Radja
{{short description|Indonesian rock band}}
{{distinguish|Raja}}
{{update after|2022|08|14}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Radja
| image =
| image_size =
| landscape =
| alt =
| caption =
| background = group_or_band
| alias =
| origin = Banjarmasin, Indonesia
| genre = Rock, Malay pop, alternative rock, hard rock, pop rock, post-grunge, power pop
| years_active = {{start date|2000}}—present
| label = {{plainlist|
- EMI Indonesia
- Universal Indonesia
- GP Records
- Istana Musik
}}
| associated_acts =
| website = {{URL|radjaband.com}}
| current_members = Ian Kasela (Vocals)
Moldy Kusnadi (Guitar)
Aldi Rizky (Keyboard)
Indra Riwayat (Bass)
Seno Wibowo (Drums)
| past_members = Shuma (Bass)
Adit Taher (Drums)
Muhammad Vidin (Drums)
}}
History
Radja was formed in Banjarmasin, Indonesia, on 17 March 1999 and originally consisted of brothers Ian Kasela (vocals) and Moldy Kusnadi (guitar), as well as drummer Adit Taher and bassist Shuma.{{cite web|url=https://celebrity.okezone.com/read/2015/08/13/205/1195836/radja-kembali-ke-formasi-awal|title=Radja Kembali ke Formasi Awal|last=Pamungkas|first=Alan|date=2015-08-13|publisher=oke Celebrity|access-date=2021-08-13|language=id}}{{cite web |work=last.fm |url=http://www.last.fm/music/radja |title=Radja}}{{cite web |url=http://www.radjaband.com/ |title=Radja's official site}} In their early days, the band performed in exchange for Nasi Bungkus, a humble Indonesian rice dish, at local cafes.{{cite web|url=https://kumparan.com/kumparanhits/throwback-radja-dibayar-nasi-bungkus-dan-dikenal-karena-pembajakan|title=Throwback Radja: Dibayar Nasi Bungkus dan Dikenal karena Pembajakan|date=2018-03-20|publisher=kumparanHits|access-date=2021-08-13|language=id}} Their name is a form of raja, meaning "king".{{cite web|url=https://musik.kapanlagi.com/berita/kacamata-hitam-syarat-buka-puasa-bersama-radja-e94805.html|title=Kacamata Hitam, Syarat Buka Puasa Bersama Radja|last=Sasongko|first=Darmadi|date=2013-08-06|publisher=Kapanlagi|access-date=2021-08-14|language=id}}
In 2001, the band debuted with Lepas Masa Lalu. Unfortunately, due to their label's failure to properly market the album, it never gained any traction and was overall considered a flop.{{cite web|url=https://kumparan.com/kumparanhits/kilas-balik-karier-ian-kasela-vokalis-radja-yang-ikut-nyaleg-1533814983435185127/full|title=Kilas Balik Karier Ian Kasela, Vokalis Radja yang Ikut Nyaleg|date=2018-08-10|publisher=kumparanHits|access-date=2021-08-13|language=id}}{{cite news |work=New Straits Times |date=2006-06-03 |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-124667103.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023031431/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-124667103.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-10-23 |title=Radja to thrill local fans}} Shuma and Adit left the band not long after and were replaced with bassist Indra Riwayat and drummer Seno Wilbowo. Their second album, Manusia Biasa, sold only 60,000 copies when it was released in 2003.
Their third album, Langkah Baru, was the first Radja released under EMI Music Indonesia and was significantly more successful.{{cite web|url=https://hai.grid.id/read/072418178/kisah-kesuksesan-radja-band-yang-membuka-melayu-wave-di-indonesia-berawal-dari-strategi-promo-yang-berbeda?page=all|last=Bahar|first=Alvin|title=Kisah Kesuksesan radja, Band yang Membuka 'Melayu Wave' di Indonesia: Berawal Dari Strategi Promo yang Berbeda|date=2020-11-08|publisher=hai|access-date=2021-08-14|language=id}} Though it contained three new songs, it was primarily a "repackaging" of tracks from previous albums; nonetheless, it sold 1.2 million copies upon its release in 2004 and soared to platinum status in Indonesia.{{cite web |url= http://www.undercover.fm/news/1275-emi-share-price-drops-on-restructure-announcement |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101231000201/http://www.undercover.fm/news/1275-emi-share-price-drops-on-restructure-announcement |url-status= usurped |archive-date= 31 December 2010 |title=EMI Share Price Drops on Restructure Announcement |author=Cashmere, Paul |authorlink=Paul Cashmere|date= 13 January 2007 |publisher=Undercover Media Pty Ltd |accessdate=21 March 2011}}{{cite web|url=https://www.kapanlagi.com/showbiz/selebriti/album-langkah-baru-milik-radja-raih-double-platinum-epoxwyh.html|title=Album 'LANGKAH BARU' Milik Radja Raih Double Platinum|author=Erlin|date=2005-06-28|publisher=KapanLagi|access-date=2021-08-13|language=id}} It was one of the top 15 best-selling albums of the year from the EMI Group.
In 2006, they re-released Aku Ada Karena Kau Ada and debuted 1000 Bulan ("1,000 Months"), an Islam themed album, producing 75,000 copies which were only available during that year's Ramadhan.{{cite web|url=https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2006/10/22/rock-bands-turn-godloving-during-ramadhan.html|title=Rock bands turn God-loving during Ramadhan|last=Taufiqurrahman|first=M|date=2006-10-22|publisher=The Jakarta Post|access-date=2021-08-14|url-status=dead|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607105620/https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2006/10/22/rock-bands-turn-godloving-during-ramadhan.html|archive-date=2011-06-07}} The band's next album was launched in April 2008, titled Membumi.{{cite news |work=The Jakarta Post |date=2008-03-08 |url=http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2008/03/08/pop-band-radja-launch-new-album.html |title=Pop band Radja to launch new album}}
Because of conflicts over what type of labels to work with, Indra and Seno left the band in 2010 to form Audio Jet and were replaced by Oji, Muhammad Vidin, and Radja keyboardist and synthesizer Aldi Rizky.{{cite web|url=http://www.indonesiantunes.com/news/detail/2010/07/08/radja-pecah-audio-jet-langsung-tancap-gas.html|title=Radja Pecah, Audio Jet Langsung "Tancap Gas"|date=2010-07-08|publisher=Indonesian Tunes|access-date=2021-08-13|language=id}}{{cite web|url=https://www.tribunnews.com/seleb/2010/05/27/radja-formasi-baru-hibur-radjaku-di-malaysia|title=Radja Formasi Baru Hibur Radjaku di Malaysia|date=2010-05-27|publisher=Tribunseleb|access-date=2021-08-13|language=id}} Seno and Indra returned in 2015. Radja went on a brief hiatus, wherein they did not release music for three years; Ian claims this is due to the band's difficulty adapting to a more digital music market.{{cite web|url=https://kumparan.com/gosip-artis/band-radja-diisukan-bubar-ian-kasela-beri-penjelasan-1tr2oS4OfgQ/full|title=Band Radja Diisukan Bubar, Ian Kasela Beri Penjelasan|date=2020-07-22|publisher=kumparan|access-date=2021-08-13|language=id}}{{cite web|url=https://entertainment.kompas.com/read/2018/03/19/200252310/radja-banyak-berbenah-selama-vakum-di-industri-musik|title=Radja Banyak Berbenah Selama Vakum di Industri Musik|last=Pangerang|first=Andi Muttya Keteng|access-date=2021-08-13|publisher=Kompas|date=2018-03-19|language=id}} In 2018, they established their own record label, Istana Musik.{{cite web|url=https://kumparan.com/kumparanhits/radja-rilis-malaikat-cinta-dengan-label-musik-sendiri/full|title=Radja Rilis 'Malaikat Cinta' dengan Label Musik Sendiri|date=2018-02-28|publisher=kumparanHits|access-date=2021-08-13|language=id}}
In 2020, they released a new single, "Jangan Mudik Dulu", urging listeners to stay home and take precautions during the COVID-19 pandemic. It also speculates that the COVID-19 pandemic is God's will. They also released "Hidup dan Mati". Their 2021 single, "Sapu Jagat", which focuses on Muslim prayer, was accused of plagiarizing Nissa Sabyan, which Radja denied.{{cite web|url=https://banjarmasin.tribunnews.com/2021/04/13/dituding-plagiat-lagu-nissa-sabyan-di-video-klip-sapu-jagat-radja-ada-dewi-perssik|title=Dituding Plagiat Lagu Nissa Sabyan, di Video Klip Sapu Jagat Radja Ada Dewi Perssik|last=Kurniawan|first=Nia|date=2021-04-13|publisher=Banjarmasin Post|access-date=2021-08-13|language=id}}{{cite web|url=https://celebrity.okezone.com/read/2021/04/14/205/2394505/lagu-religi-baru-radja-dituding-jiplak-sabyan-ian-kasela-enggak-habis-pikir|title=Lagu Religi Baru Radja Dituding Jiplak Sabyan, Ian Kasela: Enggak Habis Pikir|last=Tribuana|first=Lintang|date=2021-04-14|publisher=oke Celebrity|access-date=2021-08-13|language=id}}
Radja fans are referred to as Radjaku.{{cite web|url=https://kumparan.com/kumparanhits/radja-soal-pembajakan-yang-dibajak-itu-lagu-lagu-yang-enak|title=Radja soal Pembajakan: Yang Dibajak Itu Lagu-lagu yang Enak|date=2018-03-10|publisher=kumparanHits|access-date=2021-08-13|language=id}}
Discography
=Singles=
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.radjaband.com Official site]
- [https://chordgitar.net/artist/radja Guitar Chord Radja]
{{Authority control}}
Category:Indonesian rock music groups