No matter how hard you kick them, lightcraft will not stay down and give up. Is it exemplary perseverance or just plain stubbornness and foolishness? Time will surely tell, but midway through their eighteenth year together as a band, the anthemic contemporary pop quartet is still pushing on with a bag of pleasant surprises ready and music that keeps on constantly evolving.
In July 2022, their evolution reached a peak with the release of their fourth album, “Hope + Love”. This seminal masterpiece, featuring blockbuster singles including “Permanence”, “Dream Dancer”, and “Forever”, garnered rave reviews from media outlets both home and abroad. And now, to give the “Hope + Love” era a proper send-off, lightcraft have decided to rerelease the album as a deluxe edition titled “Hope + Love: reanimated edition”.
“It was an obvious decision, really. We want to move on to our next chapter. Still, we also wanted to celebrate the album before we go, hoping that some songs that were maybe overlooked could be given a bit more love they deserve,” says frontman Imam. The original version contains twelve heartfelt, cinematic, and powerful tracks, each bearing a message about the importance of holding on to hope and maintaining a positive disposition and the significance of love in life. The album showcased a maturity that only a band such as lightcraft could achieve, having gone through one evolution after another and re-energised like a veteran champion boxer who defied the odds.
In addition to the existing tracks, “Hope + Love: reanimated edition” features four additional songs: “True (You) (Reanimated Demo)” and “Like a Fire (Reanimated Demo)”, their most recent single “Coming Home (feat Chelsea Dawn & Coloura)”, and the focus track “This Day & Age (feat Natasha Udu) (RIMALDI Reanimated)”, adding a fresh and exciting dimension to the album. Previously released as part of the original version of the album, “This Day & Age” was the ultimate pick-me-up anthem written based on Imam’s constant struggles with his lack of self-confidence.
Remixed and mastered by gifted singer/songwriter and producer RIMALDI, the track has become an electronic feel-good summer banger that would not feel out of place in one’s bedroom or at the club, a testament to the power of music to unite and uplift. The remix features the talented Indonesian songstress and Lomba Sihir singer Natasha Udu. Her extraordinary vocals are highlighted even further in the collaboration, which has resulted in what may be THE empowerment song of the year.
“When lightcraft asked me to remix the track, I did not just want to remix it. I wanted it to be a translation. The original song had this pure and vibrant energy and message, which I wanted to share with the world through the song. I am delighted with how it turned out; it perfectly encapsulates my feelings about ‘This Day & Age’. I am proud and honoured,” RIMALDI – real name Daniel Rimaldi – explains.
With shades of Rüfüs du Sol and Fred Again.. yet still bearing the hallmarks of a lightcraft song, “This Day & Age (feat Natasha Udu) (RIMALDI Reanimated)” will get listeners waving their hands in the air and dancing along to its deep-house beats and bouncing piano lines.
“For the original version, it was an opportunity for me to collaborate with a band I admire a lot and to combine our creative energies to create something we hoped could touch people’s hearts. And then RIMALDI came along and took the song to another level!” Natasha Udu exclaims.
“This Day & Age (feat Natasha Udu) (RIMALDI Reanimated)” seem to signal another coming of age for lightcraft, who are currently operating as a trio consisting of Imam, guitarist Fari Febrian, and keyboardist Enrico Prabowo, with drummer Yopi Sasmita taking a break to focus on his family. “Yeah, it is a sound we intend to pursue for our next chapter without sacrificing our defining characteristics. After 18 years, the fire inside us is still burning bright, so we are excited about what will come,” adds Fari.
The song will also be accompanied by a music video shot, directed, and edited by long-time lightcraft collaborator Reksa Fajar. It shows the band, Natasha Udu and RIMALDI, dancing in high spirits with images flashed onto them. It reflects the song’s joyful vibe, encouraging listeners not to overthink and be positive for the future.
“Reksa opted for a straightforward set-up for the shoot, but I believe that it managed to capture the song’s essence,” says Enrico.
Indonesian illustrator and surface pattern designer Kartika Paramita created the artwork for “Hope + Love: reanimated edition”. She improved on the original by turning it into an eye-catching multicoloured illustration. Released by Melt Records in the Philippines and Wander Digital for the rest of the world, “Hope + Love: reanimated edition” and its single “This Day & Age (feat Natasha Udu) (RIMALDI Reanimated)” will be available on all digital streaming platforms from July 5, 2024, including Spotify, Apple Music, and more.
Bunka Wave 