SENYAWA – PERFORMANCE EXTRAORDINAIRE AT DARWIN FESTIVAL
Photos by Irawan Wan
Jogjakarta’s Senyawa push the boundaries of traditional Indonesian music whilst exploring the framework of experimental music practice. Their unique sound strikes a perfect balance between their avant-garde influences and cultural heritage to create truly contemporary Indonesian new music.
Rully Shabara’s deft extended vocal techniques are punctuated by the frenetic sounds of instrument builder Wukir Suryadi’s modern-primitive instrumentation. His inventions include a handcrafted ‘bamboo spear’ – a thick stem of bamboo strung up with percussive strips of the animal skin alongside steel strings. When amplified, it fuses elements of traditional Indonesian instrumentation with garage-guitar distortion. Sonically dynamic, the instrument can be rhythmically percussive on one side whilst being melodically bowed and plucked on the other.
Senyawa have performed at many notable festivals and underground clubs, and have collaborated and performed with a diverse range of musicians. Don’t miss a performance unlike anything else you’ve seen – or heard.
With support from the hyper-glitched processed harp sounds of Kris Keogh.
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