Alternative Weekend: A Look back to Jakarta Indie Music Scene that Once took over the Pop Market

Hi guys, it's already Friday here in my time zone. It's weekend!

I don't know if you've heard it before. @slobberchops initiated #AlternativeWeekend some time ago. It's a place to post music outside the mainstream. Check out that hashtag if you want to discover much exciting music.

Here is my entry for Alternative Weekend. It's a little story from Jakarta Independent Music scene.

---

The year was 2004, MTV Asia was filled with generic cheesy local love songs. So generic that I couldn't distinguish which song by which band. Everything sounds the same. It was lame.

There was a big campus in central Jakarta, in the Cikini area, the Jakarta Art Institute, commonly known as IKJ. Just FYI, Cikini is one of the most vibrant spots in Jakarta. A tiny area full of coffee shops, beer gardens, cinema, theatre, the heart of Jakartans art and cultures activities. And it safe to say that IKJ is the biggest supplier for Indonesian art and entertainment Industry.

During that year, there was a movement inside the IKJ campus. Let say it’s a counter-culture movement. Some students were bored by the lack of creativity in the pop music scene, and they started to create their own music, performing on their own gigs, recording the song, producing and distributing the merch, all with the DIY spirits. They did it all with their own way, absorbing various influence act and styles from abroad. For the records, we do have fascinating underground punk, hardcore, and the metal scene here in Indonesia. So, in my opinion, it's just about the time when some people from that underground scene will start to explore other possibilities.

At least there were 4 names no one would guess that they will be ruling the pop music scene. They are The Upstairs, Whiteshoes and The Couple Company, Goodnight Electric, and The Adams. For this entry, I will only share songs by The Upstairs.

---

The Upstairs

The Upstairs was the biggest disruptive act on the scene. They adopted the new wave style in the sounds, fashion and performance style. A bit like Joy Division, New Order, Devo, Depeche Mode, but in more bright and colorful fashion. It's really great to see a young and energetic New Wave band in the 2000s. Their drummer was a beat machine. He played tight, loud and clear. The guitarist was really brave to put the fuzz in the midst of synth. While the lead vocalist was a really confident front man. Always dancing and swearing dirty words. Mimicking Iggy Pop, with Mick Jagger hairdo. The lyrics he wrote were wow! So creative. Poetic in a very weird way.

Founded in 2001, people started to recognize them thanks to their unusual fashion statement. Red pants, green pants, combined it with a yellow jacket or black shirt. When The Upstairs was on stage, they have that energy to make people jumping around and dancing wildly. But instead of following the beats their fans were dancing following the hi-hat sounds. So random.

The launching of their 1st album was epic. It held on a small cafe in South Jakarta, hundreds of people were coming. And a year later, The Upstairs was able playing in a bigger stage, playing for 10 thousands of people. Singing their anthemic single "Matraman", an anthem for chaos yet romantic Jakarta.

In my opinion, their 1st album launching is their best concert ever. So many people singing along dancing around in such a small space. So little oxygen left. Jimi no longer wears the shirt. Semi-naked and sweating a lot. The backing vocal fainted in the middle of the show... It was so exciting.

Throughout the years, they become calmer. Nowadays The Upstairs is still active, playing in a smaller gig. They wear casual jeans now. No striking color. But the music is still as good.

Here are 3 songs by The Upstairs

Terekam (Tak Pernah Mati)

This is one of their hits while they ruling out the mainstream pop. It's a catchy song with fun synth sound, and you could see in the video, Jimi and the gank still wearing those New Wave fashion. The lyric is simple. It's all stated in the title. Literally meaning: "Everything that recorded would never die". It is as if they know that their reign in the pop music scene won't last long. The most important thing for them is, they already recorded in history. Their legacy remains.

Sekelebat Menghilang

This is the 1st single from their last album in 2012. You could see how their fashion becomes more casual and calmer. Their music is more advanced and rich. There were some new members. Only Jimi, Benny (drums) and Kubil (guitar) remain. This changing formation keeps going until the past recent years. Currently, only Jimi and Kubil are still on the band.

apakah aku berada di mars atau mereka mengundang orang mars?

While "Matraman" was considered as the most anthemic song from The Upstairs, I think this song was describing themselves so well. The (almost) meaningless lyrics, the weird arrangements, the unusual style, that was The Upstairs all about. In case you're wondering, the title literally meaning: "Am I on Planet Mars or Are They Inviting Martians?". Weird enough to steal the attention of the pop music scene.

---

That's it for today. I'll see you around for another music discovery. :)