Shark Move and Giant Step interview

Benny Soebardja is one of the most important figures from the Indonesian music industry. Being a member of bands such as ‘The Peels’, ‘Shark Move’ and the infamous ‘Giant Step’, Benny left his mark across many memorable albums throughout the years. During his career he also recorded solo efforts, which many regard to as some of the best music to ever surface from the region. With the help of British poet Bob Dook, Benny recorded numerous English based songs filled with incredible musicianship and melodies that have an underlying progressive nature.

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It’s our great pleasure to have. How are you?

Benny Soebardja: Thank you. Yeah, I’m also very glad to know you, Klemen. I’m OK. I got heart attack on November 2nd 2012 and survived. It’s like my 2nd life. My best friend, Bob Dook and I are now making lyrics for a song “Second Life”. We plan to record it pretty soon.

“I’ve tried to blend all ideas to become my own character.”

Where were you born and what can you tell us about growing up and learning to play a guitar? What were some of your influences?

I was born in a town called Tasikmalaya on July 4, 1949 (so American citizen will celebrate my birthday every year, haha). I was learning guitar since I was 10 years old without a teacher, just watching somebody else playing guitar. I was very glad when my mom gave me a birthday present (acoustic guitar). It was made locally. The most influential guitar players for me are mostly from British bands such as King Crimson, Pink Floyd, the Beatles, Tielman Brothers from Holland, Gentle Giant, and of course Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hendrix. I’ve tried to blend all ideas to become my own character.

Were you in any other bands before Shark Move?

In 1968 I formed a pop group called the Peels (were still in high school). We mostly played covers from the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Procol Harum, as well as Rolling Stones and had a contract in some night clubs in Singapore, Kualalumpur and Penang. During that time one of the members named Soman Loebis (passed away) founded Shark Move with me. Other member of the Peels were Boetje Garna (left hand bassist), Deddy Garna (drums) and Gumilang (lead singer).

Shark Move formed in Bandung back in 1972. Release of Ghede Chokra’s followed. 

In 1972 I was registered as a student of Agriculture Faculty Univ Padjadjaran Bandung in West Java, while Soman Loebis also studied at the Institute Technology Bandung. Soman and I wanted to record our own songs. At the time I had already songs like “My Life”, “Butterfly”, “Evil War” and Soman got “Bingung”, so we decided to leave the Peels and form Shark Move. To me Soman was the best keyboardist. Shark Move name was given by Aktuil magazine. They also design the cover. Choqie Samanta of Aktuil magazine design it. He was very creative.

Shark Move members:
Benny Soebardja- Lead guitar/Lead Vocals
Soman Loebis- Keyboardist/Vocals
Yanto Diablo- Bassist/Vocals
Sammy Zakaria (passed away)- Drums/Vocals
Bhagu Ramchand (sponsor/manager)- He also passed away and sang “Evil War”. He loved that song very much. We made English lyrics with him.

I wrote “My Life”, “Butterfly”, “Evil War” and “Insan”, “Yanto” and made two Indonesian songs, while Soman wrote “Bingung”, and he sang the song as well.

Where did you record the album and what kind of equipment did you use?

We rented a studio in Jakarta called Musica Studio using 12 Tracks channel. My guitar Gibson Les Paul, Fender as well as bass, and Ludwig drums and Hammond organ with Leslie, and we recorded the album in seven days, recording non stop to save our money. Of course we did a proper preparation in Bandung before we began recording.

“Shark Move Records are the pioneers of indie labels.”

What are some of the strongest memories from producing and recording it?

Since I was also student of Faculty of Agriculture and Soman as well a student of ITB, music for us was only a hobby. We wanted to express our creation, which was sadly dictated by producer (majority of the music genre at that moment were sad songs), so I refused to be a part of major labels and we may claim that Shark Move Records are the pioneers of indie labels. Our basic concept was that we do have a same vision and mission to form a band and propose something different, in other words we call it ‘Progressive’.

As I told you earlier the cover was made by Choqie Samanta, an artist from Aktuil magazine, the cover is related to my song “Evil War”, where the five heroes try to fight with the Evil.

How did you distribute the album?

Shark Move Records made only 100 vinyl copies and sold them at music shop. Later the pirates cleverly copied it onto cassettes and sold them all over Indonesia without our permit. That is partly the reason Bhagu and I decided to make another recording. Benny Soebardja’s solo album has songs from Shark Move plus other new songs. It was released on cassette. Later on Shadoks from Germany asked me to make a reissue of Shark Move on vinyl and CD. I believe the original 100 vinyl copies are now kept by collectors in Indonesia as well as other countries in Europe, Japan and maybe also in the USA.

How about concerts?

Music was just a hobby for me and Soman. We had to study a lot. Soman died only a year later in traffic accident in Jakarta. I decided to close the chapter of Shark Move. Then I formed Giant Step and this is the group I worked with a lot. In this era I met Bob Dook, one of the best lyricists from UK and he contributed a lot to Giant Step. Nowadays he still stays in Singapore and we agreed to continue by bringing back Giant Step with a new concept and support by my son Rhamaditya Nalendra. He is multi instrumentalist and writes good songs, now being discussing with Jason Connoy from Strawberry Rain to make a new Giant Step recordings.

Would you share your insight on the albums’ tracks?

“My Life”
I wrote this song when I was surrounded by hopeless people, careless, frustrated.

“Butterfly”
It’s an advice for people to beware from the bad conditions as crime, it was everywhere back then.

“Harga”
It’s written by Yanto.

“Evil War”
It’s a student protest song.

“Bingung”
It’s written by Soman. I will try to explain the meaning of the lyrics. This is also a protest from Soman to the father and mother which were considering blessing their daughter who planned to get married with someone who proposed.

“Insan”
It’s my song about someone who is really confused and frustrated with the surrounding situation and does not know what is he going to do.

“Madat”
It’s a song written by Yanto, and it’s a warning to the drug users.

What happened next?

Since Soman died in accident, I felt lonely and fed up with music. We had very close relationship with my best friend Soman (may he RIP), but after awhile Sammy and I decided to form another band. Giant Step was formed and invited Deddy Stanza (bass), Jockie (keyboard). A long list of musicians joined us. Some have already passed away. RIP Yanto Sudjono (drums), Sammy Zakaria (drums) and Deddy Stanza (bass).

Your music changed.

Giant Step was making music based on harmony and good team work. Members such as Albert Warnerin and Triawan did contribute a lot. In Giant Step Mark 1, guitarist and keyboardist named Deddy Dorres joined us and did very well. He also sang a song written by Bob Dook and melody by myself called “Childhood and the Sea Bird”.

Giant on the Move! followed.

Giant on the Move! was recorded after Giant Step Mark 1 and then we broke up. Deddy left the group and again I met the next generation of keyboardist which is a genius named Triawan. He wrote “Giant on the Move!” with Bob Dook. The basic concept was that we all agreed to keep Giant Step moving ahead. Giant On The Move! was recorded with Albert Warnerin (double lead guitarist), Triawan Munaf (keyboard), Haddy Arief (drums) and Adhi Sibolangit (bassist). Triawan, Haddy and Adi worked together producing my solo album as well as Albert.

Many albums followed.

Deddy Dorres left the band because he had business in record shop in Bandung and Kukun Nan Teguh also worked at Nova Recording in Bandung. We signed with a major label. I wasn’t really happy with the music itself. I ended studying in 1979. I graduated as Agronomist. My music vision was a put on the side for awhile. I started working for British company ICI Pesticides. My position in that company was Research and Development. Sometimes my friends had to fly to Malang East Java for a music practice if we had a concert to prepare.

How about concerts?

We did a lot of concerts mostly in big cities in Indonesia.

Gimmie a Piece of Gut Rock was released two years later. You had unlimited time in studio?

Yes, it was a crazy. I met Chinese guy who was interested in producing different music and gave me a freedom and unlimited time in his studio.

A year later your released Night Train.

Night Train was recorded by my brother Harry Soebardja. My brother and I had a band called Lizard. He produced my solo album after Giant Step broke up and Deddy left the group. From that moment on I had a plan to reform Giant Step with young and fresh musician.

What happened next?

Since I graduated in 1979 and joined ICI Pesticide company and afterwards I worked with Monsanto American company, my music activities slowed down, and in 1986 I’ve been offered by a famous radio broadcasting called Prambors to sing two songs from their 10 best songs called “Apatis” (written by Inggrid) and “Sesaat” (written by Harry Sabar). It was a big success, and again major label signed a contract with me to make a solo albums called Setitik Harapan and Lestari (difficult to get) and at the end Giant Step signed contract for two albums and made album called Geregetan, but after that I had decided not to make the 2nd album since I was very busy with my job as Agronomist.

In 2002 Shadoks reissued your Shark Move LP.

Thanks to Allah, what we did 30 years ago can still exist today. Thanks to Shadoks, Strawberry Rain (Jason my best friend), Now Again Record (Eothen my best friend too) and Bob Dook who kept supporting and to you Klemen thanks, hope more people in the world will listen to what we did in the late 70s, thanks guys.

I did a project with the help from Bob Dook and my son Rhama to produce a new recording of Giant Step. It’s a collaboration between 70s and today’s generation. We are ready to make two albums but still waiting for the confirmation from Jason Connoy of Strawberry Rain. I am in Singapore discussing with Bob Dook about it.

What currently occupies your life?

I enjoy my life after heart attack on 2nd of November 2012. Bob Dook had the same problem on 2nd November 20 years ago. I live in Jakarta with my wife Tria and I have two sons. My first son Anggara Rhabenta graduated from architecture at TU Delft Holland and now works in Singapore. My second son is Rhama Nalendra who graduated as Graphic Designer. He is a musician and wrote a lot of good songs. He loves 70s music. At his age of 26, he still has a long way to go. Berkeley Music School offered him to study, but he prefers to make a new Giant Step project. I also have two adopted sons.

Thank you for taking your time. Last word is yours.

Keep on moving. Rock will never die. Keep listening to our songs and May Allah Bless you All. Peace on Earth!

– Klemen Breznikar