Iwan Fals And Sawung Jabo Present Nostalgia For The New Order Resistance To The Synchronize Fest Stage 2023

Iwan Fals and Sawung Jabo on the Synchronize Fest 2023 stage (Ivan Two Men/VOI)

JAKARTA - Iwan Fals and Sawung Jabo managed to amaze the audience of Synchronize Fest 2023 on the first day, Friday, September 1. They seemed to reminisce to a new order, when the two were in a band in Swami and Kantata Takwa.

On stage, Iwan Fals said that he admired Jabo since the artist from Surabaya became a member of the Barock circus. Both also formed a band called Swami.

"2019 years (for the first time playing a group with Sawung Jabo in Swami)," said Iwan Fals, telling his experience of forming a band with Jabo.

The issue of naming the group is said that all personnel propose one name. However, finally the proposed Jabo was chosen

"Each one gave a name, and the one who left was Swami," said Iwan Fals.

"So, Swami is my donation," said Jabo.

Meanwhile, Iwan Fals appeared first by performing two songs from his solo album, No Titles and Yes Or No.

After Iwan Fals invited Sawung Jabo to the stage, the two of them performed songs from Swami which were known to be full of criticism of the New Order government.

After performing the song Bongkar, Iwan Fals explained about the 'expression' diction contained in the lyrics. The word was deliberately chosen to describe the world's situation in the early 1990s.

"When the word 'expression' was originally not the lyrics, but Jabo asked for the lyrics to be 'expression'. Because the oppression is not only in Indonesia, but throughout the world," said Iwan Fals.

Apart from Bongkar, Iwan Fals and Sawung Jabo also performed songs of Culture, Bunga Trotoar, Hio and Bento. They also performed an iconic song from Kantata Takwa entitled Testimony.