Twenty years on and comedy band Project Pop remains alive and kicking…hilariously so.

During its two decades of music-making, Bandung-based comedy music group Project Pop has touched the hearts of many Indonesians with its catchy, jargon-filled lyrics and infectious melodies.

But what is the secret behind the long-lasting relationship between the band’s six members? It turns out it all comes down to friendship, as simple as that.

Gumilar Nurochman (Gugum), Mochamad Fachroni (Oon), Djoni Permato (Udjo), Hermann Josis Mokalu (Yossi), Wahyu Rudi Astadi (Odie) and  Kartika Rachel Setia Redjeki Panggabean (Tika) met in Bandung, West Java, where they were pursuing higher education. Oon, Udjo, Yossi, Odie and Tika all attended Parahyangan Catholic University, while Gugum attended Padjajaran University. They followed in the footsteps of their university seniors, who had set up a comedic band named P-Project.

In 1996, the group kicked off their debut by taking a more comedic approach in the creation of original songs as a contrast to now-defunct P-Project, which parodied popular existing songs.

However, widespread recognition did not come overnight. First album Lumpia vs Bakpia wasn’t exactly a home run and the financial crisis in 1998 dampened the group’s activities. It was not until 2000 that it became active again.

“We were just starting off; we didn’t know how to master comedy, unlike our seniors did with their parodies. On top of that, the public’s reaction wasn’t quite what we hoped,” Yossi explained.

But after that, the group’s reputation took off, and over the course of 20 years, it has released 10 albums and hit singles such as “Dangdut is the Music of My Country.”

Unlike its predecessors and peers, Project Pop has never encountered internal conflicts.

So, what is the secret behind its solidness as a group?

Odie believes it is all about treating bandmates like family.

“We have been together for over twenty years, so we are pretty much like siblings […]  You wouldn’t shun your brother or sister whenever problems arise, right?” Odie said.

Another factor in the band’s long-lasting relations is the absence of a front man, with everyone allowed to contribute ideas and play a part in musical composition.

“It truly is a team effort,” Udjo said.

Looking at the band members’ live interaction with each other, it is not hard to notice that in their music career, none of them express any sense of superiority — making them all the more lovable.

Lifting spirits: With their comedic-take on popular music, Project Pop values friendship and love. (Courtesy of sensejakarta.com)

The spirit of togetherness is also present in their songs. “Dangdut is the Music of My Country,” for example, encourages people to overcome differences and avoid confrontation. The song is actually based on a feud between two popular dangdut singers.

“That feud made us wonder, why were they even fighting? Why is everyone else so quick to add to the drama?” Oon said.

Meanwhile, another song, “Ingatlah Hari Ini” (Remember This Day), is a tune to mark life’s successive milestones, performed and sang at reunions and graduations.

The band released a new album, Move On, last year, the latest effort from Project Pop to entertain music lovers with its humorous lyrics.

To celebrate the band’s 20th anniversary, Project Pop held an exclusive performance for its adoring fans in May. The show was a success and the tickets were sold out; yet more solid proof, though little needed, that Project Pop and its music are as relevant now as they ever have been.

For more information:
www.projectpop.com

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Cemara Dinda is an intern at The Jakarta Post

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