Portrait of Armand Maulana Releases Mini Album 'Sarwa Renjana' and Its Meaning Behind

After more than two decades with GIGI, Armand feels this is the right moment to show another side of his musicality. Without the burden of great expectations, he just hopes Sarwa Renjana can be accepted by music lovers in Indonesia. "With the release of this mini album, I want to remain relevant and up-to-date with current music," he said. According to Armand, creating and staying relevant is important to maintain the spirit of making music. Five songs in Sarwa Renjana are considered enough to convey a message without losing focus. "Five songs are enough to convey a message without losing focus," he said. Each song here is inspired by his personal life, making it feel like a love letter to his loved ones.

Here are five songs from the EP Sarwa Renjana: "Don't Let Go", "Paradise" (Focus Track), "I Am Your Home", "As Comfortable As That", and "List of Love". It opens with the cheerful tune "Don't Let Go" which encourages listeners to keep the spirit of chasing their dreams. Then, "Paradise" serves as a reminder to live healthily. 

"I Am Your Home" has an 80's pop vibe that depicts unconditional love for his child who is studying in London. "As Comfortable As That" becomes a love song for his wife, Dewi Gita. Finally, "List of Love" invites us to sincerely face life's trials.

Music video for the song "Paradise", directed by Shadtoto Prasetio, carries a 90's vibe complete with trendy flannel shirts. Interestingly, in this video, Armand undergoes quite a challenging scene, from crashing into a door to being hung in a sling, all done in one room. As a result, it's not just an ordinary music video, but also a deep nostalgic visual experience.

Fun fact, Armand once released a solo album in the 90s with the song "Kau Tetap Milikku" before joining GIGI. Then in 2016, he released several solo singles under Arana Project. In Sarwa Renjana, his collaboration with Ade Avery continues and brings a new color to Armand's music.

Ade Avery also acknowledged how exciting the musical exploration with Armand is. "Kang Armand never stops exploring new music," he said. Kamga added that although Armand is brave to experiment with new styles, he still has a strong and recognizable character. "Whatever Kang Armand does, no matter how bold his musical breakthroughs are, it will still sound like him," Kamga revealed.

Simhala Avadana, who is also A&R from Trinity Optima Production, mentioned that recording vocals at home was one of the unique experiences during the EP process. "Kang Armand wanted to record vocals at home, so it would be relaxed and not worry about studio shifts," he added. With Sarwa Renjana, Armand Maulana presents his personal side filled with love and gratitude, in a fresh and touching musical atmosphere.

Have you listened to the EP Sarwa Renjana? What do you think, KLovers?