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.