Right after tearing it up in Manila, Philippines, as the opening act for the legendary Deafheaven, Rekah didn’t slow down for a second. Next stop? Guangzhou, China. The invite came straight from Jinbo, the mastermind behind We Present and the vocalist of the insanely cool skramz band Bennu is a Hero.
Guangzhou hit different. From the second we landed, it was pure good vibes. Jinbo and his crew rolled out the red carpet—figuratively, of course—and made us feel like we’d been friends forever. The way they welcomed us, hung out with us, and took care of everything was next level. Every Indonesian band that’s ever played there always hypes up Jinbo, Anton, and the We Present fam, and now we totally get why. These guys are in a league of their own.
Rekah headlined that night, closing out a lineup that already had insane energy thanks to Jinbo and his band. Bennu is a Hero is Straight fire. They’re the kind of band that makes you stop and go, “Y’all NEED to come to Indonesia, like, yesterday.” Rekah’s set, though? Chef’s kiss. Sure, there was a little tech hiccup at the start, but after that, it was smooth sailing—intimate, raw, and everything you want in a live show. The crowd was so into it, and the whole room felt alive.
Huge, HUGE thanks to We Present Guangzhou—Jinbo, Anton, Uncle Jo, and every single person who made this experience unforgettable. You guys are legends. Here’s hoping Rekah gets to play here again, or maybe we’ll see you in Indonesia next time (seriously, we’re waiting!). Either way, let’s make it happen soon. Until then, mad love and see you guys down the road!
One of the most super-duper surreal experiences ever—like, once-in-a-lifetime kind of thing. Not just for Rekah, but for us as asterisme too, tagging along with them on their Doomsday Gala Tour. The tour hit five cities, and one of those stops? Manila. And not just any gig—they opened for the insanely legendary band from California, the OGs of blackgaze, the one and only Deafheaven. Yep, the same Deafheaven that’s a massive inspiration for the Rekah crew and for me personally.
Rekah took the stage in Manila with so much confidence. Even though the crowd might’ve been scratching their heads at the Indonesian lyrics (because, duh, everything Rekah sings is in Bahasa), it didn’t even matter. The vibe was there. The energy was insane. Stephani and Faiz brought the house down—their sound filled the entire room and grabbed everyone’s attention. It was loud, electrifying, and impossible to ignore.
We’re beyond grateful for the warmth and kindness from the Sleeping Boy Collective, Furiosa, and all the amazing people who made our time in Manila unforgettable. Big love to Darwin, Romel, Irish, Mea, and CJ—you guys are the best! Thanks for making that short but sweet time so special.
Here’s hoping the universe brings us together again someday, somewhere. Until then, much love and see you next time!
2024 was a big one for Rekah—our first gig outside Indonesia! And where did we end up? Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia. Not gonna lie, it was kinda surreal. We got to play at this legendary spot called Ruas Store, run by Komal and Sahid, two of the coolest and most welcoming people ever. This isn’t just any store—it’s like the heartbeat of Penang’s indie scene, a space that’s been holding it down for the community for years.
From the moment we landed, the energy was next level. Penang gave us such a warm welcome, and Ruas Store was straight-up magical. It’s hard to imagine a better place for our first international gig. The vibe was so chill yet so electric—it made us want to keep pushing, keep exploring, even though we’ve barely scratched the surface of playing shows around Indonesia.
Let me tell you, playing in Malaysia was something else. The crowd? Packed. The energy? Unreal. The love? Endless. Everyone there made us feel like rockstars, but not in a “fancy” way—like, in a real, connected, human way. The hospitality blew us away too. Huge shoutout to Komal, Sahid, and Ayu—they had our backs from the second we stepped off the plane to the minute we headed back to the airport.
It wasn’t just about the music; it was about the people, the connections, and the memories. Penang showed us how beautiful the indie community can be, even across borders. And honestly? We’re so inspired to do more, to see more, to play more.
Massive love to Ruas, to everyone who showed up, and to the friends we made along the way. Penang, you were everything and more. We can’t wait to come back and make even more memories. Till next time!
A lot of people were probably like, “Yo, why isn’t Title Fight showing up instead?” But honestly, we gotta drop that dream ‘cause Title Fight’s status is still in limbo—who knows if or when they’ll ever be back. The good news? Ned pulled up with Glitterer, and honestly, it kinda hit the spot. Like, we finally got to see Ned Russin doing his thing on stage, even if it wasn’t Title Fight vibes.
Glitterer’s glow-up is wild though. It started as this super DIY bedroom project during COVID—just Ned doing his solo thing—and now it’s a legit full band. Gotta respect the hustle.
I won’t lie, I was hyped to see how Glitterer would play out live, and man, it delivered. The set was all killer, no filler—short, snappy tracks that were fun, raw, straight to the point, and just the right amount of pissed off. Plus, it was low-key danceable. Ned and his band brought the heat.
The funniest part? After the set, people were lining up for autographs, but most of them were holding Title Fight vinyls and merch. Like, bro, wrong era!
Last week, Set the Fire Records, Trueside Jakarta, and Blacklisted Production pulled off a straight-up legendary gig for none other than Ned Russin. You know, the guy who used to rip it with Title Fight but is now fully focused on his solo project, Glitterer—though let’s be real, it’s not just a solo thing anymore. Glitterer has leveled up into a full-on band, and it’s wild seeing how it’s taken shape.
One of the openers was none other than Collapse, the Bandung-based squad that started as Andhika’s solo grind but now rolls deep as a proper band. Their sound? Total sidestream gold—super laid-back but still hits hard, and honestly, anyone can vibe with it. Usually, they throw in this crowd-pleaser cover of Angel Du$t’s Toxic Boombox at their shows. But this time? They flipped the script and didn’t play it. Instead, they closed with their own anthem, Given, which, let’s face it, is how it should be. Original tracks deserve the shine, and Collapse’s stuff? Just as fire, if not hotter, than anything they could cover.
The gig also hit different because it was a lowkey farewell for their bassist, who’s stepping out of the band after this. As a little bonus, they even dropped a brand-new, unreleased track—and trust me, it was an instant banger. Like, goosebumps-level good. That said, I’ll admit I still have a soft spot for their English lyrics—it just hits different, But either way, Collapse owned the stage, and the energy was next-level.
A few months have passed, but Narrow Head’s live set in Jakarta still lingers in my mind. Jacob Duarte, the vocalist, was an absolute powerhouse—so energetic and occasionally losing control, completely carried away by the chaotic vibe of the wild crowd. This “campursari” band initially formed in Dallas back in 2013, but they’re now based in Houston, Texas. They mix shoegaze, grunge, and alt-rock into this insane blend that somehow works and hits hard in all the right ways.
Narrow Head is one of those bands that everyone’s losing their minds over lately because of how ridiculously good they are. Their heavy yet melodic sound is something not many bands can pull off. They take classic influences and flip them into something fresh and modern. Under the Run for Cover label, they’ve been dropping bangers that have blown up in the sidestream music scene.
Their music is often described as “nostalgic yet modern.” Think Deftones, Smashing Pumpkins, and Hum vibes, with soft, introspective vocals layered over heavy distortion and punchy riffs. The mood swings between melancholic and explosive.
Seeing them live was one of those unforgettable experiences. Jacob was on another level—completely in the zone. Even though they didn’t get much hype here in Indonesia, especially compared to the hardcore bands that came before them, their performance was still insanely impressive. Not as packed, but man, what a great show!
I don’t even know what to say besides “Damn, that was insane!” Pure black metal, raw and unapologetic—everything about it screams darkness: the wild forests, pitch-black skies, suffocating air, raging fires, blood, tears, murder, and that whole disturbing vibe. It’s exactly like the chaotic, shadowy scenes that Mayhem and Burzum conjured back in the day with their visuals.
Pure Wrath didn’t just play at Vertigo Connected a few months ago—they brought the full storm of black metal right to the stage. The entire crowd was locked in, blown away by the intensity. It’s one of those nights that burns itself into your memory. The melodies were haunting, the drums relentless and rapid, and Ryo’s vocals? Sharp, fierce, and just soaked in raw energy. It all blended into this dark, brutal wall of sound that left you almost breathless.
It was my first time seeing Pure Wrath live, and man, I’d been waiting for this moment since their 2020 EP The Forlorn Soldier first got me hooked. Seeing them live didn’t disappoint—it was like they tore open a gateway to some shadowy realm, and for a moment, we were all pulled in. Ryo and his band didn’t just perform—they summoned something primal, something fierce. It was chaos, darkness, and pure energy unleashed on that stage, and I was there for every second of it.
Great captured by @darkofmoist_
Hardik has been on my must-see list for ages, and I swear, it felt impossible to catch them live. I’d always be scrambling to make it to a show, but it never worked out. Finally got the chance to put on an event, and they were literally one of the first bands I hit up to come perform. And seriously, who would’ve guessed that a hardcore band coming out of a small town like Tasikmalaya would be this loud and intense? It’s the kind of thing that just gives you chills.
Since COVID, things have shifted big time—and in a weird way, some of it’s been for the better. Stuff moves fast now, and music’s a huge part of that. There’s so much incredible music coming out of these hidden, unexpected corners. Hardik’s the perfect example, but there are so many other bands like them that you wouldn’t expect.
Hardik just proves that it doesn’t matter where you’re from—if you’ve got that spark, you can go big.
Huge shoutout to Hardik for giving me a night that was beyond epic. Watching you guys was a whole vibe, seriously. You killed it!
That’s exactly how I stumbled across this fresh new band from Yogyakarta called Pieces. Let me tell you, from the moment I heard their stuff, I was totally hooked. Their songs hit that perfect pop-punk sweet spot—catchy, relatable, and with just the right amount of grit. They’ve only released two songs on streaming so far, but I’ve already got those on repeat. And it’s not just me; the buzz around them is building fast.
They’ve got tons of material, though, and they’re already dropping these tracks at their live shows. I got a taste of it myself back in August when they played at Vertigo Connected, and man, the energy was insane! The crowd was all in, and you could just feel that this band’s got something special going on. I’m hyped for them to drop a full album and show the world what they’ve got. Seriously, I can’t wait to see where Pieces takes this, but if the two songs we have are anything to go by, they’re just getting started, and it’s gonna be one wild ride.
I’ve got to say, this band had me from day one. The first time I heard them, I was already picturing them on an event lineup, and it finally happened! Flesh has that powerful, punchy vibe that I can’t get enough of—it feels fresh and real. They totally nail that Asterisme image that pulls people in, and with the right moves, I’m convinced they’d explode onto the scene. It’s not just about dropping a song and calling it done; with a good strategy, Flesh could turn heads everywhere.
They’re new to the game, only just stepping in with their debut EP in early 2024, and they’re already bringing serious quality. Not enough people are listening to them yet, which is crazy, but I think it’s just a matter of time before they start getting the attention they deserve.
I first caught them at Roda Gendeng, this event in Bekasi that Akel from Rekah put together. As soon as they played, I was totally pulled in. Their sound was something else, and I’ve been hooked ever since.
Abstain is one of the newest names to hit Jakarta’s screamo/skramz/post-hardcore scene, and while they’re still flying a bit under the radar, they’re bringing some serious heat. Their sound is all about high-energy, dynamic chord progressions, and razor-sharp guitar riffs that hook you in. Add to that some raw, gritty vocals that come off as both poetic and powerful, and you’ve got a band that’s aiming straight for your soul.
Word on the street is they’re about to drop their first EP, and it’s set to be a game-changer. If you’re into music that’s equal parts chaotic and beautifully crafted, Abstain is definitely one to watch. Keep your ears open—these guys are about to make some serious noise in the scene.
