Indonesian Bali-based alternative pop-rock trio MANJA’s relationship with music was not a romance that began with love at first sight.
For siblings Nick and Mark Vleugels – MANJA’s lead guitarist and keyboardist, respectively – it was instead a misfortune in life. With their family at an economic disadvantage, they turned to and embraced music to give them a fighting chance to improve their situation.
A similar fate also befell MANJA’s vocalist and guitarist, James Sukadana. Coming from a musical family background, he has had music in his blood since he came into the world. However, it was not his heritage that prompted his decision to take music seriously. Only after a series of ups and downs did he become aware that music brought him joy and excitement. And money.
These episodes moulded their independence and survival instincts from a young age and their outlook on life, providing them with a solid foundation for their lives and musical talents. Laid-back, happy-go-lucky, yet hard-working and persistent, the MANJA boys know how to buckle down, endeavour, and show their commitment and desire to earn the right to have fun.
In 2016, they were introduced to one another by a mutual friend, and sparks flew. After a period spent performing cover songs at many shows both home and abroad, they came to the realisation that they cannot play covers for the rest of their lives. They reached a critical point: to be or not to be. And so, during the first month of 2018, MANJA were born.
The name MANJA was conceived with two special meanings in mind. The first one combines their three names: MArk, Nick, and JAmes. The second refers to “manja” in Hindi, defined as the glass threads commonly used in kite competitions. They can be interpreted as the link between humans and their dreams about freedom. MANJA have big dreams. And they are ready to fight for them.
MANJA’s unique sound comes from an eclectic amalgamation of the trio’s musical background. Nick grew up listening to R&B, house, and a bit of alternative rock, while Mark took in a mix of modern and classic music and vintage French chanson. James started out with heavy metal and was in a metal band before he got into electropop, citing Parcels as a big favourite of his. The result is a groovy-go-lucky sound with a strong pop structure that is
sophisticated in nature. Sophisti-pop, then.
Throughout their career thus far, MANJA have won several awards and opened for British city-pop band PREP during their Asian Tour in 2019. They also performed at prominent music festival Soundrenaline in Bali in the same year. In 2022, MANJA made waves by performing at Head In The Clouds Jakarta.
To this day, MANJA have released four singles on digital streaming platforms, all receiving critical acclaim. This year, they are set to release several new singles – the first being “Last Night’s Kiss” in July – that will showcase the best that MANJA offers: dynamic, solid, and sophisticated earworms. Sophisti-pop till you drop.