From Alley to Alley, They Survive Using Speaker Carts
As evening approaches in the Senen area of Central Jakarta, the roar of vehicles blends with the thumping beats of ‘dangdut remix’ emanating from a blue cart navigating the narrow alleys of Paseban. The cart, pushed slowly by two young men, carries two large speakers, batteries, tangled cables, and a simple music player. Pop, dangdut, and koplo remix music are played loudly as they traverse the residential lanes.
Occasionally, they stop in front of food stalls or houses. Some residents emerge to offer small change, ranging from Rp 2,000 to Rp 5,000, while others watch from behind fences or close their doors, feeling disturbed by the noise. They typically operate from 4:00 PM until around 10:00 PM to avoid raids by the Civil Service Police Unit (Satpol PP), which are more frequent during the afternoon.
From the main roads of Senen, these street performers move into the small alleys of Paseban, Kramat, Matraman, and Manggarai, pushing heavy carts laden with speakers and batteries. While some residents find the music disruptive to the peace, behind the noise lies a story of the harsh realities of life in the capital.
Asep (38), one of the itinerant cart musicians, shared that he has lived on Jakarta’s streets for nearly seven years. He originally worked as a porter in the market, but as work became scarce, his income was no longer sufficient to support his family. Asep admitted feeling ashamed when he first started street performing, but economic pressure forced him to continue. “At first, I was very ashamed to busk like this. But eventually, because of the necessities, I just had to do it,” Asep said.
The cart’s equipment, including the speakers and batteries, is rented daily at a cost of Rp 40,000. “Without the speakers, it is difficult to earn money. People usually give when the music can be heard,” Asep explained, adding that there were times when his earnings were entirely consumed by the rental costs.
Asep currently lives with his wife and child in a relative’s house in Johar Baru, as the difficult economic situation has prevented them from renting their own home. Occasionally, his wife joins him on the streets to help push the cart while carrying their child.
Bayu (42), another street performer operating between Paseban and Salemba, shares a similar struggle. Previously a construction labourer, the Covid-19 pandemic made his casual work increasingly difficult to find. “Debts piled up, so I took the risk of busking,” Bayu said. Every day, he walks kilometres from Senen to Paseban and Salemba, pushing the heavy cart. He earns an average of Rp 80,000 to Rp 100,000 per day. “I sleep on cardboard. I am afraid to rent a room because I might not be able to pay,” he added.