HOME is where the heart is. But it was never that simple for Jakarta-based contemporary pop band Lightcraft. Founded in Malaysia in 2008 while studying at the same university in Selangor, Lightcraft have always felt a sense of displacement wherever they were.
Seen as a foreign band on Malaysian soil, they persevered and persisted to the point where they achieved modest success. When they returned to Jakarta in 2013, they faced the same predicament: they were aliens in their own backyard.
Undeterred, Lightcraft kept their heads down and pushed on and 11 years later, they are still here, albeit on the fringes. Their commitment has not waned, while their sound has matured and they have evolved from one release to another. But do they feel at home now?
“It feels strange. We have been in Jakarta for a while but never gained a foothold here or anywhere else. We are still seen as outsiders,” says vocalist and songwriter Imam.
As someone who was already struggling with anxiety and a lack of self-confidence, Imam felt the same in his day-to-day life. After more than a decade of living in Malaysia, it proved to be a massive challenge for the frontman. And then, a sudden realisation hit him during the pandemic.
“Being at home with loved ones with nowhere to go for days, I realised that home is simply wherever you are comfortable. It is not about where or how the place is, but it is about what you feel and what gives you purpose in life,” he remarks.
At that moment, he picked up his guitar and came up with the building blocks to Coming Home, Lightcraft’s brand-new single, which will be a part of Hope + Love (Reanimated Edition), the upcoming deluxe edition of their 2022 album.
Collaborating with two of the hottest acts from the Visayas and Mindanao regions in the Philippines under the independent record label Melt Records’ roster, Lightcraft has created the perfect track for a drive around town or a walk in the neighbourhood.
The regional collaboration between Lightcraft with singer and songwriter Chelsea Dawn and pop-rock quartet Coloura came after a chance encounter in Singapore between Imam and Dexter Sy, the co-founder of Melt Records.
“I first became acquainted with Imam and Lightcraft at the 2022 Asean Music Showcase Festival. When he reached out about potentially collaborating on a Lightcraft tour of the Philippines, the idea for a musical collaboration between them and our line-up of pop-rock acts was a no-brainer – I was committed to making it happen,” says Dexter.
Coming Home is available for streaming on all digital platforms.
