The 2016 EP “Apaan?” was another step in your musical career. The single “Tanah Ilusi”, taken from this EP, won an Anugerah Musik Indonesia award in 2017. Can you tell us, what is this award about, how important in the music life of Indonesia it is and last, but not least, what sets – in your opinion – this particular song out of the other ones? What does it make special, so to speak?
AMI Awards is a very prestigious event in the Indonesian music industry, especially in the mainstream music scene. It’s operated by a foundation. That year, however, they started to open up and become inclusive to the independent music industry. I guess they realized the whole industry is changing after all, and it’s kind of a good thing they did. So obscure experimental blues upstart like me get to be heard. Hahahaha..! In all seriousness, though, I get to know how they actually choose the candidate and winner. They employ a number of curators to judge the entrants then the nominees get voted to choose the winner by members of the foundation who are active music practitioners. It’s an honor to become a winner, for sure. At least I get to know that somebody out there is giving it some attention.
And this year you released your latest album “Violent Love, Gentle Kill”, also referred to as The Grey Album. I’ve reviewed this one here at IndoKult.com, so I am familiar with it (and also recommend it, in case some of our readers don’t know it). Again, long time to prepare this one… have you been busy with other projects/collabs?
You’d be surprised to know that the work on the grey album started even before I did EP “Apaan?”. That EP was a burst of my nausea from the political situation at the time. I guess bad political moves cause bad psychology just about anywhere in the world and it was no exception here.
The long pauses between albums just happen. I never meant for it, but I don’t do anything about it either… I don’t know why but I think maybe I’ve grown over the years to really want to be sure of my own feelings and ideas. I used to be inspired to write just from a guitar-tone or a weird chord or something. But later on I want to feel the songs in my guts first before they even take any form verbally or even sonically. I want the songs to have to “burst out” by-itself, instead of having to be contrived. Sometimes, this takes longer than I’d like it to. I’d vamp out some riffs or chord-progression, and if it doesn’t “speak” to me, I’ll either let it sit a while until it either ripen or shows its core. If not, I’d scrap it altogether. Other times, a song might just “tell me” how it’s supposed to be written, and in minutes it’s done. Production is a different story, though. I was really taking my time to make sure the grey album was going to sound the way I had it in my head. The mix of the whole album took at least two different styles before it settled with the final one. I needed it to sound relevant to today’s quirks to connect, but at the same time appropriately picturing the mood and feel of the song.
The collaboration with Bangkutaman was also recorded before the album’s release. I also did a few gigs to warm myself up and earn some income. I offered my slide playing to a band called ‘Feast’ on a track of theirs, too. They’re a very current band, and it’s a good exercise in opening myself to today’s music.
I think the interesting aspect of music business is the reach the artists have for their audiences. It’s quite obvious that the distance from EU/US (and with it, the ever-rising postal rates) is the biggest factor in getting known outside Indonesia, but also your specific niche genre. However, that’s also debatable, as I am pretty sure the real genre connoiseurs know your name already. So, how established is Adrian Adioetomo in Indonesia? What about the “fame” (and I use this term very very loosely) abroad?
To be honest, I have no idea. I just put out albums every few years or so. I’m lucky enough I got noticed for playing some obscure music that no one else played before and put out an album of it. I guess it’s enough to make me trust my instinct and write more stuff based on my feelings and ideas.
As for abroad, well, some talent-scout asked me to send a data of myself and some songs because they saw the video for “Burning Blood…” but they never contacted back afterwards.
