Polyester Embassy

POLYESTER EMBASSY Polyester Embassy is an experimental-rock-electronica-progressive band from Bandung, West Java, Indonesia. The band was started circa 2002 by five good-friends: Elang Eby (Vocal / Guitar / Piano / Synthesizer / Sampler), Sidik Kurnia (Guitar / Piano / Synthesizer / Sampler), Givari MP (Drums / Percussion), Ekky Dharmawan (Vocal / Guitar / Piano / Synthesizer / Sampler) and Ridwan Aritomo (Vocal / Bass / Piano / Synthesizer / Sampler). Polyester Embassy gain cult following and positive critical review by music critics and fans alike after releasing their debut album, Tragicomedy, in 2006 through Fast Forwards Records, a well-known indie-label based in Bandung. This year, Polyester Embassy is ready to rock the scene with the follow up album entitled FAKE / FAKER in May 2011. History and Independent Years The band started out in 2001 as a cover band project, covering various range of each member favorite artist, such as Radiohead, Mansun, Metallica, Coldplay, Blur, the Beatles, Nirvana, Sonic Youth and Ride. In 2002, the band started to write their own materials and record them with minimum quality demo tape. The recordings have been circulated among close friends and the scene. Their earlier works which are favorite among fans songs such as: Tragicomedy, Senandung, She’s a Fish, Blue Flashing Lights (demo version). The band began their stage career in 2003 by playing in a small gigs ranging from friends party, independent festivals, and house party. Since their early gigs, Polyester Embassy is known for their atmospheric sound, abrasive noise and energetic performances, from switching around the instruments, the deployment of many strange and unique instruments, bashing and trashing their instruments at the end of the set. Between 2004 until 2005, polyester Embassy has completed the writing of materials that soon will be included in their sophomore debut album Tragicomedy. Many of the songs in the album have been played by the band live long before it’s released. Few songs being fans favorite: Orange is Yellow, Good Feeling, Faded Blur and The Pattern Start to Make Sense as Thirty Three Dialogue Bleed into One (The Pattern – for short). In 2005, the band released the song Orange is Yellow, Blue Flashing Lights, Faded Blur and Polypanicrooms on their myspace page. The song Polypanicrooms (demo version) attracted many listener and gain popularity in the underground indie scene, and awarded by Indiebandung, an independent webzine, as Song of the Year. The song Good Feeling (demo version) was featured in a compilation called “When Life Get Started”. In this era, the band already tried to hook a good record deal with Fast Forward Records (FF/WD) by sending their demo CD to label owner Helvi Syarifudin, Marine Ramdhani and Didit, but no green light was given by the label to support them. Several ventures offered the band their hands, such as Spills Records (Bandung) and Black Morse Records (Jakarta). The band kept on going producing songs and playing in various indie gigs without any label supporting their steps. FAST FORWARD RECORDS AND TRAGICOMEDY ALBUM Their live performances led them the way to record deal, especially at Poptastic!, an indie monthly event arranged by one of FF/WD owner Marine Ramdhani. In 2006, the band finally signed a one album contract deal with FF/WD Records. This venture allows them to a much wider exposure and recording funds. Without hesitation, the band quickly started to record their new materials, including their previous independent releases, which was recorded in circa 2004-2005 at 46 Studios Bandung by Mr. Gagan as recording technician. Their effort on recording album material took place at Aru Studio, a recording studio where label mates Mocca recorded their songs. This instruments recording session was recorded and engineered by Babam, a close friend of the band. Polyester Embassy deployed their best efforts in this recording session. Once all the instruments were recorded, it comes to vocals and mixing. In this stage, the band collaborated with long time friend, DJ Hendra of Rock n Roll Mafia. The recording of vocals happened to be a long hard work for the band but everything is finished with satisfaction. Tragicomedy, a debut album by Polyester Embassy, was released on October 2006 on a high demand. Considered to be a long awaited album by independent act, the album stole public attention. Consist of 9 songs, the album is considered to be a great debut album by music critics and fans. The list of the songs in the album are: Orange is Yellow, Faded Blur, Good Feeling, Blue Flashing Lights feat. DJ Hendra of RNRM, The Answer is No, You’ll Be Gone, Ruins, Polypanicrooms, Home feat Deena of Homogenic. An Album Launch Concert was held on 11 November 2006 at New Majesty (formerly known as AACC Bandung) with sold out tickets. The album spawned 4 singles: Polypanicrooms, The Answer is No, Blue Flashing Lights and Faded Blur. 3 promotional videos was made, Polypanic Rooms directed by Henry Fondation of Goodnight Electric, Blue Flashing Lights directed by Alexander Hutamea, and Faded Blur directed by Inil and edited by Indra Boxy of 86Frames. The album marked Polyester Embassy extensive tours and gigs starting from Jakarta, Semarang, Solo, Yogyakarta, Surabaya, Makassar, Malaysia and Singapore. With only one album at their belt, the band have played in various music concerts and festivals such as: KICKFEST #1 & #2, Urbanfest 2009 and 2010, LA Lights Indiefest #1 & #2, Embassy Playground, Jakarta Rock Parade 2008, Java Rockin’ Land 2010, Maternal’s Party Dark, Mettle Games Singapore 2010, and the band perform as opening act for the Temper Trap on their show in Bandung, Indonesia. The Band is openly collaborated with several prominent indonesian Indie musician, such as Hendra (Rock n Roll Mafia), Dellyana Deena (Homogenic), Evan (Storn), Imanfux (Electrofux), and Souldelay in several live performances and recording. Tragicomedy album is also available via iTunes for the worldwide sale. This debut album praised the band as one of Post-Rock, Electronic Rock Fused and Experimental pioneer in Indonesia. FAKE/FAKER, the death of original music This records marked the band comeback to the music scene after 5 years of touring and battling in the studio for the new materials. FAKE/FAKER was released on May 2012 by FFWD Records, with a pre-release of “Space Travel Rock n’ Roll” single few months before. The album contains songs that are very different from their previous releases, both in arrangements and song structure. In this records, Polyester Embassy tried an organic and back to basic in their ways to write and record. Collaborate with the Jedi Producer, Adhit Android, the band recorded the songs in an experimental atmosphere using lots of original and organic sounds and minimize the use of synthetic ones. With DJ Hendra (Rock n Roll Mafia) team up with the band in the missing board, the result is a mind blowing album with 9 songs that will change your world forever by knowing that this album was made in a third world country, Indonesia. FAKE/FAKER spawn singles like “Space Travel Rock n’ Roll”, a psychedelic electro rock influenced song that made Queen’s song a bit sappy, with Syidik Kurnia lead melodies and Archil Soekarno hit the trumpet as loud as this heart can bear, make this song a gem in Polyester Embassy repertoire. Second single “Later On”, an electro rock progressive approach by the band combining hooks and melodies. “Have You”, an acoustic masterpiece and other single in the album, “Air”, “LSD (Like Sunny Day)”, “Good Love”, “Small Stakes”, “White Crime”, “Yes/No”, and the uplifting title track singe “Fake”. With this album, Polyester Embassy, dubbed and admitted that in this time of age, music comes to the point that originality is dead. What exist nowadays is an interpretation of our influences, but the band make a clear statement that influences in writing music is something that they have to stand to take full account and responsibilities of what they have created. The album contains collaborative work with Archil Soekarno playing Trumpet in “Space Travel Rock n Roll” and Evan Storn playing Theremin in “White Crime”. Rolling Stones Indonesia listed FAKE/FAKER album in their album of the year 2011 and also the Jakarta Globe marked the album as their favorite album of 2011. FFWD Records, 3hundreds and Djarum International make way for Polyester Embassy solo concert called “Silent Yellow Ensemble” on 1 November 2011. The concert highlighted as Polyester Embassy boldest and brightest concert, where the band gave their fans a night to remember and also literally light shows. In 2011, Polyester Embassy alongside with HP Asia Pacific made a cooperative relationship in promoting music and computer use in music in an event called HP Music Matters 2011 in Singapore. Polyester Embassy with other 40 bands from Asia Pacific turned Clarke Quay Singapore into a fanfare of diverse musical journey. Tour dates by the band in 2011 includes: Rock In Celebes 2011 with Burgerkill, Netral and Seringai, Java Rockin’ Land 2011, Jogja Youth Fest 2011, Kompas Go Green, MASSA Widyatama 2011, Beatsperimental with the Milo and Shaggfest with Katon Bagaskara, Gugun Blues Shelter, Bottlesmoker, Hightime Rebellion and ETC to close the wonderful year. The artwork for FAKE/FAKER album is a collaborative work of the band with Vidi from MATERNAL DISASTER, and Sandi Usenk, the band’s official photographer. In their run for the album, the band still collaborate with 86Frames, Indra Boxy, Togar Iro Ni, Firman Ni, Meggy Mayz for the visual and video work, such as for the “Later On” video “Air” and “Have You”. __________________________________ For bands info and more click on www.polyesterembassy.com, or facebook.com/polyesterembassy and you can keep in touch with the band on Twitter: @PE_official. To contact the band: contact@polyesterembassy.com and for booking e-mail the manager: dony dolarz at dolarz@gmail.com For Info and Booking: Fauzi / phone +6282116787753 / email udjieudjie@gmail.com