May 5, 2011 | Music, Travel, Youth
Indonesian hardcore is back. A growing number of youth, disaffected by high rates of unemployment and conservative social mores, are returning to hardcore musical roots that first emerged in Java during the early nineties. Looking to blow off steam and build an alternative community that doesn’t bow to sponsors or mainstream media restrictions, these teenagers like the tempo loud, strong and fast. By employing DIY tactics on the Internet and through mobile phones, they continue to establish larger networks of peers and fellow outsiders. The swelling ranks of Indonesian hardcore fans now organize shows in abandoned houses, art centers and empty storefronts across the country. These communal affairs, put on purely for the sake of the music, often showcase up to twenty bands playing short, fiery sets of hardcore music as well as other outlying subgenres of metal and punk. The mosh pits may appear violent but fighting is not tolerated and after the shows most fans hang around and enjoy the camaraderie of their peers. The hardcore community in Java promotes tolerance and diversity and also continues to redefine the role of women in the largest Muslim nation on the planet. Check out the video below for a more detailed look into the Indonesian hardcore scene on Java.
Apr 8, 2011 | Art, Travel
My trip to Indonesia in February was not all hardcore concerts and overnight buses. I was fortunate enough to take a day or two off from touring to check out some of the country’s cultural splendor. For years I wanted to visit the 9th-century Buddhist monument, Borobudur. Over the past decade I have been able to photograph most of the great Buddhist archeological sites in China, Mongolia, Nepal, India, Bhutan, Burma, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. Borobudur surely ranks as one of the most celebrated and lived up to many of my expectations, even if it did not quite match the scale of Angkor Wat or Bagan. Still, the massive pile easily exhibits some of the greatest relief sculpture in Southeast Asia. The 2,672 panels that wind their way to the top stupa intricately depict mythological stories as well as scenes from daily life. It is not often you get the chance to peer back one thousand years into the milieu of an ancient civilization. Check out some of the pictures below to see the depth and detail of their work. They were truly exquisite.
Mar 28, 2011 | Music, Travel
On my way out of Indonesia I really had no desire to stop through Jakarta again. I enjoyed my first two days there, but didn’t see any reason to submit myself to another round of the same daunting traffic and urban sprawl that I consistently get in China. However, after promises of hardcore madness by Fadhila Jayamahendra (aka Aca), the lead singer of Straight Answer, I decided to stay over one more night before heading on to Cambodia. I did not regret it. During my last night in Indonesia I witnessed one of the most frenzied audience responses to a live performance ever. Once Straight Answer broke into their first song, there was no holding back. Everyone charged the stage to try to get a piece of the action. As you can see in the video, I am getting thrown back and forth within the crowd. Also, the temperature of the room rose so quickly from the body heat that my lens fogged over – it was absolutely crazy. Straight Answer has been around since 1996 and is a staple of the Jakarta hardcore scene. There is an extended interview with Aca after some short concert clips. I am still putting together the rest of the Indonesian hardcore material so stay tuned – more to come.
Mar 13, 2011 | Music
The sole purpose of my trip to Indonesia this past month was to tour with hardcore bands and experience the explosive DIY music scene across Java. Right now I am still shifting through thousands of photographs, so I thought I would separately introduce one of the two bands I first toured with in Jakarta, Bandung, Solo and Yogya. Daighila is a hardcore screamo band from Malaysia and kick ass. While I might not go home after a long day of work and throw on their record to relax, they put on one of the most impassioned live performances I ever witnessed. The leader singer, Duan, outstripped himself ever time he got on stage and raised the hackles on the necks of audiences across Java. It was really unbelievable to see first hand and hopefully the attached video will give you an idea of the emotional heights Daighila can reach during their shows. Even though over ten bands played at every concert, Daighila always stood out from the pack.
Mar 6, 2011 | Sports, Youth
My first day in Jakarta (and Indonesia for that matter), I decided to hit up the typical tourist spots like the National Monument and the old city district known as Kota. Expecting a melody of crumbling colonial architecture and dusty museums, I was pleasantly surprised to wander upon a BMX trick competition being held in the central square. In many ways this discovery typified the rest of my trip across Java. In every city Indonesian youths were organizing events and competitions to support their often-offbeat creative and sporting outlets. Although Indonesia is often stereotyped as a restrained and conservative place, the largest Muslim nation is actually brimming in energy as youths seek out alternative lifestyles.
