PADI Biography

PADI was originally one of the campus bands in Airlangga University (Unair), Surabaya. The band consists of Andi Fadly Arifuddin (Fadly, vocalist), Satriyo Yudhi Wahono (Piyu, guitarist), Ari Tri Sosianto (Ari, guitarist), Rindra Risyanto Noor (Rindra, bassist), and Surendro Prasetyo (Yoyok, drummer).

Padi They were called SODA before eventually dubbed as PADI. The band first performed at a gig at Unair’s Faculty of Law, October 1996, and formally known as PADI in April 8, 1997. Yoyok, the drummer, proposed the name PADI, Indonesian for “rice”. It was not only inspired by the philosophy of rice, which bows even further down when ripen, a symbol for modesty. But also by the fact that it is Indonesian staple food that everybody could enjoy. From peasants, little kids, to the executives. Though PADI’s name is often associated with something “boorish”, being the food for the poor, PADI has a very down-to-earth sense. In their perspective, PADI is also the symbol for prosperity.

They were called SODA before eventually dubbed as PADI. The band first performed at a gig at Unair’s Faculty of Law, October 1996, and formally known as PADI in April 8, 1997. Yoyok, the drummer, proposed the name PADI, Indonesian for “rice”. It was not only inspired by the philosophy of rice, which bows even further down when ripen, a symbol for modesty. But also by the fact that it is Indonesian staple food that everybody could enjoy. From peasants, little kids, to the executives. Though PADI’s name is often associated with something “boorish”, being the food for the poor, PADI has a very down-to-earth sense. In their perspective, PADI is also the symbol for prosperity.

Each member came from various backgrounds. The five of them did not simply meet and instantly form a band. It was first Piyu and Ari who got together. Shortly, Ari invited Rindra to join them as bassist; both Ari and Rindra once band-mate in a band called WARNA. Afterwards, they found the vocalist, Fadly, and drummer, Yoyok. Fadly, who first admired Ari’s guitar playing during his band’s performance at a campus gig, initially offered to play bass for Ari’s band; if they needed one (Fadly had been playing bass since he was in senior high school).

There is no doubt for PADI’s individual skill. Piyu, formerly a member of a rock band Crystal Band, was a guitar technician for a well know Indonesian band. Piyu had been taken with guitar playing since senior high school, and his talent in songwriting is irrefutable. Scores of PADI’s hit singles came from his hands. As a bass player, Rindra’s talent is also beyond doubt, as he won Best Bassist in 1992. And as for Yoyok, everybody knows the former Andromeda’s drummer was dubbed 1998 Indonesia’s Best Drummer.

The journey they had to take before being a solid, established band as today was not an easy one. They started from scratch, with all the ups-and-downs of struggling for existence, being rejected numerous times by major labels. Faced with so much rejection did not make them lose their hope, however. It encouraged them even more to make more demos and traveled all the way from Surabaya to Jakarta, delivering them themselves. Having to sleep on railway carriages' connecting area as all tickets were sold out, having to bear with stale rice because when they bought some food on the train they got food with a stale rice, because they are so starving finally they have to eat the food that didn't contain the stale rice. Those were some experiences not unfamiliar to them at the time.

There was an occasion where Piyu said, "A band player should know what a hard life is like before being famous. Enduring such hard life could prepare us to have a sense of survival, and, eventually, would be able to keep our existence our own world".

Opportunity finally knocked on their door when performing at Colors, a pub in Surabaya, as representative from Sony Music Indonesia saw the gig. The next day, they were offered to make record for Indie Ten album, a medium for new bands to show their talents. Padi previously submitted a demo to Sony; and when Sony was scheduled to promote an album in Surabaya, they had an audition.

Not wanting to lose the opportunity at hand, they introduced "Sobat" (Friend). Originally, they offered 2 songs, "Sobat" and "Demi Cinta".

The path to success started to become clearer. Padi was signed for 4 albums under Sony’s label. Their debut album, Lain Dunia, was released a year after, August 6, 1999. Though slowly, the sales was a surely one. More and more people knew PADI after their singles became hit songs. Begitu Indah, Demi Cinta, Seperti Kekasihku, and Mahadewi, to mention but a few. Mahadewi became a hit after its clip was released and topped music charts on TV channels as well as radios nationwide.

Their second album, Sesuatu Yang Tertunda, was released July 2nd, 2001. Some 450,000 copies were sold when it was firs launched. What people would undoubtedly remember from this album is the all-time, legendary hit, “Kasih Tak Sampai”. Many said it would be PADI’s everlasting song, which would be forever remembered.

Save My Soul, the third album, was released June 18, 2004, but launched June 24, 2004. The launching creates such a buzz, as PADI performed on the rooftop of a fast food restaurant at Sarinah - Thamrin, broadcasted live on a private TV channel in Indonesia. The album was said to be full of surprises, as many commented the songs were complicated and rather “off” for market’s taste at the moment. However, it even indicated PADI’s sincerity in music. It was on this third album also that PADI finally brought their dream to collaborate with their music icon, Iwan Fals, into reality in Sesuatu Yang Tertunda. The album was sold 500,000 copies within a week.

The fourth album, self-titled PADI, was released May 9, 2005. PADI was said to be their “rebirth” album. The spirit, the collaboration, were said to be similar to their first album’s recording. PADI collaborated with many senior musicians for the album, such as Bubby Chen (jazz pianist), Abadi Soesman (keyboardist), and Idris Sardi (violist). One of the songs, Menanti Sebuah Jawaban, was made an original soundtrack to a local film, Ungu Violet.

In addition to the above four regular albums, PADI also participated in some compilation albums, such as “Official Songs World Cup” (Work of Heaven, 2002), a religious album “Family Songs Hadad Alwi” (Doaku, 2003), “Tribute to Ian Antono” (Saksi Gitar Tua, 2004), and a social album for Tsunami victims in Aceh, “Kita Untuk Mereka” (26 Desember, 2005).

Taken From : http://www.sobatpadi.net/