JAKARTA - Betawi musician and senior artist Harry De Fretes is once again enlivening the Indonesian music industry by releasing his latest work titled "I Love You, Bestie".
Through this single, the figure who soared through the Lenong Rumpi group combines a pure friendship message with a typical gambang kromong arrangement.
In the production of the song released through a collaboration with the demajors record label, Harry invited Ika Amoy, a young singer who is also active in preserving the art of gambang kromong in the South Tangerang area, as his duet partner.
The return of Harry to the recording studio is not just a nostalgic moment, but a manifestation of his consistency in maintaining the existence of Betawi culture in the midst of the development of time.
For Harry, the phenomenon of human relationships in the modern era is often colored by pragmatic interests, imagery, and hidden motives. Through this song, he tries to present a reminder of the importance of honesty and sincerity of mutual love.
"This song tells the story of love for a friend. Now there is a lot of love that is not pure, a lot of it is wrapped in falsehood and the modus operandi behind it. I want to remind that there is still sincere love, one of which is through friendship," said Harry De Fretes in his statement, Friday, July 24.
The decision to insert the gambang kromong touch in the musical arrangement is not without reason. The musician who has been in the business since the mid-1990s and has created the popular song "Jatuh Cinta" - a work that has resurged after being re-performed by Marion Jola and Teza Sumendra for the soundtrack of Cemara Family 2 - assessed that the space for traditional Betawi music in the mainstream industry is increasingly limited.
"I deliberately use the nuances of gambang kromong because now there are very few songs that use this music color. I want there to be elements of Betawi culture in my work," he said.
The writing process for "I Love You, Bestie" began in early 2025 and went through the recording process at Bens Studio, Pamulang. With lyrics that are light, humorous, and close to everyday life, this song is packaged to provide entertainment while instilling a sense of cultural love and celebrating the meaning of friendship.
The collaboration with the demajors is expected to reach listeners from various age groups, as well as reintroducing the identity of Betawi music to the younger generation in a fresh and relevant way.
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