Man Kidal joins forces with dangdut king Rhoma Irama
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After years of tireless pursuit, Malaysian guitarist Man Kidal has finally achieved his dream of working with Indonesia's King of Dangdut, Rhoma Irama. This significant milestone is part of his forthcoming album, "Man Kidal Ke-45 Tahun Nusantara," celebrating 45 years in the music industry. The path to this collaboration was fraught with challenges.
Over four trips to Indonesia, Man Kidal, 63, encountered administrative hurdles and intermediaries preventing progress. Despite enduring frustration, he remained a devoted fan of Rhoma since 1979. Their paths crossed during rock festivals, with Man Kidal influencing Rhoma's track "Seruan." This admiration developed into a vision of co-creating an album and strengthening musical ties between Malaysian and Indonesian artists.
Initial setbacks underscored the necessity of proper management and legal preparation. With a dedicated team and legal experts, Man Kidal successfully made a subsequent trip last month. Rhoma agreed to join the project during his visit to Kuala Lumpur for the Latihan Pestapora concert. The upcoming six-track album, slated for completion by year-end, will include three compositions by Malaysian and Indonesian musicians, with Rhoma performing on two tracks. Man Kidal aspires for this endeavor to inspire future cross-border musical collaborations.
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