Formed in 2008 in the bustling creative heart of Jakarta, Indonesia, The Young Liars emerged as a fresh and distinctive voice in the country’s indie rock scene. From the outset, their sound was defined by a magnetic blend of groove-driven rhythms, prominent basslines, and sharp, cinematic guitar riffs, all anchored by vocals that carry raw emotional weight. The band’s journey quickly gathered momentum. In 2012, they achieved a major milestone when they were invited to perform at the prestigious Midem Festival in Cannes, France, an international stage that exposed their music to a broader audience and solidified their ambition. Energized by that experience, The Young Liars poured their creativity into their debut album, Rue Massena (2015).
The record was a critical success, earning a spot at #4 in Rolling Stone Indonesia’s Top 10 Albums of the Month in July 2016, a recognition that underscored their place among the most exciting acts in Indonesia’s independent music circuit. Despite their growing acclaim, the years following Rue Massena saw the band retreat from the spotlight. Rather than rushing to release new material, they allowed themselves time to explore, reflect, and reimagine their artistic direction. Over a decade since their formation, their chemistry remains intact, built on the interplay between Rizki Aryo (vocals, guitar), Arya (guitar, synthesizer), Tantra (bass, backing vocals), and Uton (drums, backing vocals). Together, they continue to channel the spirit of their early post-punk energy while exploring new sonic horizons that lean into atmosphere, groove, and cinematic tension.
On July 25, 2025, After a 10-year silence that left fans anticipating their next move, The Young Liars make a striking return with their self-produced single, “Rêverie”. Opening with a hypnotic drum groove and a looping bassline, the track draws the listener into a rich, atmospheric space where emotion and memory intertwine. Sharp, tension-filled guitar riffs cut through the haze with cinematic precision, while the vocals feel urgent yet melodic, like the voice of someone trying to piece together a memory that refuses to stay still. This is the band’s first release since their debut album Rue Massena in 2015, and it signals a bold new chapter. While “Rêverie” embraces a more groove-focused, atmospheric style, it retains the unmistakable essence of The Young Liars: dynamic percussion, prominent basslines, and an emotional core that lingers long after the song ends. The track’s journey from a rough drum idea in 2017 to its final form in 2025 mirrors its thematic depth, patient, layered, and charged with the weight of time.
There is an immediate sense of suspended time as “Rêverie” by The Young Liars begins, drawing the listener into a carefully constructed dreamscape where every sound feels intentional and deeply atmospheric. The opening is anchored by a hypnotic drum loop, steady yet intricately textured, giving the impression of a heartbeat that sets the emotional pace for everything that follows. There is nothing hurried in this introduction, the band lets the rhythm breathe, allowing each beat to settle before the next arrives. It is this patience that immediately establishes the cinematic quality of the piece, evoking imagery of dimly lit streets, quiet conversations in shadowed corners, and the kind of slow-burn suspense that belongs in an art-house film or a noir-inspired soundtrack. The production has a lo-fi warmth that makes the listener feel close to the sound, as if leaning in to catch every subtle vibration, yet it also hints at deeper, more expansive layers waiting to unfold.
As the song gradually evolves, the bassline emerges with a rich, rounded tone that becomes the track’s steady heartbeat. It moves with a quiet confidence, not aggressively commanding attention but rather seducing the listener into its groove. This bass is perfectly matched by the twangy, reverb-soaked guitars, which shimmer and ripple across the mix like light dancing over moving water. The interplay between bass and guitar is beautifully balanced, the low end providing an earthy foundation while the higher melodic lines drift above, airy and almost intangible. These guitar lines carry subtle influences of surf rock and psychedelic textures, their slightly nostalgic tone creating a bridge between eras, making the track feel both timeless and contemporary. Each strum and pluck is carefully placed, never overcrowding the arrangement but instead adding to the song’s dreamlike illusion.
The progression of “Rêverie” is an exercise in restraint and patience, a refusal to succumb to the temptation of quick emotional payoff. Instead of rushing toward a peak, The Young Liars allow the music to unfurl at its own natural pace, giving each moment the room to resonate. There is a constant, almost imperceptible layering of sounds, faint percussive taps, ambient hums, and echoes that fade in and out like whispers on the wind. These details keep the track alive, giving it a breathing quality that feels organic rather than mechanical. This subtle growth builds tension in the most understated way, making the listener feel suspended in anticipation. The beauty lies in how this tension never fully breaks; the song keeps you hovering in that space between expectation and release, which makes its atmosphere so intoxicating.
Vocally, “Rêverie” treats the human voice as a fully integrated instrument within the soundscape, rather than just a conveyor of lyrics. The lead vocals are delivered with a tone that is sharp yet airy, capable of cutting through the haze of reverb without shattering the song’s delicacy. Sung primarily in English, the lyrics are woven with French spoken-word passages that add a layer of sophistication and poetic mystique. The bilingual interplay creates a sense of intimacy and allure, as though the listener is being let in on a secret conversation. The phrasing and cadence are deliberate, each word and syllable chosen for both its meaning and its sonic texture. The result is a vocal delivery that is at once inviting and elusive, encouraging the listener to lean closer in an attempt to catch every nuance.
The blending of instrumentation and vocals in “Rêverie” is where the song’s magic truly lies. Every element, from the twang of the guitar to the depth of the bass, the understated persistence of the drums, and the ethereal layering of vocals, feels meticulously placed to serve the greater whole. Nothing is overpowering; instead, the arrangement functions like a perfectly balanced ecosystem where each sound contributes to the overall mood without overshadowing another. This careful balance allows the track to maintain its cinematic, voyeuristic feel, a sensation of looking in on a moment frozen in time, aware that something important is unfolding but never fully revealed. The production choices are crisp in their intention, giving the song clarity without sacrificing its hazy, dreamlike essence.
Rêverie is a hypnotic, atmospheric comeback from The Young Liars, blending groove, tension, and memory into an immersive sonic dreamscape.
By the time the final notes fade into silence, “Rêverie” leaves the listener with the lingering sensation of drifting between memory and imagination, unsure where one ends and the other begins. The way The Young Liars maintain that suspended, almost weightless state from start to finish is a testament to their mastery of mood and pacing. It is not simply a comeback single after a decade-long absence; it is a statement that the band’s understanding of texture, tension, and atmosphere has only deepened with time. The track feels like a slow exhale, a piece that doesn’t just ask to be heard but to be experienced fully, with the lights low, the mind open, and the senses ready to be carried into its reverie. In the end, it is less a song you listen to and more a place you inhabit, if only for a few captivating minutes.
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