Voice of Baceprot: The Success Story of Indonesian Gen Z Musician
The young metal band from Garut, Voice of Baceprot (VoB), is currently experiencing a surge in their music career. In the decade since its formation, this band, consisting of three hijab-wearing Muslim women, has managed to capture the attention of music enthusiasts as a formidable presence in the industry.
They have ventured onto international stages, starting with their first tour in Europe in 2021, amidst the ongoing pandemic. Despite various restrictions on concert performances, the band, comprising Firda Marsya Kurnia, Widi Rahmawati, and Euis Siti Aisyah, embarked on a tour to the Netherlands, Belgium, France, and Switzerland.
Continuing their momentum, VoB has been making waves on prestigious global music stages, including their participation in the renowned Wacken Open Air 2022 festival held in Germany. Moving into 2023, they boldly embarked on an 11-city tour across America titled “Retas: American Tour 2023”, culminating in a memorable performance at the Head In The Clouds music festival.
Most recently, they announced their upcoming historic appearance as the first Indonesian band to grace the stage at the Glastonbury Festival in England in June 2024.
VoB has been portrayed as one of the most respected heavy metal bands in Indonesia. Despite being relatively young in the music scene and consisting of young musicians, VoB managed to clinch the Anugerah Musik Indonesia 2022 award for the Best Rock Duo/Group Collaboration category. Their diverse exposure has been met with unstoppable acclaim.
The Muslim Identity Sparks Various Discourse
Now, their name is not only being discussed within the realm of the heavy music scene, but also among a wider audience. Various national and international media outlets have covered them, including BBC, The Guardian, and most recently, The New York Times, which released an article titled “From a Heavy Metal Band in Hijabs, a Message of Girl Power.”
The persona of the band that is attached to VoB undeniably continues to provoke audiences to discuss them. Although they desire their musical abilities to be the main focus of discussion, the narrative surrounding them often extends beyond music. Being women, wearing hijabs, being Muslim, and playing metal music form the captivating persona they present on stage. Additionally, they do not immediately shed their Sundanese identity and remain a rural band based in Garut.
Without overshadowing other metal bands, VoB’s profile always garners attention and narratives. They emerged playing metal music in an area where conservative societal stigmas still cling to young women and Muslim women.
The members of VoB consistently present themselves with their Muslim identity, adhering to modest fashion styles that reflect the face of Muslim women in hijabs, covering their bodies. With this fashion, they deliver metal music, a combination that is both striking and rarely seen on stages in Indonesia or abroad.
In line with Gen Z’s anxieties, their musical aspirations serve as a voice of concern for the availability of women’s rights, safe spaces for women, sexual violence, and the conservative values and stigmas still attached to Muslim women. This becomes an intriguing point that sets Gen Z musicians apart from musicians of previous generations.
Gen Z musicians prioritize expressing their anxieties first before delving into their music.
Quality Content Meets the Right Agent
Music and the Muslim identity that VoB brings are embraced by music enthusiasts worldwide. The internet era enables even ‘bands from nowhere’ to be known across the globe. Their covers of songs by Metallica, System of a Down, and Red Hot Chili Peppers have been appreciated and become viral hits on the internet, with their songs being streamed millions of times on music platforms in 2015.
VoB’s profile is so intriguing that it piques the curiosity of the public. Various media reviews and music enthusiasts on YouTube channels also discuss the performances of this heavy metal band from the ‘rural area’.
The band, formed through extracurricular activities at Madrasah Tsanawiyah Al-Baqiyatussholihat Banjarwangi, has been partnered with a global agency for music performances in Mexico, Central America, and South America. As quoted in Kumparan, Voice of Baceprot signed an exclusive contract with GLP (Georg Leitner Productions GmbH), an artist management agency, in 2022.
The musical quality and intriguing profile of VoB have attracted the attention of music agencies. As expressed by a representative from GLP, “When VoB was first introduced to us, we were impressed by the courage shown by these girls. The uniqueness of this band has the potential for a global career, and we are very much looking forward to working with them.”
In addition to GLP, VoB previously signed a contract with the agency Amity Asia in 2018.. The role of this music agency is significant for a band aiming to perform at renowned and prestigious festivals worldwide. They are instrumental in preparing tours for VoB, enabling them to secure slots at festivals like Wacken Open Air and organize tours for their new album in 11 cities in America.
Meanwhile, there’s a notable difference in the advantages when comparing with other bands that hold similar concerts abroad without the support of a music agent. For instance, the Indonesian tribute band to The Beatles, G-Pluck, faces different challenges.
Without the involvement of a music agent, the band has to put in more effort to find small stages abroad independently. They have to handle all their needs themselves, including registering for music festivals, with minimal sponsor support, and financing all their activities independently.
Will Voice of Baceprot persist with their identity and musical style?
Amidst a music landscape often saturated with pop narratives, emerges a refreshing musical concept: Voice of Baceprot (VoB). This band, consisting of young women from the rural area of Garut, Banjarwangi, has not only captured attention because of their unique music but also because of their consistency in addressing social issues, gender equality, and environmental concerns.
For a decade, they have persevered and remained consistent with their identity and musical style. They leveraged the viral momentum they gained in 2015 on YouTube to further explore their musical abilities and expand their reach. They could have capitalized on their virality to perform on popular channels, hopping from one gig to another.
However, they remained unaffected by this fame and chose to focus on their music. Eventually, this dedication led to them being recruited by a global music agency, performing at international festivals, and releasing their debut album “Retas” in mid-July 2023.
Their current popularity is not an instant, fleeting phenomenon but rather the result of their consistency as a band. This is thanks to the role of Abah Erza, who discovered and nurtured their musical talent thus far. They continue to consistently explore their musical abilities and advocate for change.
Through their work, VoB is not only building a potentially successful musical career but also strengthening their identity deeply rooted in Sundanese culture. Despite entering the international stage and participating in prominent festivals, they remain faithful to their roots in Banjarwangi.
VoB serves as an example of an organic band that grew through social media algorithms. They adopted old musician values such as consistency and hard work, ultimately gaining popularity thanks to a viral hit known to a wide audience on social media.
From a small rural area to the international stage, they have proven that their voice is not only worth hearing but also has the power to influence and inspire. By continuing to deliver important messages through their music, VoB will continue to be a voice that raises awareness worldwide.