- Wednesday 2 July
With their groovy mix of soul, funk, afrobeat, Middle Eastern tones and inspiration from Indonesian psych rock, Jakarta based trio Ali provides the perfect soundtrack for hot summer days.
The group describes their sound as "Middle Easten Beats with Southeast Twists", which is based on the Middle Eastern cultural influences that for centuries have flowed into Indonesia. The songs are sung in Arabic but have a unique Indonesian sound thanks to rich inspiration from the Indonesian rock and funk scene of the 70s. Through this cultural encounter, the band offers a unique take on the musical revival of Middle Eastern funk and disco, also nicknamed habibi-funk.
The trio's debut album, Malaka, was released in 2023 and has been praised for its cinematic and soulful sound, leading critics to compare the band to the likes of Khruangbin and Altın Gün. The album has also paved the way for global interest and led to a series of international concerts where the trio has thrilled audiences with a sound that resonates with both crisp retro and new sonic adventures.
Ali is now ready to bring their sunny and funky fusion of Indonesian psych and Middle Eastern tones to Roskilde Festival. Ahead of the concert, they will release a new EP entitled Patterns, and we dare to promise a groovy party this Summer!
