Nusantara Beat. Nusantara Beat

Looking in from the outside, I can't help but wonder what the added value is of singing in Indonesian (bahasa Indonesia) for a band from The Netherlands releasing its debut album in 2025. Listening to the album, I can only state how beautiful the album is and that the language barrier simply disappears after a few minutes.

Nusantara Beat is a relatively new band but can be called a Dutch supergroup, as all members play or have played in other bands. All members are, at least in past of Indonesian descent and have been playing together for a few years. It is their Indonesian heritage they are honouring with Nusantara Beat. Nusantara means unity and was the name of Indonesia in a long ago era, when several kings tried to make the many islands and kingdoms into one nation.

The beat stands for the history of "Indorock" and krontjong bands, made up of youngster who had emigrated from the new Indonesian state to the former colonist country circa 1950. Expecting to leave soon, but that never happened for most. This is for a different kind of blog, one on history. With ex-EUT singer Megan de Klerk the band has enlisted a singer with a dreamy voice, bringing in a dreampop influence to the whole. She dared to sing in a language she didn't master at the time. With her, the band was complete. All these influences from the past were blended by the band with indie, alternative pop and rock from this century. The result is the album Nusantara Beat and it's very convincing.

The band further consists of guitarist Jordy Sanger, guitarist/keyboardist Rouzy Portier, drummer Sonny Groeneveld, percussionist Gino Groeneveld and bassist Michael Joshua. The latter is the only one born in Indonesia. Together they produce music that is extremely slick, there's no other word for it. From there the band is able to show its teeth in the right places, so that when it bites, it has the effect like running into a tiger in the jungle.

My experience with Indonesian music does not go much further than the singles my late aunt had of Anneke Grönloh full of nostalgia for the emerald isles (and some gamalan music). And yet, there are faint resemblances in the way Megan de Klerk constructed her vocal melodies. I'm not saying there is a direct link between songs like 'Paradiso' or 'Soerabaja' and Nusantara Beat's. What connects them is a feeling and a kind of longing for things not here. Guitarist Jordy Sanger brings out a twangy surf sound to the mix, what will be the link to the indorock that I'm simply too young for, believe it or not.

As I started, I'm not certain who this album is for, but I for one sure don't mind listening to it. The nostalgia works for 100%.

Wout de Natris - van der Borght

 

You can order Nusantara Beat here:

https://excelsior-recordings.com/en