The Lab Opens Soundrenaline Sana Sini Jakarta 2026, Bringing Together Musicians and Industry Players

JAKARTA - Music festivals are no longer just about enjoying the performances of favorite artists from the stage. Now, more and more festivals are also providing space to share knowledge, build connections, and open up opportunities for collaboration for industry players. This is what Soundrenaline Sana Sini Jakarta 2026 presents through The Lab program.

Held at Melting Pop, M Bloc Space, The Lab became the opening of the Soundrenaline Sana Sini Jakarta 2026 series. This program is designed as a space that brings together emerging musicians, creative communities, media, and music industry players in a more intimate and interactive atmosphere.

The Lab carries four main formats, namely Speed Meeting, Talkshow, Listening Session, and Networking Night.

Through these various sessions, participants can have direct dialogue with industry professionals, exchange ideas, and expand networks that have the potential to open new collaborations.

One of the attractions of The Lab is the presence of a number of important figures in the music industry from Indonesia and abroad.

Among them are Phuong Le, Music Director Wonderfruit Festival (Thailand), James Minor from SXSW Music Festival (United States), Hydhir Ramli from Baybeats/Esplanade (Singapore), David Karto from Synchronize Festival, Ghana Banyubiru from The Sounds Project, to Ferry Dermawan from Joyland Festival.

Through The Lab, Soundrenaline wants to show that music festivals are not only a space for entertainment, but also a container for capacity development and strengthening the Indonesian music ecosystem.

Soundrenaline 2026 representative, Abi Rahadi said Soundrenaline continues to strive to maintain its relevance as one of the largest music festivals in Indonesia which has been present since 2002.

"Soundrenaline is one of the largest music festivals in Indonesia that has been present since 2002. Currently, our focus is on maintaining relevance in the midst of cross-generational developments. We want Soundrenaline to not only be a place of entertainment, but also a platform that has a real impact on the development of the Indonesian music ecosystem, especially for industry players," said Abi Rahadi at M Bloc, Jakarta, Friday, July 17.

This year, Soundrenaline presents a number of international musicians who are a magnet for the audience. This enthusiasm is even reflected in the Soundrenaline 2026 tickets that have sold out. Even so, Abi emphasized that the main focus of this festival remains on the development of national talent.

"We are presenting a number of international artists because the public's enthusiasm for them is very high, while the opportunity to see them is still limited. Their presence is also an attraction for the audience, which is proven by the Soundrenaline 2026 tickets that have sold out. However, the pulse of Soundrenaline remains on the development of national talent. We want international musicians to be an inspiration for local talent to continue to grow," said Abi.

This commitment is also realized through the sustainability of The Lab program which was first introduced the previous year. This program serves as a bridge for talented musicians who still face challenges in accessing the music industry network.

"The Lab has been one of the Soundrenaline programs since last year as a form of our commitment to developing national musical talent. There are many talented musicians in various regions who have access, network, and opportunity constraints to meet with parties who can support their careers. Through The Lab, we hope they can connect with the right channels to develop their music careers," explained Abi.

Interestingly, Soundrenaline also involves various parties in the curation process of the program. Not only from the internal organizers, but also from other festival promoters who also attended as speakers and curators.

"In the curation process, we involve many parties from the Indonesian music industry, including other festival promoters. They are present as speakers and curators. We believe that the music industry should not run on its own or compete with each other, but rather strengthen each other so that the Indonesian music ecosystem can grow," said Abi.

Regarding the selection of musicians, Abi emphasized that Soundrenaline is not stuck on a certain genre or taste. This festival prioritizes the quality and potential of musicians through a curation process involving experienced figures in the industry.

"We don't have rigid criteria in choosing musicians. Everyone's musical taste is different, so we try to accommodate that diversity. Therefore, we appointed curators who have a strong track record and credibility in the Indonesian music industry. The musicians chosen are those who are judged to have high quality and potential to become influential figures for the development of Indonesian music," said Abi.

According to Putri Limbak Cahaya, a representative of Resonine, the presence of the festival's movers is expected to open access that has been difficult to reach by musicians and creative communities.

"The Lab presents curators, festival directors, and music industry movers from Indonesia and abroad who have played a role in building various leading music festivals. Through discussion sessions and networking, participants have the opportunity to exchange ideas and expand their networks with decision makers in the music industry," concluded Putri.

With the presence of The Lab, Soundrenaline Sana Sini Jakarta 2026 is not only a destination to enjoy music performances. This festival also wants to be a space for new ideas, cross-community collaboration, and connections that can strengthen the future of the Indonesian music industry.