JAKARTA - In the past, for music matters, Bogor was often underestimated. When being hooked by a major record label and entering television - let alone being able to sell thousands of albums - became the benchmark for a band's success, Bogor left practically a handful of names. Base Jam - which represents the '90s - is one of them.
Entering the era of the early 2000s, names such as Rasa and Soulmate emerged. But their existence did not last long. Gone and eroded by the times, as the loss of the record labels that overshadowed them.
Ironically, the stigma of the second city which is often attached to the body of the City of Rain - according to folk legend (urband legend) - has forced the band Repvblik to change their identity to become the 'Sukabumi band'. You know, how come you bear it? Why don't you just admit to being a Bandung or Jakarta band?
But that was then. Now that the digital era has arrived and social media is scattered, the means of promotion are limitless. The band's orientation was no longer entangled in the ambition of being caught by a big record label and entering local television. But more about how to introduce their work to all directions, forming a large fanbase, and the show being filled with audiences.
For them, satisfaction does not always have to be valued in money. But if their albums and merchandise are being hunted down by fans - especially when they hook up with foreign record labels and perform there - then that is a perfect reward.
The modern era like now, which requires every band to be creative and explore - both from the composition offered, as well as from the image or wardrobe shown - is also a challenge in itself. Not a few bands have dared to combine all forms of outside band influences into their music and stage concepts to form their own new color.
But, there are also those who openly defend the colors that their idols carry on the pretext of maintaining the substance of the musical roots that influence them. For the latter, usually emerge from the realm of metal.
They also understand what existence means. Not only in cyberspace, but also in real life. If the virtual world is used as a vehicle to fly their works to foreign countries, then the real world is more about their efforts in forming communions and maintaining friendship with fellow musicians so that their existence is truly recognized.
There are so many bands from Bogor that have captured the attention of the Indonesian music audience in the last 5 years - both from their works, and their courage in thinking and behaving.
Let's take the example of Tokyolite, which carries the funk pop genre. The singles Never Want (2013), EP Hello (2014), and the full album Avenue (2015) have flown them to the Asia Versus contest in 2013 and the international music festival in Osaka, Japan, the Kansai Music Conference (2016). They also complemented it with the 2016 HighLite Tour Japan in Kyoto, Fukui, Suruga, and Tokyo with 10 concerts scheduled.
Not to mention the single Hantu, which was released on August 2, 2019. The song which tells of a situation called ghosting where someone suddenly disappears without any news for any reason grabs the public's attention.
Then there is Saptarasa, who embodies dangdut music through folk, psychedelic, rock to blues music disciplines through her first mini album, Anti-Sceptist (2017). The presence of their vocalist, Dewo Iskandar, who is the son of a well-known dangdut musician, Jhonny Iskandar (PMR's Moral Orchestra) made this band so rich.
We stepped into Superiots (punk rock), which released their new single, akan Datang Masa Kemenangan last October. Previously, through their sixth album, New Guns (2017) - which contains 14 distorting tracks - they packed them in a genre that was not only entangled in the puddle of punk music. There is a gothic vocal element to one of the songs, which makes this album more alive.
Don't forget the Kraken which flies the metalcore flag. This metal stage tiger has released his debut album Circle of Life last year.
Influenced by the musical bursts of Lamb of God and Kataklysm, however, in the creative process, each personnel often pours new ideas according to the references they absorb. From ska, punk, reggae, djent, progressive rock to death metal.
No less important, of course, the urban rock unit Antartick, which has just released its debut album, The Lone White Wolf. The band has carried out a number of militant stage expeditions in the Greater Jakarta area before COVID-19 was recognized by the government and destroyed all stage schedules.
The arrangements that are presented in each song on their debut album are quite diverse, but still based on rock music foundations. Antartick is able to penetrate the listeners' area of multi genre music in the big umbrella of rock properly.
Yes, now Bogor is barking loudly. The band of Kota Hujan became increasingly slapping. No one has the right to underestimate this city. As for the residents, there is no reason to be proud to live on their land.
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