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View all search resultsCrossing genres: Aksjan Sjuman is known as the drummer of Potret, as well as for his passion for jazz
Crossing genres: Aksjan Sjuman is known as the drummer of Potret, as well as for his passion for jazz.
Drummer Aksan Sjuman has taken some time out of his currently less demanding schedule to answer his fans’ questions via livestream.
“So, the pandemic canceled all my current [gigs]. It’s like I’m ranting while I’m talking to myself, doesn’t it?” Aksan said on Wednesday afternoon.
Despite the rhetorical question seemingly addressed to himself, the renowned drummer of Potret was not speaking to himself, but rather responding to a member of his virtual audience during a Q&A session livestreamed on the Instagram account of Goethe-Institut Indonesien.
Aksan was this week’s host for the German cultural institute’s weekly discussion #MusicTalk, in which musicians talk to fans about their profession, music and anything else that comes up in the real-time comments thread.
The livestream sessions are part of this year’s “Alur Bunyi” (Flow of Sound), an annual concert series that was moved online in response to the nationwide stay-at-home policy. #MusicTalk has already featured vocalist Dalilektra in its first virtual edition on April 8, and will feature Puti Chitara on April 22.
Aksan, who curated the inaugural “Alur Bunyi” concert series in 2017, said that the content he was releasing now on Instagram was mainly about Potret and drumming practice, since live jamming sessions were ruled out amid the ongoing social restrictions.
“I really do think it’s important in times like this to have a hobby, because you’ll end up annoying others if you don’t have one. If you have a hobby, you can now get into it more, or [do] things you just haven’t had the chance to, really,” he said.
One viewer asked for Aksan’s advice on what to do when music grew beyond a hobby and into a career. The viewer said that he had nothing to turn to when he was stressed out, since his hobby was also his job.
Aksan said that one solution was to find an alternative way to release stress, saying that he could not play the drums well when he was stressed.
“If you enjoy going for a walk, do it,” he said. “To be honest, when I’m out of ideas for my music, I often go to the mall. Just take a walk, go people watching or go to the movies. It’s just until we’re not in that stressful [state] anymore.”
“As is often the case, sometimes all we need is a little bit of entertainment, whether it is going out with family or with your friends. It’s not a good thing to be too busy with yourself.”
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