appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

isVideo

articlePageQuery

article

articleSchemaContent

content

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

hooksArticlePageFloatingButtonConfigArticle

appConfig

filter

json

liveArticle

Marcel Thee

In Indonesia, musicians have gone online to keep their fans entertained as stringent social distancing measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19 continue.
Last week, the lockdown and the mandatory work-from-home rule in the capital city of Jakarta were extended to May 22.
Bands and solo artists have adapted by performing from their homes, playing songs and conducting live Q&A sessions, and offering other types of creative content on social media.
The liveliness and spontaneity of the performances are a welcome change from their usual promotional cycles, giving the normally image-conscious musicians an outlet in which to get creative, let their hair down and present themselves in different ways.

“In a situation like this, the mindset, habits and ways that we usually work with and the way we contribute as musicians have to change,” says retro-pop singer Vira Talisa, who recently performed a live set in her living room for her Instagram followers.
“It used to be that we put on a concert to gather people, for them to have a good time out of the house. Now, we’re playing concerts at home, creating interesting content, and even making challenges that people can participate in – all with the aim that listeners will feel comfortable and happy staying inside,” she adds.
Indonesians turn to ‘jamu’ herbal drinks amid coronavirus
Eka Annash, from garage rock band The Brandals, says that the limitations are forcing artists to “find other activity formats to stay creative”.
The chaotic unpredictability of The Brandals’ live shows is impossible to replicate online without serious equipment. Instead, the band has found new ways to communicate with their followers, with Instagram live-streams that rely more on talking than singing. Topics include the band’s music gear and influences, as well as live Q&A sessions with fans.
Some musicians have even devised fully fledged skits and programmes for lockdown viewing. Randy Danistha and Rama Dhista Akbar, from popular alternative group Nidji, regularly stream a show called “Karma” on their Instagram page. Short for karaoke malam (night karaoke), the stream features the musicians performing karaoke with drunken-like abandon. They mix cheesy pop hits of yesterday with jokes and casual chat.

“For the audience, it’s great to be entertained for nothing more than the cost of their phone bill,” Danisha says. “For us, we get emotional satisfaction.”
For a few, going online gives them a chance to explore other subjects. Fans of solo artist Neonomora (real name Ratih Suryahutamy) asked her to sing online during the lockdown. Instead, she is interviewing other female Indonesian musicians about their craft, as well as talking about sexism in the music industry.
“I wanted to do something that lasts, something that I myself can learn from in exchange, and something that isn’t solely about me and my music,” Neonomora says.

Her guests are asked to write a short song that has been inspired by the chat, and Neonomora posts them on her Instagram page.
“I have always felt that the process of these women producing a song has been [ignored]; most of the time it’s about how we look on the outside,” she says, which is why she wants to highlight their work.
The artist-to-artist process has proven enlightening and Neonomora says it has been particularly interesting to see how differently musicians act when at home.
“It’s just great to see how candid and unreserved they are … in their safe zones, and how they might be wrestling with their own emotions, having lost their jobs and the thing they love the most: performing,” she says.
‘Ban something that’s everywhere?’ Cannabis coffee in Aceh
Live-streams, however, have a limited life and audience, which is why some artists are recording their performances before uploading them online, where they gain hundreds of thousands of views.
Most of these performances have been collaborations between Indonesian musicians, with each recording their part before sending it to another to complete theirs. The videos are then stitched together and presented as a conference-style video that gives the illusion of everyone performing together at the same time from their own homes.
TV presenter Vincent Rompies, who used to play bass guitar in retro-pop group Club 80s, has worked with both mainstream and lesser-known artists to produce such performances. His videos have an average of 70,000 likes each and hundreds of thousands of views.

Other artists have streamed open-ended jam sessions and invited others to play with them. Jazz musician Indra Lesmana posted a video of himself playing piano and encouraged musicians to play over it, and he has been reposting the best results on his Instagram page. It’s a move that has been well-received by both his professional peers and amateur musicians, and there have been close to a hundred video responses so far.
As at-home performances slowly become the norm, musicians and record labels are starting to wonder if this internet revolution will change the face of their industry, or if it will just help keep them afloat during the pandemic.
Alex Kusuma Praja from online music magazine Billboard Indonesia says the company has been partnering with various companies and brands to present online performances. Its most recent programme, translated as the “Singing From Home Concert” series, has featured newer acts such as Vira Talisa, as well as veterans like folk-pop legend Iwan Fals.
“We approach it not just as a source of entertainment but [as a way] to build a new ecosystem where the music can stay alive,” Praja says. “We are bringing the offline concert experience onto online platforms, which includes ticket purchases.” Funds generated by ticket sales are divided between Billboard and the musicians.

Not enough musicians are earning money from these campaigns yet, says Eric Wirjanata from music website Deathrockstar, and he advises against being too optimistic.
“It can be the new routine for musicians [to perform online] or it will peter out – one day, people may simply become bored of it.”
Online performances aren’t just about self-preservation or making money, though – some musicians are doing them for charity or other good causes.
Wendi Putranto, co-founder of the Jakarta music venue M Bloc Space, says she and her colleagues are making the best of a challenging situation by partnering with crowdfunding website KitaBisa (We Can) to put live-streamed shows on YouTube and Instagram.
Viewers are free to donate money for medical workers, as well as for those whose livelihoods are based on concerts being held, such as band crew members and live sound engineers.
“We are not doing any paid shows just yet, because for most people, their focus right now is just on their basic needs,” Putranto says. “It just felt like a charity show would make more sense now.”
It feels adventurous to do things that we didn’t necessarily do before the pandemic. Plus, there is a sense of togetherness among musicians and other arts workers
Vira Talisa, singer
Musicians are taking the pandemic in their stride. Vira Talisa says she feels as inspired now, working with others online, as she does when completely isolated.
“It feels adventurous to do things that we didn’t necessarily do before the pandemic,” she says. “Plus, there is a sense of togetherness among musicians and other arts workers, because we are all looking to fill up these gaps, remain productive and continue to work.”
The Brandals’ Annash says the online move has taken him back to being a fan.
“What’s great is that we get a closer look into everyone else’s creative process and interact with the musicians we admire directly,” he says. “There are so many bands going live that sometimes it gets confusing. Everyone is live on Instagram at the same time and it feels like we are all bursting with creativity.”


Style Edit: Chow Tai Fook’s Song collection gives the Chinese drum a golden update

Ed Sheeran calls Gaza situation ‘unjustifiable’ after Macklemore exit furore

How Astrid Jorgensen’s Pub Choir shows anyone can sing. No auditions, no judgment

5 of the best things to do in Hong Kong this weekend, September 18-20

Music

From Iwan Fals to Nidji, Indonesian music stars let their hair down as they connect with self-isolating fans on social media

Vira Talisa recently performed a live set in her living room for her 50,000 Instagram followers. Photo: courtesy of Vira Talisa

Nidji Karma Live IG event poster.Photo: Courtesy Nidji[FEATURES 2020]

Neonomora

MBloc's live stream capture.Photo: courtesy of MBloc[FEATURES 2020]

The Brandals live concert from home.Photo: courtesy The Brandals[FEATURES 2020]

The Brandals playing during a show in Indonesia. With scenes like this impossible because of the coronavirus, musicians in Indonesia are turning to social media to keep in touch with their fans. Photo: Courtesy of The Brandals

Lesbian Indonesian singer bats away messages of hate to pen songs about acceptance of LGBT minority and respect for all

Kai Mata, Indonesian singer and LGBT activist.

Kai MataPhoto: HANDOUT[FEATURES 2020]

Kai Mata LGBTQ Rainbow Flag.Photo: HANDOUT[FEATURES 2020]

Kai Mata performing at the Artfood Fest Photo: HANDOUT[FEATURES 2020]

Kai Mata speaking during the Artfood Fest Photo: HANDOUT[FEATURES 2020]

This picture taken on November 9, 2018 shows thousands of anti-LGBT demonstrators marching in Bogor, outside the capital Jakarta, fanning fears that authorities would beef up their crackdown in response, as some officials call for carte blanche to arrest and "rehabilitate" LGBT people. - Indonesia's small LGBT community is under attack as a spike in hateful rhetoric and record number of arrests raise fears that the vulnerable group could be targeted for violence, critics say. (Photo by Sandika Fadilah Rusdani / AFP)

Kai Mata at  NYC PRIDE 2019Photo: Ryan Mcginley[FEATURES 2020]

Kai Mata, a lesbian singer in Indonesia, deflects the daily hate messages she receives, and takes succour in others from Indonesians of all ages telling her how much it means to them to have a queer musician to listen to.

Wet markets selling wildlife – birds, monkeys, bats and more – go quiet in Indonesia amid coronavirus pandemic

Iguanas for sale at Satria Market in Bali. Photo: Agoes Rudianto

Visitors walk near iguanas for sale at the the Satria Animal Market in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia on March 21, 2020.  21MAR20[14APRIL2020 FEATURES]CREDIT: Agoes Rudianto

A customer wears a protective mask as he visits the Satria Animal Market in Denpasar, Bali, on Indonesia on March 21, 2020.  21MAR20[14APRIL2020 FEATURES]CREDIT: Agoes Rudianto

NEAR MANADOSmoked Bats on a market stall Tomohon Sulawesi .Biosphoto / Michel Gunther[14APRIL2020 FEATURES]CREDIT:  AFP

Ducks, chickens, pigeons and other feathered friends in cages, on sale at the Satria Animal Market in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia on March 21, 2020.  21MAR20[14APRIL2020 FEATURES]CREDIT: Agoes Rudianto

Santika, 23  walks along the street after buying a hamster and fish at the Satria Animal Market in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia on March 21, 2020.  21MAR20[14APRIL2020 FEATURES]CREDIT: Agoes Rudianto

JATINEGARA BIRD MARKET, EAST JAKARTA, JAKARTA, INDONESIA - 2015/05/17: A long-tailed macaque seen at the Jatinegara bird market in Jakarta, Indonesia. primates, owls, otters, snakes, and other endangered animal are sold openly in the middle of Jakarta. Sales of endangered animals becomes a major problem in Indonesia. (Photo by Risa Krisadhi/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)[14APRIL2020 FEATURES]CREDIT: Getty Images

Sri Wahyuni, 65, (2nd R) talks with other animal vendors at the Satria Animal Market in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia on March 21, 2020.  21MAR20[14APRIL2020 FEATURES]CREDIT: Agoes Rudianto

Animal markets in Indonesia – like the Jatinegara Bird Market in East Jakarta – are seeing a drop in visitors, in part because the spread of Sars-CoV-2 coronavirushas shone a spotlight on the trade and consumption of wildlife. Photo: Getty Images

Coronavirus: in Indonesia, fears over Bali’s laid-back approach

Measures against the coronavirus in Bali have been less stringent than in other areas of Indonesia. Photo: Reuters

Chinese tourists, some wearing facemasks as a preventative measure following a coronavirus outbreak which began in the Chinese city of Wuhan, walk after arriving from Nusa Penida at the fast boat pier in Serangan island in Denpasar, on Indonesia's resort island of Bali on January 27, 2020. (Photo by SONNY TUMBELAKA / AFP)

General view of an empty beach that has been closed amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak spreading in Badung, Bali Province, Indonesia March 21, 2020 in this photo taken March 21, 2020 by Antara Foto. Antara Foto/Fikri Yusuf/ via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT. INDONESIA OUT.

Visitors walk near iguanas for sale at the the Satria Animal Market in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia on March 21, 2020. 21MAR20 [14APRIL2020 FEATURES] CREDIT: Agoes Rudianto

Coronavirus: in Indonesia, ‘ghosts’ volunteer to keep people indoors

Volunteers play the role of ‘pocong’ to make people stay at home outside the gate of Kepuh village amid the spread of coronavirus in Indonesia. Photo: Reuters

An Indonesian health official adjusts her face mask outside a quarantine facility at the Zainoel Abidin hospital in Banda Aceh on April 13, 2020, amid the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by CHAIDEER MAHYUDDIN / AFP)

A recovered coronavirus patient (L) gestures to a medical worker before boarding an ambulance to return home from the Zainoel Abidin hospital in Banda Aceh on April 13, 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by CHAIDEER MAHYUDDIN / AFP)

Lifestyle

Entertainment


The lockdown in Indonesia is giving musicians and bands a chance to let their hair down and present themselves in different ways
Some are turning to Instagram live to chat with their fans and sing karaoke; others are interviewing fellow singers and hosting live-streams for charity



From Iwan Fals and Nidji to Vincent Rompies, Indonesian music stars, bands and producers are turning to social media to connect with isolated fans, playing from their homes, conducting live Q&A sessions and offering other types of creative content.
