2023 marks the twenty-seventh year of Suarasama; it is also the first year for this reissue of their 2013 masterpiece, Timeline.

Irwansyah Harahap and Rithaony Hutajulu, Ethnomusicology lecturers at University of Sumatera Utara, founded Suarasama in 1995 after they’d both graduated from University of Washington in Seattle. Their music, as played and sung on both Timeline and Fajar Di Atas Awan (first issued in 1998, reissued by Drag City in 2008) is hypnotic and joyful, progressing ancient North Sumatran music concepts while referencing the music of adjacent ethnic traditions.

The sound of Suarasama is the sound of people engaged in a deeply spiritual, constantly moving recital in open space. The sound's genesis is in Irwinsyah Harahap’s master playing on a variety of stringed instruments including acoustic guitars, Malaysian Gambus, mandolin, and an invention of his own design, the saz-guitar. Suarasama’s spirit and intention is joined and elevated by Rithaony Hutajulu’s vocals, as well as the skilled rhythm playing of Muhammad Amin and Horas Panjaitan, with additional percussion and singing from several others.

The first preview for those who've not already experienced Suarasama's Timeline is “Untukmu Yang Berperang”, inspired by the narrative “Chedo” song tradition of West Africa’s Fulani people. Buzzing acoustic guitar carves a groove for the impassioned vocal melody, the words passionately decrying all global conflict. The guitar’s burry tone color is joined by woodblock and Malaysian sapu lidi (broom) percussion, an entrancing minimalist orchestral dance.

2022 was the first year not seen in by founder and leader Irwansyah Harahap, who passed away in 2021 at the age of 60. As difficult as this loss is for his family and friends alike, the reissue of Timeline is still seen as a celebration of the vitality and importance of his music career and journey - and they intend to continue his legacy and spread his music throughout the world that inspired it. As will we – with the eternally resonant music of Timeline, crossing as many borders as possible, we intend to bring Suarasama’s world music to all the people, everywhere.

Timeline arrives on May 12th.