Ali

Ali is a three-piece musical project originating from Jakarta, Indonesia. Initiated by Arswandaru and John Paul Patton, the group incorporates Middle Eastern culture with elements of 1970s Indonesian psychedelic funk, cinematic soul, afrobeat and disco to create a new groove in the contemporary Indonesian music scene. All lyrics are written in Arabic, reflecting the cultural heritage of Arswandaru as Indonesian–Arab.

John Paul (drums) and Arswandaru (bass, vocals) are joined by Absar Lebeh on guitar to complete the trio. They describe their sound as “Middle Eastern beats with South East twists” and promise a diverse and unique live experience for Indonesian music and festival audiences.