Since joining IAAS Music a few months ago, I've written pretty extensively about the Singaporean indie scene. Everything from our exclusive coverage of LASALLE's Rock and Indie Festival – across Day 1, Day 2, and an interview with the Head of Festival – to LUCKYYOU's debut Can't Stay Can't Go. So it's only fair that I kick off my first-ever Weekly Spotlight with a focus on the country the other half my heart belongs to: Indonesia.

Living in Singapore my entire life has made music a huge way I connect with Indonesian contemporary culture. It's always my pleasure to share some recommendations with people I know, a group that now includes readers at IAAS Music. I happen to be in Jakarta right now visiting family, so this article is even more fitting.

We're hoping to make this a series where we'll go around different regions of the world and broaden our horizons together – including from our diverse submission pool. If you're an artist reading this now, head over to our Submit page to possibly be featured on the site!

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Indonesian indie jazz-pop

As much as I love Laufey, jazz-pop is unfortunately not my niche (despite the fact that I've previously reviewed jazz-rapand jazz-post rock fusion). So I called up my good friend Strell, a fellow Indonesian, for an interrogation interview on one of her go-to genres. The following recommendations are credited to her, and my personal favourites from the list she gave me – I've definitely added these to my playlist!

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Rizky Febian

Rizky Febian has been in the game for 15 years, and in 2020 founded his own independent record label known as RFAS Music. His music lies at the intersection of jazz, pop, and R&B.

Strell actually recommended a few other songs to me, but Malam Rawan stood out most to me. In this 90s-influenced track, Febian yearns for a crush (hence the title of "vulnerable night") while a lush electric piano pads out the song nicely. Lo-fi drum textures modernise the sound for the the 2020s, and of course there's some gentle brass to make this pop-jazz. Speaking from yesterday's experience, this is a great pick for late-night drives home!

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Tarrarin

Earlier, I mentioned Laufey – Tarrarin, signed to her self-made independent label, is Indonesia's answer.

Penyakit Hati translates literally to "illness of the heart". A little linguistics fun fact: Indonesian has two words for heart – "hati", referring to your emotional/metaphorical heart, and "jantung" to refer to the scientific organ.

I particularly enjoy the use of a nylon-string guitar here, beyond being a stylistic bossa nova feature. It's a mainstay of Indonesian guitar music and culture; most guitars you'll find in family homes or restaurants that hold open mics will be classical. Including my first guitar - a beat-up, 40-year-old nylon string I found in my family's home in Indonesia!

A tight drum groove keeps energy high and your head moving, even as the lyrics mourn an ended relationship.

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Gabriella Fernaldi

Where Tarrarin evokes From The Start by Laufey, fully-independent Gabriella Fernaldi reminds me more of Beabadobee – and maybe Laufey's more orchestral tracks, à la Promise or Bewitched.

This was the one song I overruled Strell on; her personal recommendation is Jemariku, off Fernaldi's latest EP released in September last year.

In Biru, translating to "Blue", Fernaldi acknowledges that a past romantic entanglement wasn't right for her - and wishes that person well unconditionally regardless.

A wonderfully lilting topline is accompanied by an arrangement easy on the ears, skilfully balancing and developing all percussion, string, piano and guitar elements. I fully believe that this song could lull me to sleep – for now, I'm enjoying it with a cup of tea in hand at a café.

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Conclusion

With that, IAAS Music has kicked off our Regional Spotlight series!

Once again, if you're an artist, you can submit your project for consideration over at our Submit page. If you're a music listener looking to join the discussion, sign up for an account at https://iaasmusic.com and leave a comment below!