A Soundtrack of Resistance - Episode 3: Merdeka / Freedom

Episode 3: Merdeka / Freedom

07/31/21 • 57 min

We're going back to the very beginning - back to 1996, the year that Navicula was formed, and talking about the band's journey over the past 25 years - to how they got to where they are today. There's a lot in this episode, we're speaking with the whole band - Robi, Dadang, Palel and Krishna, as well as two of the band's former managers, Rudolf Dethu, and Lakota Moira. We'll hear about Navicula's experience recording at Record Plant Studios in Hollywood, and the band's deal with Sony and their subsequent split with the record label. We'll find out why Gembul, Navicula's former drummer left the band. And we'll also hear about the tragic loss of Made, Navicula's Bass player, three years ago. In this episode, we're exploring Navicula's song, Merdeka, which means freedom. We'll hear about the inspiration for this song, as well as how over the years, this song, as well as the meaning of freedom has evolved for the band.

Hosted by: Ewa Wojkowska
Writing and Production: Ewa Wojkowska, Julia Winterflood, Lakota Moira
Production and sound design: Gede Robi
Co-production: Sergina Loncle, Andre Dananjaya
Mixing and Mastering: Cipta Gunawan, Tude Arta Sedana
All Music: Navicula
Podcast Artwork: Krishna Adipurba
Web design: Jay Sims, Vanessa Harsamto, Fleava, Major Tom
Photography: Penny Lane
Show Notes: https://naviculamusic.com/podcast/

Previous Episode

Episode 2: Metropolutan

We delve into ‘Metropolutan’, a song about the overdevelopment and pollution crisis in the Indonesian city of Jakarta. We also hear about something pretty amazing that happened to the band as a result of this song, which took them to another big city - Los Angeles.

Next Episode

Episode 4: Aku Bukan Mesin / I Am Not a Machine

In this episode, we are exploring violent religious extremism, through Aku Bukan Mesin (I am not a machine), one of the songs that the band recorded in response to terrorist bombings that shook Bali and Jakarta in the early 2000, and a turbulent political transition in Indonesia which saw conflict flaring up in various parts of the country. The conflicts were dividing communities across religious lines and resulted in large scale destruction, violence, displacement, and the deaths of thousands of people. Joining us in this episode is a special guest, Sidney Jones - a widely renowned expert on religious extremism and conflict in Indonesia.

A Soundtrack of Resistance - Episode 3: Merdeka / Freedom

Transcript

Ewa:
This is a serialized show. So if you haven't already please go back and start listening from the
beginning. Also a language warning. There are a few swear words in this episode.
Robi:
I'm screaming MENACE. It's like so confident. And then Alain Johannes in the cigarette
breaks, he said like, uh, it is pretty good, but, uh, Robi, uh, that word actually it's not sound
rock and roll. Can I, can I see the lyric and ah! Menace, I heard mayonnaise. Oh ok, ok.
Ewa:
Hi, I'