Endah N Rhesa is a musical project comprising acoustic guitar, bass and vocal. The musical nuance that Endah N Rhesa tries to bring out is folk, jazz, blues, rock and roll, and ballads. Endah Widiastuti (vocal, guitar) and Rhesa Aditya (bass) met each other in a rock band in early 2003. Shortly after the two left the band in 2004, Endah went solo, just like the way it used to be before joining the rock band. Endah recorded numerous songs of hers in an album entitled ”The New Beginning”, a four-track mini album which was independently distributed, with a limited number of copy. In one of the songs in the album, Rhesa added some bass thumps and made it a fascinating mix of the three instruments (vocal, guitar and bass). The song is titled “When You Love Someone”. From that time being, Endah and Rhesa started to play together in campus events, and the feedbacks toward their music were tremendously positive. Finally, they decided to create a stage name for their duo/musical project which comes from their own names: Endah N Rhesa.
Endah N Rhesa was inspired to start playing in minimalist acoustic format, surprisingly, because of some local bands, namely: Cozy Street Corner, Bonita and Anda. In terms of singing, Endah is influenced by Alanis Morissete and Norah Jones. Besides, there are also the four “Johns” that influence her in playing guitar: John Mayer, John Butler, John Scofield and John Frusciante. Endah also credits Pat Metheny and multi-talented instrumentalist Warman Nasution of TOR for inspiring her. Rhesa, on the other hand, is a unique personality who is mainly influenced by acoustic guitarists like Jack Johnson, Dave Matthews, James Taylor and other folk and ballad musicians. The persons that Rhesa put into credit for making him play bass are Les Claypool, Victor Wooten, Flea and ex-child singer Bondan Prakoso. They both, however, share the same influence in music, to wit: Bela Fleck & The Flecktones, which affects them mostly on creating rich groovy and harmonic nuances in the music of Endah N Rhesa.
Endah N Rhesa has released “Nowhere To Go” (old version) in 2005 and “Real Live”, a live recording piece, in 2006. Endah N Rhesa marketed and distributed both the former and the latter all by themselves through their stage acts.
After releasing their first album Nowhere to Go under independent label demajors, Endah N Rhesa is coming into a whole broader world. They have a story-telling lyrics about life, love and friendship. Endah N Rhesa awarded as Rookie of The Year 2010 by Rolling Stone Indonesia Magazine. Up to now, Nowhere to Go album sold 25.000 copies and becomes Best Alternative Album Production by Indonesian Music Award (AMI).
In 2010, Endah N Rhesa released Look What We’ve Found album. The album is quite different from the previous one. They explored African and Carribean rhythm, put imagination and musical nuance about beach, jungle, mountain and tribal culture and sold 16.000 up to now. In 2011, Endah N Rhesa awarded as Best Performance for Alternative Artists and Best Producer Alternative Album by Indonesian Music Award (AMI). Endah N Rhesa performed in many places in Indonesia, and they were invited to perform in Malaysia, Singapore and Kazakhstan in 2010 and 2011. In May 2013, Endah N Rhesa released their 3rd album “Escape”.
Endah N Rhesa also involved on movie by Eugene Panji, “Cita-citaku Setinggi Tanah” (Stepping On a Flying Grass) as Music Director in 2012. Endah N Rhesa also made an Original Soundtrack for movie Cinta Dalam Kardus (Love in a Box) by Salman Aristo and Raditya Dika in 2013.
In September 2015, Endah N Rhesa released an album titled "Seluas Harapan". A collection of songs written in 2008-2015 that previously released in many projects.
In 2016, Endah N Rhesa made a collaboration project with Bali based trio, Dialog Dini Hari. They called themselves DDHEAR, Dialog Dini Hari + Endah N Rhesa. They released a mini album “Parahita” with four songs in it and made a concert in Jakarta. Mid year, Endah N Rhesa created an original soundtrack “Ruang Bahagia” for a movie “Athirah” produced by Miles Production and directed by Riri Riza. The movie won an award for The Best Movie at Piala Citra Festival Film Indonesia 2016.
2016
- Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival
- Konser DDHEAR “Parahita”, Graha Bakti Budaya, Jakarta
- DDHEAR at Jazz Market by The Sea, Bali
- DDHEAR at Bandung Look Festival
- DDHAER at Soundrenaline, Bali
- Synchronize Festival, Jakarta
- DDHEAR at Sound Festival, Bali
- DDHEAR at Urban Gigs, Bali
2015
- Darwin Festival, Australia
- Sanur Village Festival, Bali
- Eco Music Camp, Bogor
- Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival
- Jakarta Fair
- Nivea #EnjoyTheSun Roadshow
- The 7th International Kampoeng Jazz
2014
- Borobudur Jazz
- Jazz Traffic Surabaya
- Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival
- Jakarta International Blues Festival
2013
- Midem Conference & Festival (Cannes, France)
- Java Rockin’ Land
- JakJazz
- Jakarta International Blues Festival
- Indonesian Performing Art Market (IPAM)
- Pekan Raya Jakarta
2012
- Borobudur Jazz
- Jazz Traffic Surabaya
- Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival
- Jakarta International Blues Festival
2011
- Djakarta Artmosphere
- Jakarta International Blues Festival
- Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival
- Jazz Traffic Surabaya
- Opening Act for Zee Avi Tour, Jakarta Indonesia
- Marketplace of Creative Arts, Kazakhstan
- Endah N Rhesa gigs in Singapore
- Blues Celebration, No Black Tie Malaysia
- Opening Act & Collaboration with Rick Price
2010
- KinestAsia, Singapore
- Bekasi Jazz Festival
- Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival
2009
- Indie Asia : Esplanade Singapore
- Indonesia Blues Festival
Awards :
- Best Creation of Folk/Country/Ballad AMI (Indonesia Music Awards) 2018
- Best Performance by Free Magazine Award 2012
- Best Musician Successfully Build a Career from Social Media by Salingsilang.com 2011
- Best Producer Alternative Album (Rhesa) AMI (Indonesian Music Awards) 2011
- Best Performance Alternative Artists AMI (Indonesia Music Awards) 2011
- Best Alternative Album Production AMI (Indonesia Music Awards) 2010
- Editors’ Choice Awards Rolling Stone Indonesia for Rookie of the Year 2010
- Nominee of Favourite Pop Song “When You Love Someone” Indonesian Cutting Edge Music Awards (ICEMA) 2010
- Junksounds Awards 2009 for Best Acoustic Act (South East Asia)
- MTV Indonesia Music Awards 2009 Nominee for Best Cutting Edge Artist
- Bubuawards 2009 for People’s Choice Awards website www.endahnrhesa.com