Bands: Navicula, Geekssmile, Scared of Bums, Ripper Clown (Denpasar), Morfem (JKT), Iksan Skuter (JKT)

Teater Kini Berseri, Mural Komunitas Djamur – ISI Denpasar, Painting exhibition Made Bayak.

Free Entry!

Gembull Navicula meets an orangutan

Bali based band, Navicula has launched the start of their Borneo Tour (Kalimantan) as part of their orangutan conservation campaign by holding an acoustic concert in Medan, on 24 July 2012. The event titled “Road to Borneo Tour” is aimed to raise awareness about the issues surrounding deforestation, a threat to the endangered species in Sumatera, especially in the area of Tripa peatland in Aceh.

“The concert in Medan is a warm up before we tour Kalimantan this September. During preparations for our upcoming Borneo Tour, we have heard about many pressing issues affecting Sumatera, such as the conversion of the Tripa peatland forest, which is an orangutan habitat. With the support of organizations that are concerned about these environmental issues, we are able to arrive in Sumatera, and chose Medan as the city for the main event,” said Gede Robi Supriyanto, vocalist of Navicula writing from Bukit Lawang, North Sumatera, Friday (20/7).

Robi has travelled to Bukit Lawang to trek through the Gunung Leuser National Park. His trip through the rainforest is a chance for Robi to gain more experience and understanding, to better campaign for environmental issues through music. Navicula’s Road to Borneo Tour in Medan is supported by Yayasan Ekosistem Lestari (YEL), Sumateran Orangutan Conservation Programe (SOCP), PanEco, Sawit Watch, and Wahana Lingkungan Hidup Indonesia (Walhi) Sumut.

The concert will be held at Rama Gardenia Cafe on July 24, and Navicula, a band active since 1996, will perform an acoustic set. The event will also include an environmental discussion focused on saving the Tripa peatland, as well as a Sumatran orangutan and tiger photo exhibition by Mata Kamera Community of Medan.

Navicula, who has consistently been advocating for environmental issues will leave for a Borneo Tour in East and Central Kalimantan this coming September. The tour is themed around the critically endangered orangutan, facing extinction as a result of deforestation and the massive expansion of palm oil plantations.

Navicula’s Borneo Tour is paid for through crowdfunding projects on Kickstarter.com and Patungan.net. On kickstarter.com, Navicula launched a project with a funding goal of US$3,000, while on Patungan.net the funding goal was Rp.5 million. Both projects have exceeded their funding goal, and the project on Kickstarter.com is still running until 29 July 2012. As compensation for supporting their project, Navicula has offered digital download of their songs, t-shirts, CDs, traditional handicrafts, private gigs, and even a ticket to join the tour in Kalimantan.

“We’re really happy our Borneo Tour crowdfunding project has succeeded in gaining the interest of people who support our mission to use music as a media for environmental campaigns. This is also an example of how independent bands can hold a tour without funding from sponsors or promoters,” added Robi.

In December 2011, Navicula released the song Orangutan as a free download under a creative commons license. Vocalist of Navicula, Gede Robi Supriyanto, wrote the song Orangutan in April 2011. The track will be included on Navicula’s 7^th album, which is still in progress. The album will also include tracks such as Harimau! Harimau! (a tale of the last Sumatran Tiger) which is dedicated for the conservation of the Sumatran Tiger, of which only 400 exist in the wild due to habitat loss.

Navicula has been performing the song Orangutan live from stage to stage, and even on a popular music program on national TV. Since this exposure, many Navicula fans have requested that the band travel to perform the song live in their cities, including requests from fans in Kalimantan. “As a band from Bali, which is far from the center of the music industry, we are proud to be able to tour Kalimantan, one of the last remaining rainforests and habitat to the critically endangered orangutan, and perform the song Orangutan live there,” says Robi.

An International Campaign

The song Orangutan has made Navicula the winners of the International band competition Planetrox. Navicula will be travelling to Quebec, Canada to perform at the Envol et Macadam Festival on the 7-8 of September. “This is one way we can raise awareness about the plight of the orangutan on an International level. Environmental problems, whether in Kalimantan, Sumatera or Antarctica are the responsibility of everyone inhabiting this planet,” says Robi.

To participate in the Planetrox Competition, Navicula submitted the music video Orangutan, which was chosen as one of the semi-finalists. The 10 semi-finalists then competed in an online voting stage, from which 5 finalists competed in a live competition held in Bandung on 7 July. The jury chose Navicula as the winners to represent Indonesia in Canada.

Besides performing in Canada, Navicula is also in the running to record in Hollywood, USA. Out of 500 videos from 43 countries, Navicula has been chosen as one of the top 10 finalists for the RØDE Rock competition. If they win the online voting stage of the competition by 31 July 2012, Navicula will be flying to Hollywood, California to record three songs at the legendary Record Plant Studios. Navicula is currently in the lead for the online voting stage.

The Bali provincial government vowed in 2010 that Bali would be free of plastic waste by 2013, yet plastic waste is piling up at the rate of 1600 tons per day, an increase of more than 200% from last year’s plastic statistics. Villages are polluted and water-ways are choked with plastic. Instead of moving forward, the situation has gone from bad to worse.

Recent media coverage is reflecting a rising tide of public opinion: the plastic waste situation in Bali is dire and dirty. On 22 April 2012, the world’s top surfer Kelly Slater slammed Bali’s dirty beaches, saying ‘the pollution was unbelievable’ and would make it ‘impossible to surf here in a few years’:

The front page of the Bali Daily also featured a photo of a giant ‘ever-expanding’ illegal dumpsite in the mangroves of Nusa Dua highlighting environmentalists’ view of the government-sponsored program as ‘ineffective.’

Of course we can’t forget Time magazines dramatic piece titled “Holiday in Hell: Bali’s Ongoing Woes”.  This negative exposure pressured the local government into investing in two large waste management machines used to clean up Kuta Beach. In addition to the environmental costs, this coverage will take its toll on Bali tourism. Yet the government is yet to respond. So what has the Bali government achieved since 2010 to make Bali plastic-free?

The Perda (Local Government Regulation) to implement the government’s 2010 vision outlined a program that would facilitate and engage communities to reduce, reuse and recycle (the 3 Rs) plastic including ‘stopping plastic at its source.’ It included plans for a task force to supervise recycling, infrastructure to collect it and technology to create fuel from plastic. In the three years to date evidence resulting from these initiatives, that focus reusing and recycling, is lagging.

So what about waste reduction? Surely ‘stopping plastic at is source ‘, rather than creating waste in the first place, would be the most effective method of tackling the waste problem. Instead the government wants to provide incentives to retailers to supply so-called degradable bags. However, promoting degradable bags will actually increase the overall amount of plastic waste as shoppers believe these bags are an environmentally-friendly option, and will not bother trying to reduce their use.

The ugly truth is that degradable bags do not fully degrade, especially in humid climates such as Indonesia. Even in environments where this type of plastic does break down successfully, bags only decompose into microfragments of plastic that remain in the environment. This is merely a cosmetic solution that has dangerous long-term consequences and costs to both human and environmental health.

Degradable bags contain high levels of heavy metals to promote degradation. These toxins are introduced into the food chain; seeping into farming land and poisoning the many animals and marine life that ingest them.

So, what can the Bali government do to make a dent in plastic waste before the 2013 deadline?  One proposed solution is to simply ban the bag. If India and China, the world’s largest emerging consumer nations, can do it then so can Bali.

Last year the idea of a bag ban gained some momentum in Bali via the Responsible Retailer Roundtable, a coalition of government, retailers and green groups. Retailers were willing to comply with the ban as long as the government enforced it. However, the idea was dead in the water when the government took no action to implement the ban.

Banning the bag is an obvious first step in addressing Bali’s garbage problem, but such a sweeping measure requires strong government commitment to enforce it along with widespread public support. At this point in time, the Balinese Government has neither.  Rather, it has an island of 3.5 million inhabitants who have become dependent on single-use plastic bags, and who expect the government to make the garbage disappear.

This state of affairs requires an integrated policy to support a progressive phase-out of single use plastic bags. Such a policy might include an initial bag tax, strictly enforced regulations and fines for illegal dumping as well as increased public education about the obvious need to clean up Bali.

Single-use plastic bags are the #1 consumer item in the world. They are used often for only minutes, but can pollute the environment for over 1000 years.

Bali Cantik Tanpa Plastik campaigns for a plastic free Bali through education and art. One of their efforts is to release the song “Tolak Tas Kresek” (refuse plastic bags) written and recorded by Navicula frontman, Gede Robi Supriyanto (Robi Navicula). The song is available for free download below, and is free for use in efforts to support a plastic free Bali. Download “Tolak Tas Kresek” here:

Name one song with an environmental message. There are a lot. Even one of Indonesia’s national music magazine’s (printed on paper from trees, of course) released one story covering 100 environmental songs in commemoration of Earth Day.

But what does the planet really need now, while facing degradation and destruction? A group of so called artists singing about nature, like the sounds of people celebrating in the desert?

Musicians who wish to touch our hearts and minds need to put in more effort than creating and producing songs, then performing them on stage. Especially in the context of fighting for our environment. Especially remembering our intense social media fever, where people feel accomplished just for being hashtag activists: then keep tweeting about an issue, but that’s all they do. While environmental degradation continues to systematically destroy our environment.

Last year saving orangutans was a popular topic. The hashtag #SaveOrangutans was used often on twitter. The trigger was the shocking news from a number of palm oil plantations in Kalimantan. They were promising a certain amount of money to workers who could kill and bring in orangutans, which are considered pests to the palm oil trees. How cruel. But the reality is that palm oil is considered more important as global resource than the continued existence of this large red ape which shares 97% of the same DNA as humans.

In December of 2011, Navicula released the song Orangutan as free online download. Other musicians, such as Shaggydog have also written songs about the critically endangered Orangutan. Robi Navicula – who has a twitter account, though rarely uses it – wrote the song Orangutan in April 2011. The song was written Navicula’s 7^th album which is in negotiations to be released in the United States. Besides the song Orangutan, this album also has songs like Harimau! Harimau! which is dedicated to the conservation of the remaining 400 Sumatran tigers, which are facing extinction due to habitat loss.

Navicula has been performing the song Orangutan live from stage to stage, and even on national TV stations. Since releasing the track, many fans have asked that Navicula come and tour in their city, especially in Kalimantan. Navicula hopes to bring this song live to Kalimantan, the last tropical rainforest on earth and habitat to the critically endangered orangutan.

Navicula may be considered ‘legendary’ and accomplished, their fan base is grassroots and dedicated, but this doesn’t necessarily mean they are financially successful. Planning an independent tour to Kalimantan may be more difficult for Navicula than recording a popular song. Seeking standard concert sponsor and promoters to fund a tour to Kalimantan may not be the right route for Navicula as they are not an ideal band for cigarette brands wanting to make bring in money through concert promotion.

Financial concerns have been the main factor preventing Navicula from touring Kalimantan. But there is still potential to fund the tour through Kickstarter.com, a platform for crowdfunding creative projects. Crowdfunding is a business phenomenon in the current economic recession which the United States is still recovering from and the bankruptcy of economies such as Greece. Massalution, a research firm dedicated to crowdfunding and crowdsourcing released their Crowdfunding Industry Report earlier this month. The firm collected data from over 170 (38 percent of the total) crowdfunding platforms.

Massalution discovered that throughout 2011, crowdfunding platforms have raised over 1.5 billion US dollars to fund around 1 million projects. These numbers are astounding. But before you start thinking about how much money your going to raise, you should know that not everyone can make a project that is interesting enough to get lots of people wanting to support it. All submitted projects also have to pass through a selection process, and be approved by the portal administrators. Navicula’s project, a Borneo Orangutan tour, has been approved by Kickstarter.com.

Navicula’s project will raise funds to tour East and Central Kalimantan through the target funding of 3000 US dollars, which needs to be raised within 45 days. As compensation for backers, Navicula is offering free song downloads, t-sirts, CDs, Kalimantan handicrafts, private home performances, and even an offer to join them on tour to Kalimantan.

Navicula is the first musician or band from Indonesia who has launched a project on Kickstarter. There have been a few projects on Kickstarter about Indonesian musicians, but the projects were actually by foreigners, not by the musicians themselves. For example a documentary film about one of Indonesia’s most influential punk collectives launched a Kickstarter project with a target goal of US$ 16,000 to be reached within 45 days, and successfully raised US$ 16,450. This project was a collaborative between 3 filmmakers hailing from America, China and Malaysia.

Kickstarter backers must have a US credit card. Of course, these makes it difficult for people in Indonesia to be involved in Kickstarter. Because of this, Navicula has launched a supporting project through Patungan.net, with a funding goal of 5 million rupiah.

And as if there is just not enough you can do for our red ape friends, Navicula has also chosen the song Orangutan to represent them in the International band competition Planetrox. The winning band will be invited to perform at Envol et Macadam in Quebec, Canada. Voting will continue until June 24^th, and 5 finalists will be selected to compete live in front of a jury in Bandung on July 8^th.

Navicula is the only one of the 10 finalists to submit a song in Indonesian. Other Indonesian bands may feel more confident submitting an English track to an International band competition, but Navicula feels their songs in their mother tongue are strong enough as is: Orangutan. It’s in the message, not the language.

Navicula invites you to join their acoustic show and launching of the Borneo Tour:
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Starts at 18.00
At Café Tjikini Jl Cikini Raya no 17 Jakarta Pusat
Performance by: Navicula, Adrian Adioetomo, Balian

SimpleViewer Gallery Id 13 has been deleted.

We live in a fast paced world. Issues, problems and concerns are all easily forgotten, just as quickly as they appear. An issue becomes the center of attention only while the topic is hot.

Now, as 2011 comes to an end, social media in Indonesia is filled with stories of orangutans being slaughtered. But in a matter of weeks, it’s as if the issue was over. Orangutans are still at risk. Indonesia is still rife with deforestation, and land for palm oil plantations continues to expand without any significant resistance.

Palm oil companies actively implement greenwashing tactics to conceal the fact that they are the orangutans’ main enemy. This is the second effort to improve their image after their first tactic to convince people that palm oil plantations are part of “reforestation” efforts.

From Bali, as a participative alternative media, Akarumput.com put on the event “Orangutan – suara untuk alam II” (sounds for nature II), in partnership with Sawit Watch and Walhi Bali at Seaman’s Club Sanur, this December 17^th. The event started with a discussion “End of the Year Environmental Reflections” with Albert Nego Tarigan (executive director of Sawit Watch), Wayan Suardana known as Gendo (WALHI Bali), and Gede Robi Supriyanto (vocalist of Navicula).

Albert talked about the importance of stopping the expansion of palm oil plantations. “Palm oil plantations are competing with the livelihood of local residents and endangered species such as orangutan. In Aceh, Riau, and East Kalimantan, orangutans are slaughtered,” said Albert.

Albert also drew attention to the violence related to palm oil plantations in Mesuji, Lampung. Five people were killed during a conflict between the local community and the security personnel of a palm oil plantation. According to Albert this type of incident also occurs in other areas. “In Riau, a woman died because she was accused of allegedly occupying land owned by a large palm oil company. In Jambi, seven people were shot, and we have video footage of this,” said Albert.

After the discussion, the event moved to the stage with musical performances by the Listen, Balian, Nosstress, Geekssmile, and Navicula.

In between the performances, there was also an art auction of artwork with orangutan themes created by Balinese artists such as Made Bayak and ISI students are part of Komunitas Djamur. The funding raised was over Rp. 6,000,000, which was donated to WALHI Bali to support their environmental advocacy work.

The moment everyone had been waiting for was the release of Navicula’s latest single titled “Orangutan”. Navicula dedicated the song to encourage people to do more in orangutan conservation, to protect this endangered species. Robi wrote the song “Orangutan” in April 2011 as a track to be included on their Navicula’s new album, which will be released sometime next year. The song “Orangutan” is available for free download here.

Not only did they release a song, but Navicula also released a music video to the song “Orangutan”. Shots of the band performing live were edited together with shots from Green the Film. This documentary film by Patrick Rouxel follows the story of Green, a female orangutan who is on the verge of dying. The film needs no narration; it is a montage of both beautiful and heartbreaking footage.

Green is a victim of deforestation and exploitation of natural resources. This film is an emotional journey of a rare primate, alone in this world that is not on her side.

Photos by Vifick Bolang and Green the Film.

Song: Orangutan
Music by: Navicula
Lyrics by: Gede Roby Supriyanto

Orangutan muda, rumahnya di belantara,
Dijaga papa dan mama yang kemarin masih ada
Kini tiada…

Orangutan muda diculik perambah rimba
Dibawa paksa ke kota, jadi hiburan manusia
Terpenjara…

Orangutan (6x)
Orangutan akan jadi legenda

Orangutan gila karena manusia gila
Tak betah tinggal di kota, dia rindu habitatnya
Di rimba…

Orangutan murka mengamuk serang manusia
Manusia bawa senjata, orangutan tertawa
Terbang ke surga…

Orangutan (6x)
Orangutan akan jadi legenda

Orangutan (6x)
Orangutan akan jadi legenda

_______________

“Orangutan Lyrics” English translation:

A young orangutan, his home in the wilds,
Was cared for by papa and mama only yesterday
But now they are gone.

A young Orangutan was kidnapped by an encroacher in the jungle
Forcibly brought to the city to become human entertainment
Imprisoned…

Orangutan (6x)
The orangutan will become a legend

The Orangutan is crazy because man is crazy
Not at home in the city, he misses its habitat
In the jungle…

The furious Orangutan wreaks havoc, attacking humans
The humans carry weapons, the Orangutan laughs
Flies to heaven…

Orangutan (6x)
The Orangutan will become a legend

Orangutan (6x)
The Orangutan will become a legend

The artists behind Bali-based grunge/psychedelic rock outfit Navicula are no novices when it comes to environmental activism. In their 15-year history the group has penned a number of songs addressing specific environmental concerns, in Indonesia and worldwide. Navicula’s sixth studio album Salto was largely dedicated to environmental awareness. Songs like “Over Konsumsi” (Over-consumption) implicate consumerism for current global environmental crises. “Kill the Fireflies” deplores the decline of these luminescent insects in Bali as a result of the use of pesticides in rice fields. “Pantai Mimpi” was written in response to the privatization and destruction of Bali’s beaches and was the anthem for Navicula’s campaign to boycott the infamous Pecatu Resort and Dreamland in Bukit. Finally, their 2010 single “Metropolutan,” is a response to the pollution crisis in Jakarta.

As they entered the studio earlier this year to begin work on their seventh album, scheduled for release in 2012, the “Green Grunge Gentlemen” turned their attention to Indonesian wildlife. Indonesia is famous for its biodiversity; it is home to more than 12% of the planet’s plant and animal species. But habitat loss and poaching are pervasive and increasingly catastrophic realities that have led to the extinction of a number of Indonesia’s majestic animals, including both the Java and Bali Tiger. Experts predict species like the Javan rhinoceros, Sumatran tiger, and Sumatran orangutan will soon follow.

Throughout Navicula’s anticipated album runs a decidedly animalistic thread: Recording just wrapped for their song “Harimau! Harimau!” (Tiger), and now Navicula prepares to launch the single “Orangutan.” The song tells the story of a young orangutan which, following the slaughter of his parents, is kidnapped and brought to the city. The orangutan, maddened by his new environment and longing for his jungle home, turns the tables on his human captors, wreaking havoc in the city.

Navicula vocalist Gede Roby Supriyanto explains why the band chose the orangutan as the focus for its latest single: “Orangutans are one of the many animals that are threatened due to the transfer of the functions of forests in Indonesia. Orangutans will become a legend.”

As of 2008, there were less than 6,600 Sumatran orangutans remaining, down from 7,300 in 2004. According to the Sumatran Orangutan Society, “The decline of the orangutan in Borneo and Sumatra in recent years symbolizes the devastation of one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots—the lowland rainforests of Southeast Asia.”

In other words, the declining orangutan population corresponds to the loss of their habitat, a result of logging and the conversion of rainforests to palm oil plantations. In the last decade more than 9% of Kalimantan and Sumatra’s forest cover was lost.

Erik Meijaard, an ecologist who has worked in Indonesia since 1993, warns that hunting, which has largely gone unchecked by both conservationists and the government, is also a major cause for the endangerment of Indonesian animal species. Additionally, orangutan populations are threatened by the illegal pet trade and conflicts between humans and orangutans, two problems Navicula addresses in the lyrics for “Orangutan.”

Navicula joins other artists who are using the stage and media channels to advocate for orangutan conservation. In 2010 Shaggydog and Superman Is Dead performed together for a benefit concert in Yogyakarta, Konser Amal Peduli Orangutan (Charity Concert for the Care of Orangutans). Seringai frontman Arian13 has actively advocated for orangutan conservation, most frequently through his Twitter account with nearly 19,000 followers.

Upon hearing “Orangutan” for the first time this week, Arian13 responded in email correspondence, “Not many local bands are actually voicing concerns for the environment, but Navicula is a band that is active with environmental issues. This includs orangutans, which are endangered or extinction if we do not prevent it. The song also voices anger against the conditions for the orangutan, now increasingly sad: murdered by man, a case of genocide.”

Roby hopes the song will help raise awareness for the current plight of one of Indonesia’s unique species, as well as encourage the government to take action: “Our hope is for improvements in policy, power, and government control over the palm oil industry, because right now the palm oil industry has a “law” itself outside the law of the state of Indonesia. We also need tighter control to support the preservation of the environment and local economy, so that they become healthier for more local communities, the forest, and so that they are more sustainable.”

Navicula will launch “Orangutan” during the second installment of Suara Untuk Alam (Voice for the Environment), an initiative of Walhi Bali (the Bali division of the Indonesian Forum for the Environment). Suara Untuk Alam II, scheduled for 17 December at Bali Seamans’ Club in Sanur, will feature an art auction, woodcutting workshop, and performances by bands Nosstress, Geekssmile, and Navicula. Proceeds will benefit Walhi and Akarumput’s Sumatran Forest Initiative, a campaign to combat deforestation and orangutan slaughter.

For one week following Suara Untuk Alam II, “Orangutan” can be downloaded for free exclusively on Akarumput.com.

Recently, the Indonesian press has released shocking coverage of orangutans (pongo pygmaeus), which were hunted down in Puan Cepak village, Muara Ancalong Region, Kutai Kartanegara. The orangutans in the area were allegedly damaging palm trees, causing the palm oil harvest to fail, so villagers caught and tortured the orangutans.

Akarumput.com, WALHI Bali, and musicians such as Gede Robi (Navicula) and Made Bayak (Geekssmile) feel it is important to bring attention to these issues through a creative event in Bali. This initiative received a positive reaction from Edi Sutrisno of Sawit Watch, who offered to support it. This event will also be partnering with other organizations who share these concerns, especially those with a focus on orangutan survival.

Following an initial discussion, these groups agreed to collaborate in the event “Suara untuk Alam II” (Sounds for Nature II). Suara untuk Alam is an initiative started by WALHI Bali, the first in this series of events was held at Twice Bar, Kuta on August 19th, 2011. During the first event, hardcore band Geekssmile also launched a single titled Yeah Yeah Yeah Indonesia. Suara untuk Alam II will be held on December 17, 2011 at Seamen’s Center, Sanur.

The following is a short preview of the event agenda: 

Orangutan artwork auction: During the Bali Creative Festival at Grand Bali Beach in Sanur this 25-27 November, many artists created artwork with an orangutan theme. These works of art are paintings on chipboard, illustrations on paper, and woodcut prints. During the event, many people asked if the artwork was for sale. This gave way to the idea to auction the artwork for a bigger purpose. So these artists could contribute to an environmental charity, as well as raising awareness about orangutan issues through their art. The funds raised through this auction will be donated to an environmental organization based in Bali (WALHI Bali) and an organization focused on the survival of orangutans.

Launching Navicula’s new single “Orangutan”: Navicula is dedicated their latest track “Orangutan” to environmental conservation efforts in Indonesia. This new single will also make up a track of their upcoming album, due to be completed early next year. Besides the track Orangutan, Navicula has also recorded two other songs Harimau Harimau (which means Tiger in Indonesian) dedicated to the Sumatran tiger and Refuse to Forget a track for the campaign in rememberance of the human rights activist Munir who was murdered in 2004 and the case has still not been brought to justice.

In one short year, Serambi Arts Antida has become the choice haunt for the young novice and seasoned doyen to socialize, theorize, and cultivate an already burgeoning Denpasar arts scene.

On Saturday (29/10) Serambi Arts Antida celebrates its one-year anniversary with a lineup of performing artists that suitably reflect Anom’s vision for an artistic mélange on the Serambi stage: Performers include dramatist and writer Cok Sawitri, two outstanding folk trios Nosstress and Dialog Dini Hari, 15-years-strong rockers Navicula, and several international guests, including tenacious hip hop emcee and long-term Bali resident Kamau and visiting American blues and soul guru Jim Larkin. One year ago Serambi opened its doors to local, national, and international performing and visual artists and their enthusiasts. In the last year, Serambi Arts Antida hosted some of the most talented and creative provocateurs through photograph and painting exhibitions, music album launches, education workshops, jam sessions, and poetry slams.

The cozy, open-air venue, partitioned into a warm bar and stage area and an inviting, spacious garden, is attached to the island’s best recording and production studio—and consequently boasts the best live sound mixing, a reputation which is attached to the name of the architect behind it all: Gung Anom.

Antida’s roots lie in a country thousands of miles away from Bali: Switzerland. Anom moved to Switzerland where his father was employed in order to study French, with the goal of becoming a French teacher in Bali upon his return.

But with only three months of French lessons at Alliance Francaise under his belt before settling in Europe, Anom faced an uphill battle gaining entry into Switzerland’s competitive school system. Eventually, after several months of intensive language studies, Anom managed to secure a spot at a college in Geneva, studying French and linguistics. During his studies he pursued his love of French—and met his true love and future wife.

Toward the end of his studies, Anom realized he had little interest in returning to Bali. He enjoyed his lifestyle in Switzerland, and particularly the creative community to which he had access in Geneva. He couldn’t imagine returning to Bali: a place that, to him, was still devoid of a thriving music and arts scene.

But newly married and with work and residency permits in hand, Anom now faced the hard truth that there was little he could do with a certificate to teach French as a non-native speaker living in Switzerland. “I still wanted to live in Switzerland, but I couldn’t work as a language teacher,” he explains. “My first experience in the recording studio was making coffee for the engineers and cleaning the studios,” Anom laughs. “Eventually, the engineers gave me a few lessons.”

So with no job prospects in the field of language teaching, Anom turned his attention to another: He enrolled in a state-run audio technician school and began freelancing as a sound engineer for television broadcasting, live outdoor productions, and theater. He worked everyday and attended audio theory classes once a week for two years before receiving his certificate and beginning work fulltime in sound reinforcement.

Anom opened a small, underground studio in Geneva, christened with the same name that signifies the high-end and expansive production studio now located on Jalan Waribang. He also explored other musical terrains: together with his friend, Pouney, he founded a French hip-hop duo called “Tout un Monde,” All The World. Anom was kind enough to offer a track from Anom vs Pouney for free download on Akarumput.com.

Click here to download

After thirteen years in Europe, Anom’s romanticism of life there began to wear thin, and he longed to return to the serenity he remembered in Bali. “It turns out that life in a foreign country isn’t as easy as we imagine,” Anom recalls. “Don’t think that everything there will be great. It’s actually really difficult, and I had to work so hard.” Anom and his wife left Switzerland behind and settled into Balinese life and Denpasar. “These days,” he says, “I’m much happier in Bali, much more comfortable.”

In 2004, Anom opened a tiny studio in a storefront space—the second location of Antida Studio—in front of Taman 65 on Jalan W.R. Supratman, which he subsequently filled to capacity with the audio equipment he purchased and brought back from Switzerland. He continued to freelance, mixing for live events, and he rented his studio for recording and production.

Finally, in 2007, with the help of a few wise investors, the third edition of Antida Studio opened its doors on Jalan Waribang. Antida Studio quickly gained a reputation for its international-standard recording equipment and expert recording, mixing, and mastering engineers. “The thing about sound reinforcement is that you really can’t study it in theory,” says Anom.

Today, as he nears fifteen years of experience, Anom’s services as a freelance engineer, as well as his studio, are in high demand. Balinese, national, and international recording artists ranging stylistically from hard rock and grunge to jazz, pop, world music, and gamelan have all recorded and produced albums at Antida. “Dangdut’s the only thing we haven’t recorded,” Anom says, chuckling. Anom has also sponsored and produced several artists, including Dialog Dini Hari and Nosstress. Anom says, “My dream is to start a record label under Serambi. I enjoy supporting bands who have great potential”

Anom hasn’t completely left Switzerland behind: he returns once a year to spend several days handling sound for large conferences and festivals. The time spent there—and the extra cash flow it provides—allows Anom to maintain his internationally competitive studio.

Anom has long contemplated making a more direct impact on Bali’s creative community. This desire became the impetus for breaking ground on Serambi Arts Antida. “Serambi Arts Antida is dedicated to developing and promoting contemporary art and culture of the local communities in Bali.”

He also hopes these local communities feel a sense of ownership over the space, and he is proud it has become a popular hangout, particularly for local musicians and their friends and fans. But he also wants to facilitate an experience of a wider diversity of art: “Bali has such a strong rock music scene, and that’s great,” he explains. “But I also hope young people can hear something new as well.” One of Serambi’s most popular music series has been their world music concerts. “I’m hoping that this kind of music can have a place in Denpasar, just like rock music. I want to encourage young people to hear and appreciate all kinds of music in an open, creative forum.”

With Serambi’s continued success, it seems that the creative community Anom appreciated so much in Geneva can now be found in his own backyard.

All photos by Rudi Waisnawa.