Aksara Records, the little label that could

Aksara Records, the little label that could

M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Disillusionment with major recording companies' penchant for
meddling with individual band's artistic freedom has led
musicians to go their own way by resorting to independent record
companies, or `indie' labels.

In the past months, we have seen the country's major rock
bands the likes of retro rockers Naif and punk outfit Netral
leaving their record companies and set up independent labels to
release and distribute their material.

For bands who opt to remain on the fringe, joining an
independent label is the only way maintain their credibility and
avoid the prospect of being corrupted by the entertainment
industry.

As a result, over the past few years the country's music scene
has witnessed the quiet rebirth of independent recording labels
that stand as an alternative to the dumbing-down mainstream
record industry.

Among the independent music labels that have bloomed in recent
years is Aksara Records, home to some of the city's new and
promising bands who are making their way out of obscurity.

Started as an attempt to document the city's vibrant indie
music scene, Aksara Records has now turned into a bold recording
company whose releases boasts an international distribution,
albeit in indie style.

The label's first release JKT: SKRG (Jakarta Now), a
compilation of 12 local indie bands has hit the shelves of record
stores in Seattle, the Mecca of grunge, and landed on the
playlists of college radio stations there.

JKT: SKRG contains material from the likes of folk rock band
C'Mon Lennon, garage rock revivalist The Brandals and veteran
hard rock outfit Seringai.

With little fanfare, the album has also been distributed to
record stores, mostly independent ones, in Canada and England.

Aksara Records has also built a network of distribution among
independent record stores in the country.

Currently, the label is working on an album by another
independent outfit Sore Band, which is expected to be out late in
May. Other works in progress include debut albums for White Shoes
and the Couples Company and Goodnight Electric.

The label's major break came when it was asked by producers of
Janji Joni to put together a soundtrack and score for the
lighthearted teen-flick.

With the massive hype that goes along with the movie, it is
expected that Aksara's latest release will score a major hit.

"The release of the Janji Joni soundtrack was among the
indications that material-wise, independent record labels like us
could compete with major labels. We embarked on serious
preparations to conceive the records, from reading the movie's
script to deciding which songs that fit the movie's mood," Aksara
Record co-founder David Tarigan told The Jakarta Post in a recent
interview.

And such professionalism is indeed the label's primary creed
these days, despite its independent stature. "All bands on our
roster are treated fairly and they have signed proper contracts
with us. Although we can't give them the facilities provided by
major record companies, we try to do our best to serve them," he
said.

Aksara Records is now run from an office, a work station that
sits next to the Pendulum recording studio in Kemang South
Jakarta. In its early days, the fledgling record company ran its
activities from a room inside the nearby Aksara bookstore.

Such a luxury was unimaginable during the label's early days.
"I recorded most of the songs in JKT: SKRG myself in between
recording sessions by major artists," he said.

With ample resources now available, Tarigan said that Aksara
Records aimed at signing the bulk of indie bands, including those
outside Jakarta.

"The vibrant music scene here is something that should be
celebrated by the whole world," Tarigan said.