ARTIST

The members are Hendri Lamiri [Violin], Delsy Ramadhan [Keyboard], Yan Machmud [Vocals / Guitar], Yudie Yanis Chaniago [Drums], Wansyah Fadli [Guitar] and Endro Lelono [Bass]. West, but also stimulated the emergence of other musicians from the region. Just for the record, the group which has its first album entitled ‘Asa’, is most likely the first music group from West Kalimantan to try to penetrate the Indonesian music industry.

The opportunity, according to Arwana personnel, could not be separated from the support of West Kalimantan community leaders. Later, it was as if even so the support burden. They feel like soldiers who are going to the battlefield, and are waiting for news of their victory.

The story of the formation of this group begins in 1988, Yudie migrated to Jakarta. In Jakarta, Yudie often plays music in pubs. After a while, Yudie met Hendri, a local friend, who was adept at strumming the violin. They are trying to make their dreams come true. Yudie’s intention to make a recording with her local friends turned out to be Hendri’s obsession too. They began to discuss the music to be played. Not too long ago, Endro, Delsy, Wansyah and Yan Machmud joined. They came with the same ideals, playing music in Jakarta.

In 1994, when they decided to form a band, they were not musicians without experience. Under the name Nackel, they performed Top 40 songs, and tried out pubs as a training ground. The name Nackel, is a play on the word “nakal” (naughty). Every time they get together, they are always joking. They did that to kill the homesickness. According to them, “nakal” (naughty) is not the same as evil. “Nakal” (naughty) means creative, positive and constructive. Being it is not negative and destructive. In 1995, Nackel made a master of 10 songs. The capital was borrowed from a friend, a fellow Pontianak, who had succeeded in conquering Jakarta.

Yudie offered the master to Sony Music Indonesia. Without going through a convoluted process, the master was accepted. Well, when their cassette was about to be released, they didn’t want to use the name Nackel.

They have three names, namely Eqbar, Equator and Arowana. Eqbar or Equator, meaning the lines that pass through the city of Pontianak.

So they chose a name that they considered more unique: Arowana. Arowana [Xilocarpus] is the name of a fish that lives upstream of the Kapuas river. The protected fish are only found in the waters of West Kalimantan. Arowana is a lucky fish.

So the name contained hope, their group could also achieve good luck. The name given by a West Kalimantan community leader seems to them to be truly lucky. They hope to have a fate like Arowana fish. It is expensive and unique.