JAKARTA – MALIQ & D’Essentials officially released their new single, Arah Labuh, as the opening track for their upcoming tenth album. The band first performed this song at a music festival in late September 2026. Furthermore, they target November to release the highly anticipated album. Interestingly, the band created this track when they had already finished the main album material. Widi Puradiredja stated that the band wrote this song on the last day of their studio session. He considered this moment a blessing. Moreover, they finished writing the song very quickly.
A Spontaneous Creation on the Last Day
Widi explained that they had completed the album and had no plan to make another song. However, the members gathered, played the guitar, and successfully created the single on that final day. Soon after, they matched the lyrics with the melody perfectly. Through Arah Labuh, the band highlights the journey of chasing dreams and the uncertainty of their destination. Indah also explained the song’s meaning by sharing a message about bringing your heart along on every journey. She emphasized that dreams serve as goals that drive us forward. Therefore, she advised listeners to bring their hearts wherever their dreams lead them.
Celebrating a Quarter Century of Music
This song also marks MALIQ & D’Essentials’ journey toward their 25th anniversary in 2027. For Widi, their long musical experience taught them to face changes with an open mind. They no longer focus only on the ups and downs. Instead, they focus on how to keep moving forward and enjoy everything they encounter along the way. In addition to the new single, MALIQ & D’Essentials will host the Kabar Gembira Exhibition at ASHTA District 8, Jakarta. They will run this event from October 29 to November 15, 2026. Finally, this exhibition follows the Can Machines Fall in Love? Exhibition from 2024 and serves as part of their activities before the new album release.
Photo doc. Pophariini
