The internet was set ablaze when concert promoter Live Nation announced last week that once-culturally influential "emo" — short for "emotional" — acts such as My Chemical Romance, Paramore, Avril Lavigne and Bring Me the Horizon will headline When We Were Young Fest in Las Vegas, Nevada, the United States, in October. It did not take long for Indonesian emo music enthusiasts to put their own spin on the event. One fan-made meme, for instance, replaced the acts with Indonesia's 2000-era icons, such as Radja, Vagetoz and Kangen Band.

JOOX Indonesia content editor Mohammad Zaki said the buzz around the When We Were Young Fest could lead to a widespread emo revival. 

"When October comes and these major emo players reunite on a stage together, it is not impossible that they may shake up the whole music industry. The answer shall be revealed later. But now? Not yet," he said.

How does one define emo? Wisnu Ikhsantama W, a former "emo kid" who is now known for his work with indie-pop bands Glaskaca and Lomba Sihir, offered his own definition. One thing is for sure: It is not just about the stereotypical rose tattoos or ripped skinny jeans.

"Emo is about emotion," the 27-year-old musician said. "Lyrically, emo is straightforward and revolves around sadness. It is quite nihilistic, really."

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