APE ON THE ROOF
THE ADAMS
THE BRANDALS
TIKA
SORE
GOODNIGHT ELECTRIC
WHITE SHOES & THE COUPLES COMPANY
STEREOMANTIC
VOX
THOM YORKE
WHITEST BOY ALIVE
BASEMENT JAXX
FRIDAY
ARCTIC MONKEYS
DOLORES O'RIORDIAN
M.I.A.
BONDE DO ROLE
CLUB 8
PELLE CARLBERG
Influences
Astralwerks
Matador Records
FFWD Records
XL Recordings
Merge Records
Aksara Records, the little label that could
Features - May 15, 2005
By M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Disillusionment with major recording companies' penchant for meddling with individual band's artistic freedom has led musicians to go their own way by resorting to independent record companies, or ..indie' labels.
In the past months, we have seen the country's major rock bands the likes of retro rockers Naif and punk outfit Netral leaving their record companies and set up independent labels to release and distribute their material.
For bands who opt to remain on the fringe, joining an independent label is the only way maintain their credibility and avoid the prospect of being corrupted by the entertainment industry.
As a result, over the past few years the country's music scene has witnessed the quiet rebirth of independent recording labels that stand as an alternative to the dumbing-down mainstream record industry.
Among the independent music labels that have bloomed in recent years is Aksara Records, home to some of the city's new and promising bands who are making their way out of obscurity.
Started as an attempt to document the city's vibrant indie music scene, Aksara Records has now turned into a bold recording company whose releases boasts an international distribution, albeit in indie style.
The label's first release JKT: SKRG (Jakarta Now), a compilation of 12 local indie bands has hit the shelves of record stores in Seattle, the Mecca of grunge, and landed on the playlists of college radio stations there. JKT: SKRG contains material from the likes of folk rock band C'Mon Lennon, garage rock revivalist The Brandals and veteran hard rock outfit Seringai. With little fanfare, the album has also been distributed to record stores, mostly independent ones, in Canada and England. Aksara Records has also built a network of distribution among independent record stores in the country.
Currently, the label is working on an album by another independent outfit Sore Band, which is expected to be out late in May. Other works in progress include debut albums for White Shoes and the Couples Company and Goodnight Electric. The label's major break came when it was asked by producers of Janji Joni to put together a soundtrack and score for the lighthearted teen-flick. With the massive hype that goes along with the movie, it is expected that Aksara's latest release will score a major hit.
"The release of the Janji Joni soundtrack was among the indications that material-wise, independent record labels like us could compete with major labels. We embarked on serious preparations to conceive the records, from reading the movie's script to deciding which songs that fit the movie's mood," Aksara Record co-founder David Tarigan told The Jakarta Post in a recent interview.
And such professionalism is indeed the label's primary creed these days, despite its independent stature. "All bands on our roster are treated fairly and they have signed proper contracts with us. Although we can't give them the facilities provided by major record companies, we try to do our best to serve them," he said.
Aksara Records is now run from an office, a work station that sits next to the Pendulum recording studio in Kemang South Jakarta. In its early days, the fledgling record company ran its activities from a room inside the nearby Aksara bookstore. Such a luxury was unimaginable during the label's early days. "I recorded most of the songs in JKT: SKRG myself in between recording sessions by major artists," he said.
With ample resources now available, Tarigan said that Aksara Records aimed at signing the bulk of indie bands, including those outside Jakarta. "The vibrant music scene here is something that should be celebrated by the whole world," Tarigan said.
SORE
latest album
'PORTS OF LIMA'
Release 11 April 2008
POSRTS OF LIMA Concert in Film Noir experience,
24 April 2008 at PPHUI, kuningan
Artists: The Adams, C'mon Lennon, Sore, The Upstairs, Sajama Cut, Seringai, Ruang Hampa, The Brandals, The Sastro, Teenage Death Star, Zeke and The Popo
THE ADAMS (2004)
Artist: The Adams
LOVE AND TURBO ACTION (2005)
Artist: Goodnight Electric
CENTRALISMO (2005)
Artist: Sore
WHITE SHOES & THE COUPLES COMPANY (2005)
Artist: White Shoes & The Couples Company
OST JANJI JONI (2005)
Artists: The Adams, Ape On The Roof, Sore, Zeke and The Popo, Teenage Death Star, Media Distorsi, Goodnight Electric, White Shoes & The Couples Company, Tomorrow People Ensemble, Sajama Cut, The Jonis, Salvatore Mamadou
JAKARTA MOVEMENT '05-A COMPILATION OF INDONESIAN ELECTRONICA (2005)
Artists: .mute feat. Tika & Arfansadra K., Homogenic, Palmer Groove, DJ Sumantri feat. Naoko Takamoto, Magenta Lounge, Andezzz, Flashing Green Men, Media Distorsi, Tabuh & Eyes, Hizkia, Patrice & G.O.A, Ape On The Roof, Rock N Roll Mafia, Agrikulture, Random, Electronic Groove, DJ Bobby, DJ Riri, Livink, Junko, Celcius, Goodnight Electric feat. Che Kyongfa
DEFROSTED LOVE SONG (2006)
Artist: Tika
OST BERBAGI SUAMI (2006)
Artists: Tika, White Shoes & The Couples Company, Sore, GAIA, Rez Trio, Aghi Narottama, Bemby Gusti, Ramondo Gascaro, Riza Arshad, Magenta Orchestra, Opustr3 Big Band
JAZZ MASA KINI-THE NEW WAVE OF INDONESIAN JAZZ (2006)
Artists: Indra Aziz, Shelomita & Opustr3 Big Band, Bobb Quartet, Imam Pras Quartet (IPQ), Mian Tiara with Riza Arshad & Ricky Lionardi, Parkdrive, Nial Djuliarso Duo, Rifka, 6th Element, Tomorrow People Ensemble, Sequoia
THE BRANDALS REPACKAGE (2006)
Artist: The Brandals
THE ERASER (2006)
Artist: Thom Yorke
APE-O-LUTION (ABANDON ALL LOGIC) (2006)
Artist: Ape On The Roof
V2.05 (2006)
Artist: Kompilasi Mesin Waktu: Teman2 menyanyikan lagu Naif
Check it out!!! ONEFOOTJAPAN Official T-SHIRT 2007 @Rp.65.000,- [Free stikers+guitar pik]
+ T-Shirt colour now available : BLUE - RED - WHITE (NEW!!!on Nov 2007) + SIZE : Extra-S/S/M + order contact: * Mika TROUBLE, 021-98326416/ 0856-91192244
OraNyE Monday Recording Package!!!!!!!!!!! -200 ribu perak 6 jam !!! -250 ribu perak 8 jam !!! KHUSUS UNTUK BAND2 YANG BELUM PERNAH REKAMAN DI ORANYE!!! booking info :02199954765 , 08561169982
EVONICA bus tour Chapter #1 Tripshow de.. Java - Bali |Jakarta|Semarang|Solo|Jombang|Bali|
The indie invasion just make a freaky little story of the session. Evonica conjunction with all indiemovement Jakarta , Bogor , Malaysia , Solo, Semarang , Jombang and Bali make the series of Evonica tour Chapter #1. This is a wonderful moment of an indie tour, the band will be kicking the five-city plus special guest performances at the selected cities. !we need your hand...
THE BAND is Efek Rumah Kaca Jakarta DearNancy Jakarta Liebe Jakarta The Kucruts Jakarta Love as Arson Malaysia Green Paver Malaysia Douet Mauets Bogor Reid Voltus Bogor
THE GIGS PLACE Tgl 15 Agustus Time Out Café Pasar Festival Jakarta
Tgl 16 Agustus Semarang
Tgl 17 Agustus “God Save The Pop”@Pipas (Puri Parisuko) Bar Lor In Hotel Solo Presented by Soloradio and Starmild
Tgl 18 Agustus Jombang @alun-alun Presented by Djarum
Tgl 19 Agustus “Freaky Sunday” Bali@The Wave Café Kuta Presented by Futurica
OFFICIAL MEDIA : OZ FM Bali, Kuta FM, Cassanova FM, CDBS Bali, TraxFM Semarang, SoloRadio, Prambors FM Solo, JTV, Surftime, Ripple, Juice, MagicWave, Mosh, iStyle, VideoKills, Go Out, The Beat, Radar Bali, ZEK, SINDO, TheRainyDays. tk, threefold.tk, Rawdep.com, SxtyDgrs, TracLampung, BhigaFM Malang, etc
Supported by Djarum, Starmild, 123xfun.com (Triyakom), EAT Shop Bali, Gegey Music (Malaysia), Suicide Glam, The Wave, Gunung Kelud Production, Futurica,
For Futher Info : yurskie_evonica@yahoo.com ein_endy@yahoo.com.sg
apakah anda sudah pernah mendengar atau mendwonload single pertama kami yang berjudul "I Promise"?
jika sudah, apakah anda menyukainya? jika ya, cobalah mampir² ke page myspace kami... karena single pertama kami yaitu "I Promise" sudah di re-mastered... jadi lebih terkonsep dan lebih "sweet"
untuk sekedar informasi... sekarang kami tampil dengan formasi baru... :)
'Rainbow Raani' is now available on iTunes, Napster, Rhapsody, and all other major digital stores. Download your favorite songs or the entire album from one of these digital spaces.
Online Now!
