Wolfman's Album Review of "For The Times"
Riannti Sound Cloud Widget
Riannti :: Out of the Blue by Riannti
Riannti is an Independent singer and songwriter from Jakarta, Indonesia. Her music is a blend of pop, country, acoustic, and rock with a little bit of her own unique Indonesian touch. In 2007, she became the lead singer and songwriter for Maru and was able to spread her music throughout Indonesia vis-à-vis Indonesian radio stations. Subsequently, her music gained wide acceptance; after which, she made the decision to pursue a solo singing career and build it using social media and radio. "For The Times", her debut full-length album, was released in 2008.
Every now and then, an artist or band comes along with a new sound that resonates throughout the music world and for me, Riannti is one of those rare artists. Although seven out of the 10 tracks are sang in Indonesian, it doesn’t deter me from marveling at her uplifting and free-spirited sound. This album is all about Celebration, Passion, and Love.
“Hey Tenang Saja” introduces "For the Times" with Riannti gently strumming the strings on her acoustic guitar and when she starts singing, her soft and innocent vocals quickly pick up tempo and suddenly, the song takes on a celebratory feel and leaves the listener in an exhilarated mood.
Riannti sings the next song, “Does She” in English and the chorus is very, very catchy…it’s one of those songs you can jump right in and start singing along with and probably will. The guitar solo compliments the up tempo pace of this piece wonderfully.
“Coba” brings Riannit’s special Indonesian flavor to Western Pop with soothing acoustic and bass guitar and colorful lyrics. I marvel at Riannti’s musical phrasing in this song, quite frankly because, I can’t understand a single word she sings…but feel as if I know what she is trying to convey and it leads nicely into “Pasangan Jiwa”, another song in Indonesian. The lyrics flow with a bit more deliberation and it feels like a celebration of love. Oh yes…she sings the first part in Indonesian and at the bridge, brilliantly transitions to English.
“Tak Ada” continues with Indonesian lyrics to a nice simple acoustic melody. Riannti’s soft wispy vocals are quite soothing and even if you can’t understand her language, she has an amazingly calming effect. “Tahukah Kamu” starts off with a sassy guitar and drum beat; but gently eases into passionately soft vocals before Riannti starts singing her heart out. I LOVE this song!
“Cheer Up” is the 3rd song she sings in English and as she cheers up her loved one with encouraging melodies, I can’t help thinking how lucky the person is she is singing this for. It’s a wonderfully uplifting song and with the accordion playing through the bridge, it takes on an almost French feeling. The strings really add to the comforting and uplifting feeling “Cheer Up” leaves you with...
“Tempatku Disini” is another Indonesian gem and is a ballad with strong emotions flowing throughout. I felt Riannti’s incredible passion and for me, that is the mark of an extraordinary artist. I believe this could easily be a soundtrack for a love story…it’s that good.
A gentle piano introduces “Mengharapmu” and as the last song in Indonesian, this is a very strong ballad accompanied with a very nice string section and timpani drums. Riannti masterfully transferred her emotions straight to my heart…I could feel her pain and it was something very special.
As the last song on the album, it is only fitting that it would be the title track of the album. “For The Times” is the first song I heard Riannti sing and it was the song that captured my ear and made me a fan. Picture this. It's early in the morning and you're opening the blinds for the first time and you get a blast of warmth as the sunlight pours in...that's how this song makes me feel every time I hear it. The opening is a strong statement…letting the listener know that she is truly thankful for everything she has. Her sister joins in with more soothing vocals and it has become one of my favorite songs in my music collection.
Riannti’s music is busting with positive energy and always leaves me feeling elated. In the past, there have been many artists who have left me with similar feelings and even though her style is completely different than Riannti’s own unique flavor, Gloria Estefan’s, “The Rhythm is Gonna Get you” and “Turn the Beat Around” exuded the same high energy and positive vibes.
Barry DeCarli, from Vermont, USA, wrote, "I've never really gravitated toward songs in another language (other than English), but Riannti's music is soothing, but at the same time has an exotic and almost hypnotic quality. And, she has a beautiful voice."
Riannti is one of 19 International Artists who have collectively become known as “The Pack”. If you enjoyed this review and her music, please share it on music blogs and all of the social media sites where you have a presence. I would also encourage you to help me spread her music by writing your own review and posting it on her YouTube Music page, as well as other Internet Music pages. You can hear snippets of her album, as well as see her “For The Times” music video at:
The Lyrics for the music can be found here.
If you liked the songs on her SoundCloud player {at the top of this page}, please visit her SoundCloud page and leave her a comment:
You will also find her biography and links to her YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter pages at.
http://wolfpackmuzic.com/wolf-pack-artists/101-artists/riannti/36-riannnti.html
Riannti is currently raising money for a fan-funded album and I would be thrilled if you would join me in helping her dream become a reality. Just click the link below the widget [below] to visit her Sellaband page and join. Thank you!
Riannti Sellaband
https://www.sellaband.com/en/projects/rianntiindo
Wolfman