The Yogyakarta pair continue to push the boundaries of the conventional album release

Senyawa, the Yogyakarta-based experimental duo which has made a name for itself in the international avant-garde music scene with its critically acclaimed shows and albums, released its full-length album Alkisah (Once Upon a Time) in February. The record involved a unique album process involving 44 different labels from different parts of the world, all given the freedom to create their own album cover designs. The band said it was an attempt to stretch the concept of “decentralization”.

Most of the promotional activities during that album cycle were carried out online.

For Rully, who mostly handles Senyawa’s vocal duties, he felt it was unwise to perform, or even properly rehearse Senyawa's sometimes-raucous and often-primal-sounding repertoire in their open-air studio in Yogyakarta, during a period where music had taken a backseat to more pressing things.

"During lockdown, of course there's the urge to play again but it's hard to do that because there are no shows and no stages we can perform on. Plus, the neighbours wouldn't appreciate us making a ruckus during a time like that," he explained.

But after observing street musicians in Yogyakarta still trying to perform during the pandemic, the duo struck on an idea.

"If the street musicians, with their simple setups, still have the courage to play at a time like this, then why couldn't we? What we did was strip down our music to only an acoustic guitar and vocals so that it would be easier to play - and easier on the ears".

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