When you’re a teenager, deciding what to call your band can be a tricky predicament. Just ask a bunch of Californian boys back in the ‘80s who decided to call their rock band Tony Flow and the Majestic Masters of Mayhem, before eventually settling on Red Hot Chili Peppers.
No Talent aren’t quite as tongue-twisting, but the name for this Indonesian post-hardcore act will certainly evoke plenty of sniggers and second glances. Expectedly, it was conceived in 2003 while all members were just 14-and
15-year-old lads who wanted to dabble in an after school hobby that would give them a chance to cover songs by the likes of Maroon 5 and Simple Plan.
But in 2007, No Talent de-wussified, and gradually shifted away from the school prom/battle of the bands circuit. And to date, they have been anything but self-fulfilling. All 2,000 copies of debut EP Beneath The Shattered Skylines have sold out, and the band have received sponsorship
deals with footwear giants Macbeth and other clothing companies, performed in Singapore and shared the stage with legendary/rif guitarist Noviar Rachmansyah, aka Ovy. “We play and make music with our soul and hearts instead of talent,” says bassist Irzan Raditya (aka Ichan). And true to that mantra, No Talent have exercised those heart muscles thoroughly in surmounting numerous obstacles, including inconsistent line-ups and the permanent replacement of founding vocalist Daniel Pradipta with Reza Andrean (aka Aceh). A full-length is currently being recorded, tentatively entitled As the City Falls Asleep, and plans are in the works to release an international edition that will further the band’s dreams of infiltrating lands like Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines and Australia. Then there’s festivals, music videos, rock and roll stardom—the works, basically. And if that’s the vision of a talentless collective, then who needs skills.
• WORDS CHRIS PHOTO NO TALENT
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