Indonesian trio Grrrl Gang builds on their considerable worldwide buzz with Spunky!, their full-length debut album out September 22 via Green Island Music in partnership with exclusive licensees Kill Rock Stars (United States), Trapped Animal Records (United Kingdom) and Big Romantic Records (Japan and Taiwan). The band has already released an exciting array of connected video content and today we caught up with the band to hear more about their roots and songwriting.
How did the band form?
It was waaaay back when we’re still in college. We studied in the same university and organized lots of gigs and parties in the local scene. Decided to form a band because we don’t have anything else to do.
What are your previous musical projects? How'd you first get into music?
Akbar: Use to play in a twee pop band from Yogyakarta called Talking Coasty and this shoegaze band called Annie Hall
Edo: Started a country pop duo called Backyard Lullaby way back in 2014 with one of my best friends.
Angee: My high school friends and I made a band to play at our prom back in 2016.
First concert that you ever went to?
Akbar: Avenged sevenfold
Angee: The first concert I went to was Santana in Jakarta with my parents. My dad is a really big fan of him.
Edo: Honestly don’t really remember, however the earliest memory I have at a concert is most probably Shaggy Dog; A local, kind of a big deal band from Yogyakarta.
Can you explain what your writing process is like?
Angee: I take a lot of inspiration for the lyrics from my diary entries. I feel like that’s where I am most vulnerable.
What other artists or songs inspire your music?
Akbar: Not exactly a band/musician but I am highly inspired by Sarah Records and its rosters. In my opinion, their attitude and point of view shows that playing music is not only about “the music”. I read all of Sarah records’s manifesto during college years and it was a life changing moment.
What's the live experience like and your philosophy on playing live? Do you think the music live should be identical to the recorded version or should it be its own thing?
Akbar: DISAGREE! It is two different kinds of things with two different approaches.
Angee: It most definitely should be its own thing so that we can give the audience a whole different experience.
Edo: Performing live in general is a whole other beast when compared to the record, where our approach mainly is to transmit our energy to the audience and works both ways.
What has your touring experience been, best shows?
Angee: Our touring experience has always been a blast. Best show we had, in my opinion, was when we played at this little town, called Purwokerto, and everyone there was so excited to see us live. It was great, because we didn’t expect anyone to show up.
Edo: When we played at Bone (Sulawesi), and not one person knew our song but everyone (including us!) had fun so I think that’s probably one of my favorite shows yet.
What's up next for the band?
Angee: If everything goes smoothly, a tour could happen.
Akbar: Agree with Angee, tour is coming, and a second album maybe? :)
Edo: AGREED!