Ali

Ali is a three-piece musical project from Jakarta, Indonesia, founded by John Paul Patton and Arswandaru Cahyo and completed by guitarist Muhamad Absar. The band’s vision is to weave Middle Eastern culture into the sounds of 1970s Indonesian rock, cinematic soul, afrobeat, funk and disco, creating a groove-driven style that feels both timeless and fresh. With all lyrics written in Arabic, Ali draws on the centuries-old influence of Middle Eastern art and music that has assimilated itself deep into Indonesian culture and way of life.

Their debut album Malaka (2023) introduced this distinctive sound, while Patterns (2025) pushed their rhythmic and textural explorations even further, cementing their place in Indonesia’s contemporary music landscape. Having coined their style as “Middle Eastern beats with Southeast Asian twists”, Ali have carried their vision from Jakarta to international stages, delivering a sound that is unmistakably their own.

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