EMQ’s with KARTOSOEWIRJO?
Hi everyone! Welcome to our new EMQ’s interview with Jakarta, Indonesia based, Mathcore project Kartosoewirjo?. Huge thanks to main man, Fatur, for taking part.
What is your name, what do you play, and can you tell us a little bit about the history of the band?
My name is Fatur, I play guitar, this is not a band, but a one-man project organized with other session musicians, that includes bass, drummers, and some guest vocalists that participate with me. This project was formed in 2017. Initially, my desire was to form a band with a formal line-up, nevertheless it was difficult to find a player and I decided to do a one-man project. By the end of a period of four (4) years, from 2017 to 2021, this project finally released its first mini album.
How did you come up with your band name?
I was inspired by foreign bands who named their bands after figures such as The Dillinger Escape Plan after the villain John Dillinger; then Ed Gein, as the grindcore band, and others. While thinking about the name of the project, I decided to use the name of the Indonesian independence fighter and figure, whose full name was Sekarmadji Marijan Kartosoewirjo, who initiated the formation of the Indonesian Islamic State or Darul Islam on August 7, 1949.
According to historical records, Kartosoewirjo’s decision led the Indonesian government to carry out an arrest operation. Through a long hunt, Kartosoewirjo was arrested on Mount Rakutak, West Java region and sentenced to death on Ubi Island, Kepulauan Seribu (also known as “The Thousand Islands”, based on the chain of islands at the north of Jakarta’s coast) on September 5, 1962. From this incident I call him a hero who was killed by his own people.
What Country/Region are you from and what is the Metal/Rock scene like there?
I come from Jakarta, Indonesia. The metal/rock scene in my country is quite big. Many bands from Indonesia are well known abroad and have toured several countries.
What is your latest release? (Album, EP, Single, Video)
KARTOSOEWIRJO? has just released their first EP entitled “Mandi Darah Saudara Sendiri” (Indonesian for “Bathing in Your Own Blood”) on January 26, 2021. Recently, we released a lyric video on Youtube, with the lyrics in Indonesian.
‘Mandi Darah Saudara Sendiri’ feat. Lilik Maruki (Official Lyric Video)
‘Light, & He Who Holds It’ feat. Matt Blockley (Official Audio)
Who have been your greatest influences?
My biggest influences are The Dillinger Escape Plan, Converge, Ed Gein, Botch, Into The Moat, Fantômas, Naked City, Hank Mobley, John Coltrane, Chet Baker, Jim Hall, Kurt Rosenwinkel and many more related to mathcore or jazz fusion, because I think they do bring the most unexpected and interesting riffs to the ear.
What first got you into music?
I first became interested in music due to my brother, I usually used to see him constantly playing the guitar, making me interested in learning to play music, specifically for the guitar and its theory.
If you could collaborate with a current band or musician, who would it be?
With no doubt, John Zorn and/or Jim Hall.
If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?
I would like to play in Arctangent Festival and Hammersonic Festival. First, Arctangent Festival invites many chaotic-genre bands around the world; while the Hammersonic Festival is the biggest underground music event in Southeast Asia, as well as being a local festival, in Indonesia.
What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?
So far, I haven’t had a fan gift.
If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?
Support the artist and buy the music. DIY Culture forever!
If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?
Kevin Michael “GG” Allin.
What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?
Being a musician is very fun because you can make new friends from various countries. The thing I hate the most is when I get musical inspiration for a riff and then the next day it gets forgotten.
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
So far, I haven’t contributed much to the music industry.
Name one of your all-time favourite albums?
The Dillinger Escape Plan’s “Calculating Infinity” (1999)
What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads?
Everything is the best, but for a period like this, a digital platform is better.
What’s the best gig that you have played to date?
So far none.
If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?
Become a music lover. Collecting all tapes, CDs, Vinyls, etc.
Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?
Parents, friends.
What’s next for the band?
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What Social Media/Website links do you use to get your music out to people?
Bandcamp, Spotify, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook.
www.facebook.com/Krtswrj
www.kartosoewirjo.bandcamp.com/
www.twitter.com/krtswrj
www.instagram.com/karto.soewirjo/
www.soundcloud.com/kartosoewirjoband
www.open.spotify.com/artist/0AASDMfuH19eAp1LhdntQt
www.youtube.com/channel/UCiyhyBr-gzoJV8ts5Uo76hg
Jaffa Cakes! Are they a cake or a biscuit?
Cake.
Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?
I want to thank very much for helping to release my first EP album to: Junier Escartin, because, even though he’s in Panama, he has been in constant contact with me and the plans; Matt Blockley, from the UK, for his initial support on the very first song; Lilik Maruki, from one of the best hardcore punk bands here, in Indonesia; Arya Gilang Laksana Sani, a great drummer from one of the best grindcore bands in Indonesia, Dead Vertical; Franky Sadikin, a really superior bassist in the jazz scene; Tesla ”Kuntari” Manaf, for his synth support in the record; and Kandar, from the ThreeSixty Studio, who helped me out into the mixing and mastering of the record, making it really superb!
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