If I had to assume, I’d say that roughly 75% of creative people are introverts and that most of us choose an outlet not only because we have a gift when it comes to writing, sculpting, music, etc. but because it’s our way of expressing ourselves without getting tongue-tied. At least that is the commonality between myself and the Angee AKA ⅓ of the Indonesian trio out of Yogyakarta known as Grrrl Gang. We spoke not only of utilizing the arts to be heard, but also favorite karaoke songs, how they’ve grown as a unit, and more like their 2023 release, ‘Spunky!’ which drops on September 22nd. 

Kendra: You came together a handful of years ago and have since made a name for yourself in the Yogyakarta scene. Would you say it’s a music scene that is as eclectic as a place like Brooklyn here in the U.S.? 

Akbar: I would say yes! So lots of people come to Yogyakarta for different kinds of business, from different kinds of cultural backgrounds, while Yogyakarta itself holds a strong and rooted culture on its own. For me and Angee, we actually moved to Yogyakarta for college, and quoting from one of our friends that been in the scene for a long time (Woktherock) we always recognize Yogyakarta as a sandbox where you can explore and be anything that you want until you finally go out and share what you have learned during your “Study.” That is what makes Yogyakarta “eclectic,” it’s the differences, the people, and the attitude that I would say you can’t find anywhere else.

Kendra: This September you’ll be dropping ‘Spunky!’ and it comes a few years after ‘Here to Stay!’ Looking at both albums, how would you say you’ve changed as an artist in that time? 

Angee: I think we’ve grown a lot over the years since ‘Here to Stay’ as individuals and as a band. We’ve gotten a lot braver at conceptualizing our materials, in terms of story-telling and sound. I’d like to think that ‘Spunky!’ is a mature debut album.

Kendra: Y’all also connected with Lafa Pratomo for ‘Spunky!’ and noted that it was different working with someone outside of your tight-knit band. How long before you were fully okay and comfortable with giving Pratomo the reins? 

Angee: It didn’t take too long for us to feel comfortable with Lafa because he really wanted to get to know us quite deeply at an individual level. I think that aspect made it easier for us to work with him and shine in our own respective ways during the recording of the album.

Akbar: …and technically, he IS GOODss

Kendra: ‘Spunky!’ wound up with 10 stellar tracks including “Rude Awakening.” This song is a journey, but it starts with the notion of not feeling like anyone is listening. This is something I deal with too often as I’m naturally quiet and people do tend to speak over me – a lot. This is why I like to write and podcast; they help me be heard. Have you always treated music as your way of getting your voice out there?

Angee: Yes, always. I have a hard time verbally expressing how I feel and what I think, and I’ve found that songwriting is a great outlet for me to just convey everything that’s going on in my head without any fear of rejection. It’s one of the ways I can be honest with myself.

Kendra: Another song on the new record is “A Fight Breaks Out At A Karaoke Bar.” With that, what is everyone’s go-to karaoke song? 

Angee: My go-to karaoke song is Madonna’s “Like a Virgin!”

Akbar: “Like a G-6” by Far East Movement straight up!

Edo: Mine, “Believe” by Cher

Kendra: I did want to ask who some of your influences were because listening, I felt like I was back in the ‘90s listening to some alt-rock stations; very ‘Reality Bites’ soundtrack – which I enjoy! 

Angee: Hole and Sleater-Kinney!

Edo: The Cardigans

Kendra: Now it’s time for a side note – with it being September AKA Self Improvement Month, I’m asking everyone to give us a song they like to put on when they are in self-care mode…

Angee: It has to be “All I Want” by Joni Mitchell because listening to that song feels like a good long rejuvenating shower after a hard day at work.

Kendra: And lastly, with ‘Spunky!’ out on September 22nd, what else do y’all have planned as we head into fall? 

Angee: More show dates! We’re looking forward to traveling a lot.

Akbar: Yeppp tour, tour, tour, and start to prep for the second album, maybe?

Edo: I’m really excited about the tour!

The post Grrrl Gang Gets Spunky appeared first on ZO Magazine.

KIM! started out impressing everyone as a contestant on ‘The Voice Kids Indonesia.’ Today, she’s definitely your new favorite with songs like “Care 4 U!” and “All My Girls.” Both beautifully blend the heart of the ‘90s with the style of today seamlessly in a way that she’s an instance where any and all ages will have her high on their playlists. If more artists could take note of what KIM! is doing, that’d be wonderful.

It was a pleasure to chat with KIM! about being in a singing competition, girl power in the 21st century, and of course the ‘90s.

Kendra: Were you the first one to be aware of your talent, or did someone in your family, or at school hear you sing and let you know that your voice was next level?

KIM!: I couldn’t sing when I was little (in fact I was always off-tune LOL) but then I’ve always loved singing so my mom was eventually aware of that and then she put me on vocal lessons since I was like six. Because of my love for singing, I kept practicing and after years of learning and just singing, I decided that I wanted to take this whole singing thing seriously.

Kendra: How much time passed between realizing you could sing and getting on ‘The Voice Kids Indonesia?’

KIM!: I think like around two to three years. Before ‘The Voice Kids,’ I also auditioned for a whole lot of other singing competitions but didn’t get in. So, I just kept practicing and kept trying; I never gave up because of my love for singing and my dream to be a singer.

Kendra: Did you learn anything from being on the show or from Bebi Romeo that still helps you today when you’re working on music or performing?

KIM!: I am and will be forever grateful for that show and for my coach, Bebi Romeo who guided me throughout the whole show and has taught me so much about the singing world. ‘The Voice Kids’ helped me with my singing career and I wouldn’t be where I am today without it.

Kendra: Now let’s talk about “Care 4 U!” If this is what you’re putting out now, I cannot wait to hear what you do in 10 years. But sticking in the present, can you tell us more about how this song came about?

KIM!: Awww thank you, thank you, thank you! We (My producer, NSG, and I) wanted to do a teen bop but also like a heartbreak song. I have been listening to a lot of 90’s R&B and did a bunch of covers like Aaliyah’s “Are You That Somebody” and wanted to create some kind of a vibe. Fortunately, my producer has a lot of songs ready in his bank and we went through some of them and found an old record he made, so we decided to flip it.

We had to put our own spin on it and make it have a pop chill vibe and everything just fell into place like that, and also as I get older, I went through situations with boys so then the song kinda became more relatable and relevant for me…because you know…boys can be cruel sometimes and it’s a normal thing that happens when being a teenager.

Kendra: Some may listen to this and think, this is a pretty intense song for someone that age, but I think those people forget what it’s like to be 14-15 years old. Do you think that happens more often than not – older folks dismiss younger people because they somehow forget what it’s like to be that age?

KIM!: Yes, yes, yes. I mean stuff like this happens to all of us, especially teenagers, and I feel that older people often dismiss us for feeling that way because they might forget what it’s like to be our age and having to deal with stupid heartbreaks when I’m pretty sure that they went through the same stuff that we do now when they were teenagers. So, I don’t really think that this song is pretty intense for someone my age because it’s a normal thing that all us teenagers go through sometimes.

Kendra: The video for “Care 4 U” as well as your return to ‘The Voice Kids Indonesia’ stage this past April were both very heavily inspired by the ‘90s. It’s crazy to me that this is vintage for you as it was just my childhood, but I love to see it. When you look up things from that era, what sticks out most to you when it comes to inspiring your creativity?

KIM!: Looking back to the ‘90s, what I love about it and what sticks out to me the most is its vibe and style. It’s music. It’s fashion. It’s pop culture. It’s movies. Honestly, I just love everything from the ‘90s and I try to pick up inspiration from it the most because, to me, that era was just amazing and super interesting.

Kendra: Speaking of the ‘90s, I was taken back there once more by your latest single, “All My Girls.” It reminded me of singing Spice Girls with my besties in 5th grade on the playground. Only this song definitely feels modern and on par with a lot of the music we’re hearing from artists at the moment, and once it was over (and I hit repeat) it made me wonder how important it is for an artist like yourself to see women like Beyonce and Taylor Swift owning their careers, their narratives because back when Spice Girls were big – that was not the case for many women in music?

KIM!: To see women like Beyonce and Taylor Swift owning their careers and their narratives nowadays is just super inspiring to me. I am so grateful that it’s easier for us women to thrive in the music industry today knowing that this was not the case for many women back then.

Kendra: Lastly, it’s getting a little easier with the vaccine rollouts, but it’s still kind of hard to have a definite answer when it comes to future plans given the current state of everything, but as far as what you can control when it comes to your career and creativity – what do you have planned in the coming months for yourself?

KIM!: OMG okay so in the upcoming months, I have a few more singles to release and then finally MY ALBUM. I have been working on this album for forever and I am just super excited to finally release it for the world to hear. I really hope that people will love it as much as I do.

The post KIM! Embraces the Power of the ‘90s appeared first on ZO Magazine.

While working at Harper’s Bazaar in their advertising sales team sounds like a dream to some, it started to wear Lucy Cottee down. So one day she decided enough with what she calls the “9-5 grind” and moved to Bali. Taking her savings with her she planned on only staying six months. Three years later she was still in paradise and starting her own clothing company, LJC Designs.

Inspired by the vibrancy and comfort of Bali, she wanted to start her own clothing line that elevated the bohemian look. Bohemian luxury as she says. While Bali is no longer her home year-round, she does “get the best of both worlds” as she travels back and forth from there to Brisbane because while Brisbane is where she started, Bali is where her second chapter started to take shape.

Kendra: LJC Designs are all about vibrant hues and one of a kind fabrics. Where do many of the fabrics come from?

Lucy Cottee: Most of our linen comes from Jakarta but we do have a few prints that are handmade here in Bali. Local artisans hand stamp the prints onto our handmade chiffon blend fabric.

Kendra: Many of your designs have a wonderful leisure quality to them. Do you find that people are happier in clothes they can truly feel and look comfortable in?

Lucy Cottee: Absolutely, who doesn’t love wearing a free-flowing linen dress on a hot summer’s day!

Kendra: You’ve mentioned your brand is a bohemian luxury. How would you describe that to someone who gives you a blank stare when mentioning it?

Lucy Cottee: It’s a combination of the appreciation for high-quality fabrics and finishes and the love of free-flowing comfortable clothing.

Kendra: Thinking of where you are now and where you started, what has been three major lessons you’ve learned about owning your own business, fashion, and customers?

Lucy Cottee: It takes time to build a business and a lot of trial and error, be prepared to make mistakes and learn from them, and appreciate your hard working staff.

I would not be where I am without my fabulously hardworking, passionate team. I have had the same team from the day I started the business. Plus a few amazing additions as the business grew!

Kendra: What’s next for LJC Designs in the coming months?

Lucy Cottee: We are shooting a new summer collection at the moment! We will also be looking at adding a few autumn/winter staples to the collection over the next couple of months!

The post LJC Designs: Bright Bali Bohemians appeared first on ZO Magazine.

Now they’re looking forward to another year filled with more music, shows, and life as they prepare to keep on rocking it. They were nice enough to talk to us about life in Indonesia as they know it and how that continues to play into their music.

Kendra: Was there one brother who was more into music first, or did you both show an interest in the arts early on?

Speaker First: For the sake of fairness, our parents encouraged both of us when it came to music. Being identical twins everything will always be the same. So in the end, we were always in this together.

Kendra: You’ve noted that your style was sort of bred from not being too into the local music scene. What is the music scene typically filled with in Indonesia?

Speaker First: The music scene in Indonesia is huge. There are lots of bands like us actually. In the mainstream scene, they’re always being under the radar though. It’s a long way to the top if you wanna rock n’ roll here.

Kendra: Are there a lot of American artists heard there? Because you guys had a sound that reminded me of Stone Temple Pilots back in the day.

Speaker First: American artists have always made a huge impact here. From the early hair rockers of the ’80s, the grunge and Seattle sound of the ’90s, hip metal and new metal, the garage revival thing of ’00s, everything you can name of, they will always be heard here. In fact, some of them were the ones that encouraged us to make our band in the first place.

Kendra: Rock and roll aside, are you guys influenced at all by all the greenery of West Java?

Speaker First: West Java, especially Bandung as our hometown, plays a great role in our music. The scene here really shaped our music because of the unforgiving people when you’re sucked. They have high standards and expectations in good music.

The post Rocking with Speaker First appeared first on ZO Magazine.