INTERVIEW: Modjorido
JUNE 2, 2023 | BY MARIA LOBO
Modjorido is a fresh, full of life and exciting Rock’n & Roll band that originated from Bali in 2020. Composed of Rico Mahesi (Vocal, Guitar), Donee Sura (bass), Davy Duff (Guitar) and Micah (as an additional drummer), they have a distinct style mixed with deep rock, which together with their charisma on stage will captivate you. Their gigs are full of energy and it will make you crave more. They have recently toured in Indonesia, and on their return to Bali, I had the opportunity to sit down with them, and discuss who they are as a band and their future music plans.
Let’s start from the very beginning; Tell us how Modjorido started as a band?
Rico: In 2020, we were just guys with the same mission and vision, so just making music and then trying to make good music, to be honest and then have fun. Luckily for us, we met each other with the same dreams and ambitions, musical taste and then.. yeah! We made Modjorido as a car that goes in one direction, to go that way.
What made you want to become a musician?
Rico: Actually, it’s inspired by my parents. My parents showed me a lot of bands and everything like that, and it’s also like sharing the feeling….you know, sharing all the pain, happiness, everything through music.
Donee: I get paid to do my hobby. That’s it. They pay for my hobby.
Davy: Society and then.. Yeah, that’s it.
Who has been the main influence in your music?
Rico: Main influences, myself, my pain, my happiness. All the struggles and all the feelings.
Davy: My influence is around me. Being surrounded by many influences makes me do music from that.
Donee: Same
Where do you look for inspiration?
Rico: A lot, you know. It started from my parents who triggered that in me and then now since I live here in Bali, I have more ambition. All the pleasure…all the pain… you know what I mean.
Donee: Patience, and then to get paid for my hobby, that is fun.
Davy: I want to be famous, you know, I want people to hear my music, to be a rockstar.
Let’s talk about your first album Modjorido; How did it start? What is the main theme of the album?
Rico: Actually, we started from a single first, and then we released two singles before the album. No.. three actually… and then we had a lot of songs, so why not make an album? Yes, it’s like a … the passion inside us… you know,... and we have so many songs and so we make this album self-titled “Modjorido” .
One of my favourite songs is your single “Silence” released in 2020. There is so much emotion, deep feelings and thoughts, that most people can relate to at some point in their lives. Why is it called Silence and what made you write it?
Rico: “Silence” is about .. actually it’s inspired again and again by pain, you know…I really love Rumi, he’s a poet. It’s really related to the experience of ‘making silence' and it’s also connected to the beautiful *Nyepi. So here in Bali we have Nyepi and it’s really connected with the song because it’s about meditation. When we are silent… you know,... and try to find yourself, something like that.
*Nyepi in Bali is a day where everything stops and we focus on meditation and connecting to ourselves.
The lyrics ’’....wake me up…I slept too long….from limitations…from opinion and perception…’’ What is the message?
Rico: It’s actually… Wake Me Up is…, you know, sometimes you feel like we sleep, you know, we feel like we are not alive for sure. So, that's why sometimes it is to remind yourself of … Are we really alive? Did we really live?
Having been to your gigs, your single “Rollercoaster” is very well-received by the audience. Tell us what inspired you to write it?
Donee: Rollercoaster is like talking about life. Sometimes your life is up and down; today up and then… yeah, it’s always like…. up and down. As long as you stay on the right track you will make it till the end. That’s the rollercoaster.
How does it make you feel when you see the audience singing your songs?
Rico: That’s great. I mean it's the climax. If you can say it’s like an orgasm you know… Happiness…. it’s like they got the point, they got the message. If you see that person or people singing our songs and then after the gig we can go there and then talk and then . . .
The singles “Ignorant” and “Magic Hands” ( released in 2022) seem to have a different style. Can you tell us about this?
Rico: “Ignorant” and “Magic Hands” …like ...in that period we just…there are two new members in the band; Davy and Morris. That song is like the new styles of Modjorido so we got new influences from Morris and Davy. That’s why it's different but still beautiful.
How do your songs come together, who does what?
Donee: Everyone brings their own ideas ... .We meet up to make a song ...to create a song … Something like that.
Davy: Everyone has their own part , so, for example Rico comes with the riff and then we work on that, yeah...I think that’s it.
An album is a complex task, who is involved in producing the album and how does it all happen?
Donee: We are under the Pohon Tua Creatorium label, so the first album was produced by Mas Dadang Pranoto (main producer of the label), and Mas Gun
(our Sound Engineer and band Manager). We recorded at Stonedeaf in Canggu.
Rico: We have done a lot of things together like sketching. We do recording there, drinking together.. haha… The sketching is the hardest part because one song is like… a massive project and it looks like it is done but actually it is not. Making an album is really interesting, you know, because sometimes you feel like oh it’s really great but actually it’s not yet... So, it’s actually really cool to work with Dadang & Gun also.
You had a tour in Java in February; what were the highlights?
Davy: The highlight I think was the togetherness….yes… because this was our first tour. It was great. That was the first experience where we realised people love our music. The first time, and we just realised that people love us yeah… as people, as a band.
Rico: It was a bit of a surprise also because actually a lot of people know our songs and they sing together. It’s very beautiful. It's like they gave us beautiful energy and you like … come to… I mean to a climax.
What does a normal day look like for you?
Rico: We have it different though. I’m teaching music also 100%.
Davy: All is about music, everyday, like practicing, making music, teaching, listening to music. That’s it. That’s a normal day.
As a band, what have been the biggest challenges?
Rico: To keep the temperature hot, it is just a metaphor you know. It's like to keep the spirit to keep the feeling, the vibe and everything, you know, because sometimes you feel down, right?, and we need to, we need to keep the fire burning with everything.
Donee: The commitment . . . the commitment, you know, that’s the hardest challenge for me
Davy: Tolerance …we need to get to know each other …more bonding…Like, understand each other
What advice would you give to future musicians?
Rico: Make original music, man. Because if you only do cover songs, you will never grow up, you know. And also, don’t give up. This is just it. Original music is the key..
Stay high, and have fun, have fun around. Be honest, and then make music … yeah… and make a song. Let people hear your music.
What are the future plans for the band?
Rico: We never stop producing new songs, new music or whatever… so… but the thing is, we’re gonna make the second album, and then…. before the second album we are gonna make a single first, something new, something shocking, you know. . .Something in that line, because we figured out that actually we need to make it because we have so much character, right? Because in the first album, we have so many genres… and I think in the second album we’re gonna focus more into the style of Modjorido, the character of Modjorido, and also, yeah man… our future goal is to play at Wembley stadium…yeah… the plan is we need sunglasses because our future's so bright, so bright, you know… hahaha
Thank you for your time, guys. I wish you the very best in your musical journey.