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Indonesians think they're invisible on social media: Slank
Legendary Indonesian rock band, Slank is scheduled to release their newest album on Feb. 1, 2017. In the upcoming album, the band calls for its fans to not be easily provoked, especially on social media.
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(left to right) Slank's vocalist Kaka and drummer Bimbim sing together at the Media Gathering and Karaoke Battle event by KFC at Djakarta Theatre, Jakarta, on Dec. 16. (JP/I Gede Dharma JS)
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egendary Indonesian rock band, Slank is scheduled to release their newest album on Feb. 1, 2017. In the upcoming album, the band calls on its fans to not be easily provoked, especially on social media. The album is dedicated to their guitarist, Abdee Negara who was absent during the recording process due to kidney failure.
“It’s one of the best albums that we have ever made,” said Slank's drummer Bimbim to The Jakarta Post during the Media Gathering and Karaoke Battle event by KFC at Djakarta Theatre on Friday, Dec. 16.
There will be 12 tracks on the album, all recorded without Abdee, meaning that Ridho, Slank's other guitarist, had to handle the recording of both guitar tracks.
As with all its previous albums, Slank wants fans to really listen to what they have to say about Indonesia. Bimbim said, “We are returning to our roots [musically] […] and the lyrics are straightforward and encourage people to think critically.”
“Our album talks about Indonesia in the last year,” Bimbim said. The band touches on the issues of natural resource exploitation, people who are always in a rush, and social media fights by keyboard warriors or, as Ridho said, “Those who only read the headlines, but carelessly share the news with everyone.”
Being one of the most political bands in the country, Slank also included comments on Jakarta’s current events on the upcoming album. “But it’s more what we feel [about it],” said Kaka, Slank vocalist.
(Read also: Fans line up to donate their kidney to Abdee Slank)
Slank is calling on its fans to not be easily provoked or lied to.
“Indonesians have the habit of ‘lempar batu sembunyi tangan’ (saying things irresponsibly and hiding afterwards),” said Bimbim. “They think they’re invisible on social media.”
Bimbim also highlighted that disinformation could be used to provoke people.
“There are also many media outlets like that. Media should not take sides, they should inform us about the truth. Now many media have their own flags as they are owned by party leaders, something that influences the news,” he said.
Boldly supporting President Jokowi in the 2014 presidential election, the band still stands by its principle that it's their right to support certain sides in politics. "We just know black and white, we don’t understand the grey [area],” said Bimbim.
Celebrating their 33rd birthday on Nov. 26, Slank will hold a concert in Singaraja, Bali, on Dec. 28. (asw)
