Ivan Allahman's Consistency In Carrying Neo Traditional Music

Ivan airman, be yourself in music. (VOI/Ivan Two Men)

JAKARTA - The musician from East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), Ivanmen, spoke about the traditional neo music that he has been carrying for more than 23 years.

Last September, Ivan Allahman performed with Dwiki Dharmawan and Dewa Budjana at the Moonjune Festival 2013 2023 in Spain by carrying a traditional neo.

According to Ivan, the traditional neo is a way of displaying traditional music in a more universal form and can be more easily understood by listeners from various cultures.

"Sun neo tradition, new tradition, what does that mean? There is universality of taste. When we play in Europe or America, we play international idioms, which are universal," said Ivan wordman when met in Kemang, South Jakarta last week.

"We can play the piano, but what is played is a gamelan laggam. The spirit can already be Javanese without us having to bring a gamelan. We only borrow the spirit. That's what we develop," he continued.

For Ivan, it is important not to leave his identity as an NTT person. By combining elements of western music and traditions, his appearance becomes something unique.

Seperti yang saya lakukan, saya main musik Flores tapi pakai akor jazz. Jadi, kita main di Brasil pun orang senang, tapi tanpa meninggalkan kita punya Flores. Seperti di Moonjune, saya turunkan lagu Flores tapi dimainkan bersama piano, saksofon dan dibikin kontemporan, tutur Ivan closerman.

"So, I don't want to change that song, don't run away. We have to bring our DNA anyway," he added.

For Ivan airman, carrying a traditional neo is also a matter of pride. There is no feeling of inferiority when on the same stage with the world's great musicians.

"If we bring the music we have, whatever it is, we don't have to worry even if there are musicians like Michael Jackson who watch it. Because we make music our own music," said Ivan airman.

"That's why Sting said be yourself no matter what they say, be yourself. It's impossible for us to lose, even though it's with Michael Jackson, it can't be compared. But if we copy him, it's over, you're a dead man," he concluded.