Remembering Gusti Irwan Wibowo's Short Journey: When Music Becomes Real Entertainment

JAKARTA - Gusti Irwan Wibowo left the Indonesian music scene at the age of 25 years. He was found dead in the bathroom of an inn in Lembang, West Bandung Regency on Sunday, June 15 morning.

The departure of a musician with the stage name Gustiwiw surprised many people not only among musicians, but also people who had met in person or just looked from social media.

It didn't take long for Gusti to get an impression that was so unique. VOI had the opportunity to speak directly for the first time after the MENADI TUR ZUZZAZA press conference in Senayan on August 8, 2024.

At that time, the first question I asked was related to Gusti's involvement as a producer for four songs Sal Priadi Our photo', Episodes, 'Yes already', and From another planet from the album MARKERS AND SUCH PENS FLASHDISK.

Gusti called cooperation with Sal a destined coincidence. He said Sal had his own 'strangeness' so he appointed him as a producer.

Sal is a musician who is rich in ideas. So he is actually a musician or an artist who is not just famous. He does have his own missions in his own life. This is something that many people don't tell. But he has that intention," said Gusti.

Gusti's answer at that time seemed to position himself as just a 'troublefall' from Sal's song which was very viral at that time. But when I try to interpret it even further at this time, it seems that what is said actually describes itself.

Along with his journey as a music producer who previously worked for Ardhito Pramono and Nadin Amizah Gusti has also become widely known as a comedian for comedy music through videos that appear on social media.

Coupled with fun stature and character, Gusti became very well known as a singer and comedy musician, through her humorous songs, namely 'Culted in Love' to 'Continue Our Struggle!'.

Behind that, Gusti is the son of Timur Priyono, the songwriter 'What's Important Happy' was popularized by Jamal Mirdad in the 1990s and several other humorous songs. Even so, he admitted that he did not get financial advantages when starting his music career.

"If there is a struggle (to become a musician), I just have it. Even though I was born to a father who in fact the song thank God it was a hit, but not in money," said Gusti when she was a discussion resource person for the celebration of National Music Day in Cilandak, South Jakarta, Sunday, March 9.

"The song can be famous, but roughly every day (in the family), the eggs divided by four are still safe. It's quite poor," he continued.

Gusti felt that her journey as a musician should start from below. However, he did not deny that his musical talents and lessons were obtained from his father.

"So it really starts from scratch. But talent, thank God there is already capital," he said.

Gusti is not just performing humorous songs. The way he plays music is also to continue his father's legacy, which he said was less respected among 1990s musicians.

He even told how his father was disappointed with the Indonesian music industry, and ended up with him being banned from learning songs from Indonesian musicians.

"For music, I was actually presented by the late father to Queen (music)," he said. In the past, I couldn't listen to Indonesian songs, because according to papa 'Don't, son, the industry is not good.

Gusti is not a 'badut stage' who just sings funny lyrics. He has a formal music educational base to support his musical quality as a graduate of Cikini College Music Vocational School and continues at Jakarta State University.

The works that Gusti has produced, both as performers, songwriters, orchestrators, and producers, are a combination of qualified musicality, the father's humorous legacy, and the unique freedom of young Gen Z.

Gusti once said that comedy music requires high seriousness. According to him, many works from the great composer of Western classical music that are considered of high quality actually include humorous music.

"If we listen to classic composers like fire, that's actually a lot of comedy music too," he said. So actually, comedy music is serious too.

Seeing Gusti's musical ideas, it's like looking for answers to my current concerns about the current condition of music. When many of his generation are busy with songs that emphasize personalization and are reflective, he actually appears on stage to bring laughter from the audience. In his hands, music is the real entertainment.

Not to mention the various tensions that exist in the national music industry. Gusti's presence reminds us that music is something fun. I don't know how long the humorous songs from Gusti and her father can be heard on social media. But for sure, Gusti's journey has stopped and we will all lose the entertainment of an artist with great potential from this generation.