In 2001, when Joseph Saryuf returned home to Jakarta after studying in Hamburg, Germany, he decided to become a full-time musician and starting to compose songs for his own music project. Not long after that, Joseph met Anindita, a fashion editor and freelance illustrator, and they formed a duo based on their similar taste in music and their love for analog sounds.
In September 2005, Santamonica released their first EP titled '189' to stamp their name in the local music scene and as a warm up prior to the release of the bands full-length album. The EP includes three songs, â€Please Say Yesâ€, “Sought and Foundâ€, and “Serenade of Yellow Park†which drew strong influences from bossa nova greats such as Astrud Gilberto and Antonio Carlos Jobim, as well as indie pop acts like Belle And Sebastian .
Other than the release of '189' EP, they have played in many respectable gigs around Jakarta and Bandung, such as PL Fair, La Voila, Electro Synchronizer, and Indonesia's biggest music festival Soundrenaline. From their inceptions, they have gathered fans both locally and overseas, thanks to their unique sound, dynamic live performance and exposures from their Myspace site.
They also took part in two compilation albums, Pop Shower (2003, Quince Records Japan) and Todays Of Yesterday (2005, Bad Sectors Records). After two years of grueling process, Santamonica's full-length debut 'Curiouser and Curiouser' finally released in November 2007, under Sinjitos Records (Joseph's own records label). In this album, Santamonica had shifted their musical direction from bossa nova and indie pop sounds to an eclectic mixture of electro-pop, modern jazz, and progressive rock.
They described their new sound as the musical version of a trip down to Alice in Wonderland, when listeners can expect a roller coaster of musical journey accompanied with the band's trademark whimsical lyrics. One month after the release, “Curiouser and Curiouser†received many positive reviews in local music magazines and websites, cited as one of “Best Album in 2007†from Trax Magazine (and Trax editors’ favorite albums in 2007), including a nomination as “Best Album in 2007†from Free! magazine.
For people who live outside of Indonesia and interested in getting our songs, now you can get them at iTunes
Contact Santamonica:
Sinjitos Studio
Jl. Ciputat Raya No.10 Bungur, Kebayoran Lama Utara
Jakarta Selatan 12240, Indonesia
Phone: (+6221) 723 5812, (+6221) 725 8372
DISCOGRAPHY
Curiouser and Curiouser (Sinjitos Records, 2007, Indonesia)
Curiouser and Curiouser Special Edition (Sinjitos Records, 2007, Indonesia)
Today of Yesterday Compilation (Badsector Records, 2006, Indonesia)
Haymarket Compilation (Haymarket Records, 2006, US)
Reminisce 189 (Itunes, 2006)
189 -EP- (Marmalade Records, 2005, Indonesia)
Pop Shower Compilation (Quince Records, 2003, Japan)
Delicatessen Compilation (Poptastic!, 2001, Indonesia)
Anais Lullaby
Wanderlust
Ribbons and Tie