If we think about the city of Solo, what comes to mind is President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), who is a former Mayor of Solo. During his tenure, Jokowi promoted various significant changes.

His tangible and concrete leadership narrative set a high standard for the subsequent leadership of F.X. Hadi Rudy to the young leader Gibran Rakabuming.

The influence of leadership from the Jokowi era to Gibran has impacted not only changes in city governance and infrastructure but also openness in dialogue, values, ideas, and freedom of expression of young people.

The City of Solo: A Multi-Ideological City

Solo has a diverse background and is prone to conflict. As stated in Jokowi’s interview with the BBC in 2011, there are many ideological and political choices.

In the history of Solo’s leadership, there have been several bombing incidents that have left a traumatic impact across generations. However, both the government and the local community have consistently worked in various ways to cool down Solo, ensuring it remains a peaceful, calm, and diverse city.

During Gibran’s tenure as Mayor, there have been efforts to re-establish Solo as a tolerant city. Gibran has organized numerous religious events in Solo.

The aspiration of young people to celebrate diversity and tolerance manifests in various forms, such as the Pecinan Solo Festival showcasing a variety of regional culinary delights.

Youth Expression in Solo: Loud Music and Creativity

The loud music event titled ‘Rock in Solo,’ which has been held since 2004, represents the emergence of Solo’s youth musical expression in public spaces.

This event started with a small stage and eventually became an annual event, turning into a major music festival in 2012 with 8,000 attendees. In a 2011 interview, Jokowi referred to loud music as a form of freedom of expression that provides positive inspiration for both himself and the community.

The aspiration for loud music resonates with a portion of the community, particularly the youth of Solo. Several rock and metal genre musicians have performed in Solo city.

Creative youth is also an aspiration for the young people of Solo. This is partly due to the presence of universities in Solo. Creative aspirations are reflected in the graffiti and murals that adorn the city’s walls.

Before the pandemic, creative spaces, art spaces, and community activities were facilitated by Muara Market Solo, a collective movement initiated by Tatuk Marbudi.

Muara Market, as a collective space, accommodates various youth scenes and communities for activities. Many aspects of youth culture, youth narratives, and city narratives were born and formed here.

Young people in Solo once campaigned for the narrative of ‘Sesolo’ as a creative form of critical aspiration to make Solo a more youth-friendly and caring city, one that embraces the dynamics and creative energy of its youth. Not overly dominated by baby boomers.

Nowadays, creativity, indie music, loud music, and communities still exist, channeling their energy in coffee shops. Coffee shops now provide spaces for gigs and the music scene in Solo. Both Bahagia Bersama Kopi and Suaka Coffee accommodate communities in Solo.

However, creative expression with economic value is more accommodated compared to creative expression that has political and critical nuances towards the city.

Gen Z Prefers Sweet Flavors

In terms of consumption, Gen Z globally tends to prefer sweet flavors. Their exposure to sweet consumption during the pandemic has shaped their preferences up to now. This trend is also seen in coffee shops and culinary places in Solo.

Coffee shops in Solo have menus that predominantly cater to sweet drinks. For example, one of the coffee shops in Solo, Bahagia Bersama Coffee, offers flavored Americanos in various fruit flavors. This indicates that hangout places now lean more towards accommodating Gen Z’s consumption preferences.

Moreover, the emergence of Teh Tarik 88 with sweet food and drinks, offering a nightlife culture sensation, has become attractive and popular among Gen Z in Solo. Several other coffee shops in Solo also typically offer sweet drinks as part of their main menu. Soto Triwindu, a legendary restaurant in Solo, now seems to be frequented mainly by the boomer generation.

It’s fascinating to observe the dynamics of young people in Solo and the city itself, which is becoming more youthful. Accommodating the hobbies and passions of young people by organizing national music events, boosting the creative economy, and hosting international sports events.

The youth of Solo are creative souls with unique characters, fond of loud music. Their energy and identity always fill the spaces of Solo City.