Tapi setiap permasalahan memiliki pembelajarannya sendiri. Memilik banyak waktu di rumah memberi kita lebih banyak waktu untuk merenung, melihat ke dalam dan menjadi lebih kreatif berkreasi guna bertahan hidup. Kita mulai mengamati potensi yang ada di sekitar dan memetakan nilai-nilai yang sudah ada.

Sebagai musisi, saya mulai menata ulang isi studio musik di rumah, yang sebelum pandemi hampir selalu berantakan, karena saya sering pergi untuk tur.

Saat saya membongkar koleksi kaset, saya mengenang banyak band/musisi yang telah mempengaruhi musik yang saya buat bersama Navicula, sejak Navicula terbentuk pada tahun 1996.

Band-band tersebut, Koil, Kubik, Cherry Bombshell, Pas Band, Nugie, Plastik, Superman is Dead, LFM, dan masih banyak band Indonesia lainnya yang memiliki pengaruh sangat kuat di industri musik Indonesia.

Saya tertarik dengan istilah Indie atau independen, karena Pas Band mempopulerkannya pada saat itu. Saya merasakan dan melewarti masa melankolis ABG saat itu dengan lirik Matel dari Kubik. Nongkrong bareng teman sambil menyanyikan lagu Plastik. Terpesona oleh “sikap” dan lirik gelap Koil. Dan, band saya, Navicula, sama-sama memulai karir mereka dari awal dan berpartisipasi sejak awal dalam membangun dan mengembangkan dunia musik indie di kampung halaman kami, Bali, bersama dengan rekan-rekan kami, Superman is Dead.

Band-band yang saya dengar sejak SMA inilah yang mengiringi mimpi saya kemudian. Betapa membuat musik dan berada dalam sebuah band adalah sesuatu yang sangat berarti. Kami menghabiskan uang dan waktu untuk musik. Jika seseorang mengatakan bahwa agamamu adalah tempat menghabiskan waktu dan uang, maka jelas itulah peran musik bagi kami saat itu. Bahkan hingga hari ini.

Musik adalah soundtrack hidup. Masa remaja adalah masa terbaik dalam hidup kita, masa dimana kita menyerap pengaruh dari lingkungan sekitar; apa yang kita lihat, dengar dan rasakan. Lagu-lagu yang kamu dengar saat remaja mungkin bisa jadi playlist yang akan tetap melekat di hati dan pikiranmu selamanya.

Tanpa band-band ini, Navicula mungkin tidak akan menjadi Navicula yang kita dengar hari ini.
Sekarang, saat ini, di studio rumah, saya mengundang saudara-saudara saya di band untuk menyiapkan altar, menyalakan lilin, membuat ritual konser, dan merekam. Kami membuat perayaan untuk INSPIRASI.

Karena memori indah masa itu, Navicula berkolaborasi dengan Apa Kabar Bali? (program berita dari Kopernik, berlokasi di Bali) dan Demajors (label rekaman dan distribusi, berlokasi di Jakarta), untuk membuat album baru, yang berisi 8 lagu ciptaan idola mereka. Keuntungan dari penjualan album ini akan sepenuhnya didedikasikan untuk semua inspirasi mereka yang disebut di atas, dan sebagian dari keuntungan juga akan disumbangkan untuk proyek kerjasama dengan pengrajin arak di Bali agar dapat terus memproduksi bahan baku pembersih tangan yang akan mereka distribusikan. kepada seluruh fasilitas pelayanan kesehatan dan masyarakat.

Menonton “Indigo Child” A Tribute to Local Inspiration on the Navicula Youtube channel.

But every problem has its lesson. More time at home gives us more time to reflect, look inward and be creative to survive. We begin to observe the potential of what is around us and map the existing values.

As a musician, I began to rearrange the contents of my music studio at home, which before the pandemic was almost always a mess, because I was often away on tour.

As I unpack the cassette collection, I reminisce about the countless bands/musicians who have influenced the music I’ve made with Navicula since Navicula’s inception in 1996.

These bands, Koil, Kubik, Cherry Bombshell, Pas Band, Nugie, Plastik, Superman is Dead, LFM, and many other Indonesian bands have had a very strong influence on the Indonesian music industry.

I was interested in the term Indie or independent, because Pas Band popularized it at that time. I felt and passed the melancholia of ABG at that time with the lyrics of Matel from Kubik. Hung out with friends while singing the Plastic song. Being mesmerized by Koil’s “attitude” and dark lyrics. And, my band, Navicula, both started their careers from scratch and participated from the start in establishing and growing the indie music scene in our hometown, Bali, together with our comrades, Superman is Dead.

These bands that I have heard since high school are what accompany my dreams. What makes music and being in a band is something very meaningful. Our money and time are spent on music. If someone says that your religion is where our time and money is spent, then clearly that is the role of music for us at that time. Even today.

Music is a living soundtrack. Adolescence is the best time for us to absorb influences from the environment; what we see, hear and feel. The songs you heard as a teenager could be a playlist in your heart forever.

Without these bands, Navicula would not be the Navicula we hear today.
Now, at this time, in the home studio, I invite my brothers in the band to prepare altars, light candles, make concert rituals and record. We make a celebration for INSPIRATION.

On the basis of these memories, Navicula collaborated with Apa Kabar Bali? (a news program from Kopernik, located in Bali) and Demajors (a record label and distribution, located in Jakarta), to make a new album, which contains 8 songs created by their idols. The profits from the sale of this album will be fully dedicated to all of their inspirations mentioned above and part of the profits were donated to a collaborative project with arak craftsmen in Bali to be able to continue to produce hand sanitizer raw materials which they will distribute to all medical service facilities and the community.

Watch “Indigo Child” A Tribute to Local Inspiration on the Navicula Youtube channel.

The PULAU PLASTIK film is adapted from a series that shares the same title, and is directed by Dandhy Laksono and Rahung Nasution. “PULAU PLASTIK is not only a collaboration of producers, filmmakers and the film’s characters, but it is also a combination of science, street activism, art, and an investigation in videography. The production team has extensive experience in capturing ecological and political issues in Indonesia.” said Dandhy Laksono.  Rahung Nasution added, “This film explores a point in human history in Indonesia that seeks to solve problems without creating new ones.”

Ewa Wojkowska, Chief Operating Officer of Kopernik and Executive Producer of the film said, “We began this initiative in Bali with the vision that local culture and local wisdom can be a big part of the solution to prevent the ever-increasing problem of single-use plastic pollution. Through PULAU PLASTIK, we hope to inspire and encourage everyone to take real action and reduce the reliance on, and problems caused by single-use plastics.”

The premiere of PULAU PLASTIK is set to coincide with Earth Day and to invite the wider community to protect the Earth. Angga Dwimas Sasongko of Visinema Pictures, Executive Producer of this film, said, “PULAU PLASTIK is a collaboration between Visinema, Kopernik, Akarumput, and WatchdoC and our effort to stop single-use plastic pollution, so that our children and grandchildren can have a better future.”

Lakota Moira, Producer of PULAU PLASTIK added, “During the process of documenting the journey of the three activists in the film, we were deeply inspired by their passion and dedication to this issue. We hope that the release of PULAU PLASTIK this Earth Day will amplify their voices and inspire more people to be part of the change.”

Prior to the film premiere on Earth Day, a series of ‘The Road to the Premiere’ activities will be held across Bali between 18 and 21 April 2021. These include a ‘Sunday without Plastic’  event at Kebon Vintage in Denpasar on 18 April, where a press conference and talk show on local solutions as well as a live music performance will take place, following current health and safety protocols. 

It’s time to take action to protect our Earth! The more people who are involved in taking small actions in their daily lives, such as refusing single-use plastic products and packaging, the bigger the positive change that we can bring to protect our planet.  By coming together, and joining forces, we can encourage governments and corporations to make real change, reduce the reliance on single use plastics and stop single use plastic pollution. 

Following the cinema release, Pulau Plastik will be available via the Bioskop Online platform from June 25, 2021.

The film follows the journey of Gede Robi, the Balinese vocalist of grunge-band Navicula, who for the past decade has used the stage and his broad popularity to campaign for environmental issues. Over the past two years, Gede Robi has made the issue of plastic pollution his ‘personal crusade’ as he has witnessed how plastic has influenced the culture and spiritual rituals of Bali, and how microplastics have entered our food chain. 

Robi meets Prigi Arisandi, a biologist and river guard from East Java who frequently protests in front of foreign embassies against plastic imports into Indonesia after seeing villages in his neighbourhood turn into a ‘global trash can’.

Moved by the growing crisis and the lack of responses to address it, Robi and Prigi collect evidence about the extent of plastic pollution. They travel across Indonesia’s island of Java, meet with experts, activists, and conduct research – including on themselves – to understand what the impact of plastic is, on our environment, and on our health. 

Once they reach the capital city of Jakarta, Robi and Prigi join forces with Tiza Mafira, a young lawyer who has dedicated her career to lobbying public officials and the private sector to develop policies to address single-use plastic pollution. 

The characters find humour in the dirtiest places, and discover there is hope for the future – but only if everyone can come together and reduce our dependence on single use plastic.

‘A soundtrack of resistance’ – a podcast about the social history of Indonesia through the songs of Navicula – the best band you’ve probably never heard of.

In each episode of the show, the host, Ewa Wojkowska, digs into one of her favorite Navicula songs, and the story of why and how it was made. She speaks with the band – Robi, Dadang, Palel and Krishna, as well as the people behind the social and environmental movements they support.

Over 12 episodes, you will get to hear some great stories of this incredible band, get a glimpse into contemporary Indonesia ….and you’ll get to hear some awesome music along the way.

Subscribe via spotify, itunes or wherever you get your podcasts.

“We have to admit their journey has been extraordinary. In terms of age, they are not very old like most recipients of Lifetime Achievement awards in general. But in terms of achievement they deserve it,” said Rudolf Dethu, AMB Advisor and Advisor.

The figure who is known to be behind the success of a number of Balinese bands, from Superman Is Dead to The Hydrant, has followed the long journey of Navicula. “They deserve it. the perfect gift for his 25 year journey. And we can all see that every year their progress is extraordinary,” said Putu Wirata Wismaya.

Rudolf Dethu, a well known music commentator  “Not only in Bali, but also across Indonesia. Navicula is remarkable, as one of the judges during the selection process with AMB friends, everyone agreed  that Navicula deserves the Lifetime Achievement award.”

“Navicula is grateful to have grown and developed in Bali, in an environment where the art of music plays an important role in society,” said Gede Robi, the band’s vocalist and guitarist.

Robi said it was this environment that helped Navicula’s achievements during its 25 years of existence. “So we dedicate this award to Bali,” said Robi. “We don’t think of this award as the pinnacle, but we will make this award our spirit to work better in the future”.

Meanwhile, guitarist Dankie, said that this award was an encouragement for Navicula. “This 25 year award makes us feel younger. We will make this a new beginning for Navicula and we will meet again in 25 years,” joked Dankie alias Dadang SH Pranoto.

“We dedicate this award to Bali, who has forged and supported Navicula for the last 25 years, to the Indonesian music scene, to all humanitarian and environmental activists, and… to our late brother Made Indra,” reads an Instagram post on Navicula’s account.

Navicula is known for their grunge music which is influenced by Balinese culture. Navicula also uses a variety of music such as folk rock, psychedelic rock, funk, blues and punk.Because they are often involved in the world of social and environmental activism, they are nicknamed The Green Grunge Gentlemen.

Navicula’s work has also invited praise from Sandrina Malakiano, a journalist who also grew up on the Island of the Gods. “I am proud to say that I admire this band. Since hearing their song, I fell in love, they have a strong character,” said Sandrina.

Navicula is different in music because they combine journalism, with serious social, legal, and environmental issues. “In Indonesia there are many good (bands), but those who have consistently voiced this issue for 25 years are very rare,” said Sandrina.

Article adapted from Nusa Bali