Exclusive Gugun Blues Shelter, Putting Your Soul And Creativity In Blues Music

Exclusive Gugun Blues Shelter (Photo: Bambang E Ros, DI: Raga/VOI)

JAKARTA - Talking about blues music, it seems that no one deserves to be called an icon in today's era, except the Gugun Blues Shelter. Identik as a trio of blues, now Muhammad Gunawan is running this project alone.

In 2023, he released the album Coming Out as a work that was born organically from the anxiety and life experiences that the musician went through. After almost two years of airing, this album received an update by being released in the black disk version, which will be available on December 18, 2025.

"This album is crazy. The title of Coming Out seems like I feel like blues music in Indonesia still can't exist strong, right? He's still in the corner. So I'm coming out again. So I want to show again on this album that I put blues music here," Gugun said in an exclusive interview with VOI at AFE Records, Kemang, South Jakarta, December 11.

Consisting of 10 tracks about love, resistance, unrest and contemplation, this album, according to Gugun, prioritizes feelings over ambition to pursue perfection from a technical point of view. Although it must be admitted, this BB King-inspired musician to Tommy Bolin still doesn't play around with the arrangement and guitar twists that become the blues identity.

"I remember that in December I worked as fast as a flash in writing. I had a mood at that time and I felt we were having COVID, there was a lot of anxiety there. So maybe I had anxiety in the band too, in my daily life, in my family. Then I was in the hospital too during COVID-19. So I took a lot of rest at that time I felt like I had to write this down. Just release my worries," he explained.

This release also confirms the existence of the Gugun Blues Shelter as an entity that has a strong influence on the Indonesian music landscape, especially in the blues realm. He leaked that this album might be Bowie (drums) and Fajar (bass)'s last contribution as a trio that has been running for several years.

"Anyone who plays here, I will keep Gugun, and I will continue to work. I don't care who will play with me later," he said.

For Gugun, his love for blues comes from moments after moments in his life. He has learned classic guitars, enjoyed many types of music, but there is an unlimited space behind a simple blues pattern.

Music, which was born in the United States, is also the foundation and is related to various types of music. The blues DNA is getting thicker, making it an autopilot at the beginning of its musical work.

"I actually like it a lot. Not blues only. Only when I make music come out like this. Already blues like that. So it's like it's kind of automatic. So it's actually a bit gray at that time. Among the rock listeners you're too blues, in the blues the game is too rock. So I think I have to balance it. So yes, blues music is still included in the rock community," he said.

"Yes, basically, it's like that. Blues are one and four five, right, twelve bars play. If I make music, there's something like that. But not much. I'm more like the composition I made myself. With the grip style of blues. Actually, it was also done in the eras of Led Zeppelin or Jimi Hendrix himself. It doesn't have to be twelve bars. That means it doesn't close the space for other musical elements," added Gugun.

When blues was seen as a music-heavy genre, for Gugun, lyric writing is no less important. He can tell many stories in the songs he wrote, including the Bad Politician who won the AMI Awards in 2024. This anxiety is stated in an artistic composition but remains sharp.

"Yes, so at first I saw why it was modern in Indonesia, yes, every time there was an election, especially in the city of Jakarta, I was really annoyed to see the banners. You don't need to put the tree filling, there are every intersection of the road. Yes, we pass by every day on the road, that's why I don't know you, "he said.

By continuing to be productive, Gugun hopes to leave legacy in the form of the works he made. He measures success not only from numbers, but about influence.

My legacy is these works. So the songs I summarize on the album. Musicians will leave their work. So to be honest, if you say that I am successful, I am successful. Success is not always measured with money, but to what extent can you influence people to be able to enjoy music, you can follow the music I've written. So when we talk about legacy, here.