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s a musical director, Yogyakarta’s own top-notch musician Djaduk Ferianto puts soul into numerous shows and films, including recently-released Soegija. He said the main challenge in the film was producing musical arrangements that fitted the period, the 1940s.

The father of five said it took two years of research and two rearrangements to complete the work. His craft can be heard in the form of fine music and songs that will cast your mind back to the melancholy of the old days. Djaduk has also co-founded and developed the Kua Etnika music group with his elder brother, renowned actor Butet Kartaredjasa.

“Books can inspire people from various backgrounds because they can build room for imagination, just as my music can construct imagination,” he said. He adores the novels Gadis Pantai (Beach Girl) by Pramodya Ananta Toer and Para Priyayi (The Javanese Elite) by Umar Kayam.

Gadis Pantai by Pramodya Ananta Toer

I have met pak Pram and I really adore the writer. In his writing, he has built a space for imagination from a theme that highlights humanist ideas, which is awesome.

Para Priyayi by Umar Kayam

This book also talks about humanism from the perspective of Javanese culture and education. This book is one of my inspiring references.

A book on organic architecture

I like a book that talks about the organic architectural world, but I forget the title and the author. The book made me learn about organic architecture (an idea in architecture that promotes the harmony and integrity between design and nature). It is a truly unique book, which is similar to my work. This book inspired me about the way that artists, state leaders and any kind of professional can become architects who need to grow and develop.

— As told to Indah Setiawati