Set to be released on February 26, 2025, “Hilang” marks Jakarta-based anthemic pop band lightcraft’s first move in 2025. It is a bold reinterpretation of their beloved track, “Hold Your Breath”, showcasing the band’s courage and artistic growth. This Bahasa Indonesia remake plunges listeners into the depths of heartbreak right after the Valentine’s Day celebrations, blending raw emotion with the band’s signature atmospheric soundscapes. A post-Valentine’s Day break-up or the dark side of Valentine’s Day, if you will.
Reimagined as a cinematic electronic track with hints of deep house and pop sensibilities, “Hilang” captures the universal ache of love lost and memories that refuse to fade. With haunting melodies and lyrics steeped in vulnerability, the track evokes an emotional intensity that lingers long after the final note. “Hilang” is actually the third song in Bahasa Indonesia to be written and released by lightcraft. The previous two, “Tanpa Jawaban” from their 2008 debut album “Losing Northern Lights” and the standalone music video-only single “Lupa”, which was released in 2013, are only available on Thai digital streaming platform Fungjai and YouTube respectively, making it even more exciting for the band.
“It is strange. I have never been too confident in the proficiency of my mother tongue in written form. I know we have put out two Bahasa Indonesia songs in the past, but that was back then,” singer and songwriter Imam remarks. With the help of his bandmates and close confidants of the band, Imam managed to find the conviction to rewrite “Hold Your Breath” in Bahasa Indonesia. “It was fun, trying to put a new twist to an old song without veering far from its main theme. It feels like we have done it justice,” he says. The decision to revisit “Hold Your Breath” was deeply personal for lightcraft. By recreating it in their native tongue, the band imbues the song with new life, offering listeners a poignant connection to the pain and beauty of irreplaceable relationships.
“We wanted to honour the emotional depth of ‘Hold Your Breath’ while presenting it in a way that feels closer to our roots,” adds guitarist Fari. “Hilang” bridges languages and emotions, proving that stories of love and loss transcend all boundaries. The band collaborated with longtime creative partner Reksa Fajar to bring this vision to life for the accompanying lyric video. Starring Hannibal Nouvel, Reksa’s artful direction captures the song’s emotional core and complements the track’s haunting narrative. Adding to the release’s visual story is a photograph from lightcraft’s travels to the UK for Liverpool Sound City 2016, featured as the single’s cover art. This image, part of a series used for their 2016 EP “Another Life”, underscores the enduring connection between the past and present. The striking press photo by Alexis Calvin completes the visual package, portraying the band at their most evocative.
Mixed by Wendi Arintyo and mastered by Cebu-based Filipino mastering engineer Miguel Lim, “Hilang” is not just a song – it is an experience. Let it pull you into its bittersweet embrace, awakening scars you thought had healed and memories you hold closest to your heart.
After “Hilang”, lightcraft already has another surprise for their fans. In April, they will drop a brand-new single that will once again showcase their exceptional versatility and dexterity. Stay tuned!
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