Bagus Dwi Danto is currently on a break between touring his album Kudu, released only a month ago and the first under his own name. East Java was the first stop on his Kudu Wani Tour 2021.

“I have been living as a nomad for more than a year, from one city to another. For an artist like me, it's true that life is connected between one stage and another. Sounds tiring, you say? No doubt it is," he said as The Jakarta Post met him at Gubeng Station in Surabaya on Oct. 8.

Before releasing music under his birth name, 43-year-old Danto -- the name he goes by -- was more familiarly known as Sisir Tanah (Earth Comb). Armed with an acoustic guitar and a warm baritone voice that is sometimes reminiscent of someone reciting a prayer, Danto's music represents the plights of marginalized communities, such as villagers defending their living space from developers. He was an activist through songs and action.

Danto was a vocal presence at the Yogyakarta #ReformasiDikorupsi demonstration in 2020, where protesters spoke out against the proposed Job Creation Law. One of his newer songs, "Lagu Bebal" (roughly "Stupidly-Hard Headed Song"), became the song sung by women workers of Rembang regency in Central Java who were protesting for their worker rights against a cement company they worked at. "Konservasi Konflik" (Conflict Conservation) sees Danto singing about the issue of corruption within the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in 2018. And "Lagu Hidup" (Song about Life) became the fight song of the Kulon Progo residents of Yogyakarta, who demonstrated against the building of the New Yogyakarta International Airport (NYIA) in 2017, which they saw as taking away their land.

New era

Toward the end of 2020, Danto decided to stop using the name Sisir Tanah, a moniker he had used for a decade and that had brought him popularity as a folk musician. For him, 10 years has been too long. He wanted to write something more about his own plights, particularly during the pandemic.

“I think [2020 was] one of the toughest moments in my life. There are two toughest phases I've ever been through. The first, was the death of my father. And the second, is the year 2020. The year of the pandemic. A year that made me learn many things; about letting go of what is lost and gone.”

Danto continues, “This new album is quite important to me because this is a transitional monument to my life. The pandemic has taught me a lot, and it forced people to start over with their lives. More so, myself. Leaving my former name [Sisir Tanah], I claimed back my name, Bagus Dwi Danto. I went back to the name my parents gave me.”

Secret concerts

For someone whose livelihood is music like Danto, the lack of live shows has been tough. “The earnings I received from [digital streaming] was not much. It's not even enough to cover basic logistical needs.”

He had no other choice. Together with his two best friends, fellow singer-songwriters Iksan Skuter and Jason Ranti, he held and performed “secret concerts” in several cities, for which notification about the location and the show itself were only distributed between the musicians’ most ardent fans.

The decision, of course, drew criticism.

New routes: Danto recently became interested in touring small towns in Indonesia. This photo was taken at one of his shows in Madura. (Ivan Darski) (JP/Ivan Darski)

“If given the opportunity, I would like to apologize. I did this, indeed because I had no other choice. Singing is my way to make a living. And I imagine, those were the times when everyone was having a hard time. I really hope the concerts can boost their mental immunity as well. But whatever the reason, I know it's wrong, and I'm sorry," Danto said.

During the large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) period, Danto did indeed continue his tour to visit cities in Indonesia, and hold concerts. However, he said, attendance at the concerts was limited, with just 100 tickets per show.

"Of course we adhered to strict procedures. We arranged socially distanced seating and I asked the committee to prevent overcapacity. Of course, there is [still] a risk of a cluster occurring. I apologize," he added.

Involving nature, cultivating silence

Field recordings are everywhere in Kudu, from the sound of the waves crashing against rocks, the chirping of birds, and conversations between strangers. Instead of being recorded in a professional studio like Woh (2017), Sisir Tanah’s last album, Kudu was recorded on the beautiful beaches of Bali.

Danto moved from Jogja to Bali at the end of 2020 to work on the album. Danto recorded in the early morning or late in the evening. This resulted in a sound that contrasted against Woh’s more majestic sound. On Kudu, Danto wanted to make music that was like the songs he wrote when he was younger.

“I really wanted this album to sound simple, both in lyrics and music. I don't play with metaphors as much, or try to be poetic like on previous albums. I likened the songwriting to building a temple. The temple building is getting smaller and smaller, farther from the bustle, and closer to silence. So is my album. Going forward, it will be simpler and quieter," said Danto.

Danto no longer discusses agrarian conflicts much, but instead focuses on the minutae and conflicts within his own life. He tries to express the importance of slowing down and calming down in "Lagu Hari Ini" (Song of Today). Still, there are moments that harken back to the past, including "Lagu Bebal", which is about human’s exploitation of nature. In it, Danto sings: “Jika Bumi/Adalah Ibu/Kita manusia/Memperkosa ibunya/Setiap hari/Setiap Jam/Setiap Menit/Setiap detik (“If earth/is a mother/we humans/are constantly raping our mother/Every day/Every hour/Every minute/Every second”.

Danto is also currently working on two new albums. He aspires to make something akin to author Pramoedya Ananta Toer’s tetralogy.

"I think four symbolizes balance. A buffer. Hopefully it can be a life support not only for me, but also for my listeners."

He jokes that when the tetralogy project was completed, he would end Bagus Dwi Danto's career as a solo artist. "I've always wanted to be in a band. I once set a target that when I'm 50 years old, I should have a band. After this is all done, maybe spending my senior life in a band would be fun too, right?” he said, laughing.

"Certainly, I will continue to work until ‘whenever’,” he says. “Because for me, artistic work is my raison d'être. No matter how bitter the path is, I already have plans about what I should do for the next few years. As long as I'm still breathing, I will continue to write songs.”