogiemen, Pandji Pragiwaksono and J-Flow will take to the stage on Friday, while Maliq & D;Essentials, Joeniar Arief and NEO will perform the following day.

One act that deserves a special mention is the Pesta Rap (Rap Party) reunion. The name Pesta Rap emerged in the 1990s as a compilation album series comprising then up-and-coming rap artists. Many of these artists will be coming together again to perform for Soulnation. Some of the best songs from the album series include “Cewek Matre” (“Materialistic Girl”), “Bosan” (“Bored”) and “Anak Gedongan” (“Spoiled Kid”).

“Pesta Rap led to the rise of rap and hip-hop in Indonesia,” Eki said. “I’m sure this reunion concept will attract Soulnation attendees.”

Soulnation also has a number of charity events, including IndonesiaUnite Rise. Hosted by Glenn Fredly, this collaboration performance will feature local artists and aims to raise money for survivors of the Sept. 30 West Java earthquake.

Soulnation’s embrace this year of different genres is probably no accident, as Eki said change and development are the keys to the festival’s future. “Soulnation is a new festival. It will continue to develop according to market demand, without losing its concept and character. If we don’t keep it dynamic, how can it survive?”


Java Soulnation Festival
Friday, Oct. 30 and Saturday, Oct. 31
Istora Senayan, South Jakarta

Tickets
1-Day Pass — Rp 250,000
2-Day Pass — Rp 400,000

For more details, see www.javasoulnation.com

Festival Highlights

Friday
The Ting Tings, 9 p.m., Axis Main Stage
Arrested Development, 10 p.m., Avolution Stage
Tortured Soul, 11:15 p.m., Axis Main Stage

Saturday
Atlantic Starr, 8:15 p.m., Axis Main Stage
DMC (of Run DMC), 9:30 p.m., Avolution Stage
Musiq Soulchild, 10:45 p.m., Axis Main Stage