Rudolf Dethu

Homegrown & Well Known: UBUD VILLAGE JAZZ FESTIVAL 2013

Ubud, the informal Indonesian art capital, already has two major international events and in a few months the Ubud Village Jazz Festival shall knock that tally up to three.

Last time I was in the hills, a couple of whispering spirits insisted the duo behind the newest event, Yuri Mahatma, the Bali jazz veteran responsible for the Underground Jazz Movement, and Anom Darsana, Bali’s sound engineering guru turned die-hard event organiser, were up to something. It turns out that this ain’t gonna be one of those same old Jazz festivals. In fact, it’s goodbye-metropolitan-hello-Ubud hill tribe perfection… and all that kind of jazz.

Domestic Groove: ANDEZZZ

DOMESTIC GROOVE ~ Celeb’s Chosen Nine is my biweekly column in The Beat (Jakarta) mag. Basically it’s an interview via e-mail which focuses on small, intimate, domestic stuff; what Indonesia’s public figures are really into.

For the 47th edition I went upclose-and-personal with Andezzz.

Homegrown & Well Known: MADE BAYAK

He gained respect by mixing craftsmanship, loud guitar and activism. Bayak is one of today’s most distinctive Bali young artists. While his band, Geekssmile, should be used as the role model for other Indonesian bands: quit singing cheesy love songs, stop crying, start helping this in-a-state-of-emergency country.

Morfem: Hey, Makan Tuh Gitar!

If you are into noise music and shoegazing sounds (think Sonic Youth meets The Jesus and Mary Chain), with a healthy dose of punk rock, you should check out Morfem. Especially their second full-length album, Hey, Makan Tuh Gitar!, which was just released last month.

The first single, “180 Derajat”, was released for free online earlier (before the album formally launched). At the same time the Jakarta quartet also published their video clip for the single. Consisting of 11 songs, the album’s theme remains dominated by daily issues. The sound through the whole album is more raw than their previous record, Indonesia. Morfem, founded in 2009, are one the music projects of Jimi Multhazam, one of the long standing Jakartan alternative scenesters.

Go to YouTube to listen and watch “180 Derajat” and keep yourself updated by visiting their website: morfemband.wordpresscom.

Domestic Groove: INDRA7

DOMESTIC GROOVE ~ Celeb’s Chosen Nine is my biweekly column in The Beat (Jakarta) mag. Basically it’s an interview via e-mail which focuses on small, intimate, domestic stuff; what Indonesia’s public figures are really into.

For the 46th edition I went upclose-and-personal with Indra7.

Tonite! VIVE LE ROCK! Queens of Noise & Riot Grrrl!

VIVE LE ROCK
Every Thursday 7-9pm (Bali time)
Rebel Radio Indonesia

Mar 28 & Apr 04 ’13 Edition
Queens of Noise & Riot Grrrl: Yesterday and Today

♬ Radio streaming: http://rebelradioindonesia.org/rebel-stream ♫

JFCC Charity Jam 2013

The JFCC is proud to announce another round of the city’s premiere showcase of local music. After four years, the JFCC Charity Jam in Memory of Tim Mapes is still going strong, due to the generous sponsorship of the Mapes family. Thanks to Glynn and Elizabeth Mapes, we are able once again to honor their son, Tim, who died from brain cancer in 2010. After a long and distinguished career at the Wall Street Journal, Tim died at the age of 42 in London after stints in Warsaw, New Delhi, Singapore and Jakarta. He was a big fan of Slank and other Indonesian bands and it is in that spirit that we bring to you this charity event, whose proceeds will go to the JFCC Memorial Fund for the training of Indonesian journalists.

Tonite! VIVE LE ROCK! Fuck Art - Let’s Dance!

VIVE LE ROCK
Every Thursday 7-9pm (Bali time)
Rebel Radio Indonesia

Mar 14 & 21 ’13 Edition
Fuck Art – Let’s Dance: Party Punk Psalm 69

♬ Radio streaming: http://rebelradioindonesia.org/rebel-stream ♫

Harlan: Jajan Rock

Jakarta’s infamous veteran of indie, Harlan, has returned. Consisting of four songs, Harlan’s latest offering to the scene, Jajan Rock, released this past February. And, of these, “Klaten”, turns out to be a Gribs cover, which is a move attributed to the immense respect he has for the themes, lyrics and attitudes of the retro rock group. Don’t be thinking it’s an ordinary, run of the mill, tone-for-tone cover, cause this one isn’t ordinary do-over. Harlan’s version is straight up folk, folks. Indeed, folk is the predominant genre represented throughout his entire album, like a straight up injection of folky goodness.

Released under the keen eye of Rain Dogs Records this album is a quick off the mark follow up to Sakit Generik which hit the stores back in November 2012. But wait, there’s more, we have it on good authority that a third mini album is planned for release soon after Jajan Rock. And then, this Harlan trilogy shall be completed by way of a full-length album, due out in late 2013.

If you fancy your folk and have found yourself missing this local troubadour, take a visit to raindogsrecords.com to keep updated on what’s what with Harlan. Oh, and whilst there, buy his albums.

Domestic Groove: DADANG "POHON TUA" PRANOTO

DOMESTIC GROOVE ~ Celeb’s Chosen Nine is my biweekly column in The Beat (Jakarta) mag. Basically it’s an interview via e-mail which focuses on small, intimate, domestic stuff; what Indonesia’s public figures are really into.

For the 45th edition I went upclose-and-personal with Dadang “Pohon Tua” Pranoto.