J Rocks – Rocking the Indo music scene

J Rocks – Rocking the Indo music scene

Since forming in Indonesia over a decade ago, J-Rocks have been wowing an army of devoted fans with their energetic brand of Japanese-influenced rock n roll. Lead vocalist Taufik Rachman, together with guitarist Sony Ismail Robbayani, bassist Swara Wima Yoga and drummer Anton Rudi Kelces, began thei...
Power Slaves – Rich Rock n Roll

Power Slaves – Rich Rock n Roll

Their website might state '100% rock n roll', and they might take their name from an album by English heavy metal giants Iron Maiden, but there is far more to this Indonesian band than just bombastic loud guitars. Indonesian music fans are known for their appreciation of energetic music, but they al...
The Djakarta Warehouse Project

The Djakarta Warehouse Project

Djakarta Warehouse Project is Ismaya Live's annual dance music festival. They accomplished to be the biggest dance music festival in Indonesia, and also one of the biggest in Asia. The festival has featured the best International acts and Indonesia's best electronic artists/djs. With the highest pro...
Power Slaves – Up The Tempo

Power Slaves – Up The Tempo

The statement on the Power Slaves website, that the band indulge in '100% rock n roll' is certainly no empty boast. Check out the clip of their track 'Indonesia'. This bears all the hallmarks of a classic rock video, with close-ups of the various instruments are they are introduced to the track. Th...
Shorthand Phonetics – Music and Film

Shorthand Phonetics – Music and Film

Most rock bands are content to live up to a certain set of expectations. This often follows a well-worn pattern: the first album is packed full of punchy material designed to gain maximum attention. By the second album, the emphasis might be on taking things down a gear, with many outfits displaying...
The colourful world of Indo rock

The colourful world of Indo rock

The Indonesia music scene is incredibly rich and varied, benefiting from a range of influences, historic and cultural. Its location on the Pacific rim is ideal for soaking up many of the musical styles which are prevalent amongst other Far Eastern nations. But one form of music that seems to have b...
The wonderful cocktail of Dangdut

The wonderful cocktail of Dangdut

There are many wonderful forms of indigenous music which continue to inspire generations of music lovers throughout the world. In Indonesia one particular form of music that has endured has been Dangdut. The term itself derives from the Javanese word conveying the literal sound of a drum (known as...
Powerful stories from dMassiv

Powerful stories from D'Masiv

The YouTube video for the song by Indonesian band D'Masiv, 'Sudahi Perih Ini' has been seen by 8 million viewers. One reason for its popularity is that rather than simply being an accompaniment to the music, the footage tells a story. As the track unfolds, there is a moment of drama that contrasts v...
Rock in Solo

Rock in Solo

While some people love to relax to soothing music, for others the whole point of listening to their favourite bands is to do so loudly. Forget chart-friendly pop or trendy dance vibes – if you are ever visiting Indonesia's capital Jakarta during 'Rock in Solo' time, prepare to have your ear-drums as...
Gigi – their greatest moments

Gigi – their greatest moments

Ya Ya Ya The video for their single ‘Ya Ya Ya' has attracted around 1 million hits in YouTube. It illustrates their perfect blend of hard-edged guitars and fluid melodies. The film itself is very arresting, featuring the band playing live on the banks of some suitably industrial-looking docks. The...
Afgan Syahreza

Afgan Syahreza

Afgan Syahrezah as won many plaudits for his talents. Amongst the various awards that already clutter the shelves are Best Male Vocalist (at the 2009 Indonesian Music Awards) and Best Male Artist (at the 2009 Planet Muzik Wards, celebrating engaging artists in Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore). As...
God Bless – greatest YouTube moments

God Bless – greatest YouTube moments

God Bless, one of Indonesia's most consistent and influential rock bands, have accumulated an army of followers – over different generations, too. Founding member Ahmad Albar has presided over a band that first formed in 1973, and has released several popular albums since their eponymous debut in 19...
Indonesian music to cement diplomatic ties

Indonesian music to cement diplomatic ties

With the imminent arrival of the 40th anniversary of the moment when diplomatic ties were established between Indonesia and Korea, music has rightly become centre-stage. More than any other form of artistic expression, music is capable of crossing international borders and creating harmony. For that...
Indonesian pop sensations Noah

Indonesian pop sensations Noah

Of the most phenomenal successes in the field of popular music in Indonesia has been the band Noah. They were formerly known as Peterpan (in fact, when they renamed themselves in 2012, the some of the promotional material stated ‘Noah Known as Peterpan Band'). What Noah have always done is excel in...
Indonesians and Miley Cyrus

Indonesians and Miley Cyrus

There is a popular saying that equates taste with marmite, a sticky brown food spread that is widely used in Australasia, the Pacific and beyond. Because it has such a distinctive taste, it is known to polarize opinion – you either love it or hate it. Well the same could well be said about the young...
Kotak – from talent shows to MTV fame

Kotak – from talent shows to MTV fame

It was Indonesia's TV7 2004 ‘The Dream Band' competition that set this band on the road to fame and fortune. At that event, vocalist Julia Angelia Lepar (aka Pare), guitarist Mario Marcella (aka Cella), drummer Haposan Haryanto Tobing (aka Posan) and bassist Prinzes Amanda (aka Icez) impressed the t...
Kotak - greatest moments

Kotak - greatest moments

Ever since Kotak's members were first spotted on an Indonesian TV talent show and named ‘The Dream Band' they have made its their sole purpose to entertain. Since that moment in 2004 they have recorded increasingly catchy and commercially successful records. If you want to check them out, a great p...
Maudy Ayunda - Indonesian popstar

Maudy Ayunda - Indonesian popstar

Not that many people are aware of Maudy Ayunda outside of her native Indonesia, but this is sure to change over the next few years. Born in 1994, this actress and singer is still a teenager (until December this year at any rate). Yet at the tender age of 19 she has demonstrated ample evidence of her...