A room that screams clutter filled with musical instruments, a couch you can sink into, walls enriched with written words and posters, a source of lighting through a dim red lamp, and most importantly, the title of Bandung based reggae band The Paps’ sophomore album “Soul”, spray painted onto the ceiling.
Like a slow motion sunrise over a foggy lake whilst admiring the breezy weather of Bandung, Soul starts off strong with “Palestine” a 9 minute and 35 second guitar lead instrumental track as it beguiles listeners to be at the edge of their seat—enticing listeners like time pressing pause while you ride a wave of mellow frequencies, eyes closed, world muted.
Bandung isn’t just their origin—it pulses through every note of their sound. Danil Usman, the guitarist of The Paps mentions, “To me, music reference is very important. I am thankful because it is accessible in my hometown, Bandung.” Apart from that, the concept of home in one’s town is prominently mentioned in the song “Dingin”. The song portrays the calm mood and liberty that is experienced as you are enjoying the night time in your beloved hometown. The lyrics emphasize the feeling of serenity that appears from simple moments like feeling the breezy air, watching smoke flow, and laughter that occurs without any burden. As a whole, “Dingin” portrays the importance of enjoying the little moments in life that bring peace and happiness, celebrating the freedom of living everyday life.
The topic of everyday life is highlighted in a variety of songs throughout Soul that encourages listeners to be resilient amid fluctuations in life. The track “Dipantai” spotlights the theme of liberty and escapism through concise yet strong lyrics. “Disini aku bebas, disini aku lepas, disini aku menjadi apa saja, dipantai” reflects the emotion of freedom from social boundaries and pressure. From the title itself, the beach symbolizes a place where an individual can be their truest, most authentic self, without any obstacles faced. This song conveys a powerful message about discovering a personal space where you can embrace authentic self-expression and self-freedom—a momentary escape from the pressures of life to truly experience serenity and liberation. Staying within the realm of everyday life, the song “Bangkit” which translates to rise in english portrays a message of enthusiasm to rise from downturn seen in the line “Bangkit! Bangkit! Bangkit dari tidur panjangmu!”. Beyond that, the song advocates to do so through the magnitude of faith and love, evident in the line “Terus maju dan percaya, berjalan dengan iman di dada”. Overall “Bangkit” invites listeners to not give up on the situation, but to continue to fight and believe in themselves. Lastly, the track “Hari Yang Panjang” illustrates the energy of fatigue and tedium experienced by someone facing days that feel monotonous and heavy. The line “Hari yang panjang, tiada matahari dan bintang, jenuh pun datang, bagaikan ombak menerjang” reflects feeling stuck in a routine without any clear direction or passion. The song conveys the importance of recognizing and dealing with boredom, finding a way to get out of the boredom and dullness that hits. “Bangkit” invites listeners to reflect and rediscover the spirit in living everyday life. In its entirety, Soul acknowledges the twists and turns of life, welcoming listeners to be strong willed.
Soul weaves a rich mosaic of themes centered around emotional depth, love, and compassion. At its core, the album explores how love can be both passionate and grounding—expressed through intimate devotion, a deep desire for connection, and emotional vulnerability. Throughout songs like “Turn Me On”, “Never”, and “Lebih Dari” its lyrics and tone depicts relationships as a source of mutual support and comfort, where tenderness and sincerity becomes a source of strength. Through the songwriting, it reflects that love is to not only be seen, but to uplift and bring peace to one’s partner. This essentially implies that true love rises above the ordinary, turning into a shared journey of freedom and joy. Not only that, there is a rich story of celebration of emotional resilience, where togetherness encourages emotional resilience amid challenges. Through soulful melodies and heartfelt writing, Soul captures the transformative power of love in all of its forms, to be loved is to be seen, to be changed, and to be uplifted.
“Soul” is now streaming across all digital platforms and available on vinyl via La Munai Records.”