Iwan: Writer of young rebels' anthems

Iwan: Writer of young rebels' anthems

By Rita A. Widiadana

JAKARTA (JP): He is not a poet, but his lyrics are as sharp as
a sword. He is not a political leader, but he has hundreds of
thousands of faithful and fanatical devotees.

He is Iwan Fals, a rare phenomenon on the Indonesian music
scene. Since he launched his first album Oemar Bakri in l981, he
has captivated the hearts of the under-privileged.

Through his songs, Iwan, who is softly-spoken off stage,
articulates their agony, frustration, and intangible dreams.

In hits like Bongkar he shows how authorities grab the rights
of people to live in their modest housing and environment to make
way for various development projects that benefit only a few.

Other songs like Potret, which describe the plight of the
urban poor and Bento, condemning greed and corruption have become
anthems of youngsters, students and activists.

Every time the idol performs, fans display banners bearing his
name, carry his photograph and scream his name continuously,

To date, Iwan has been involved in the production of 16
albums, both as a solo performer and with groups such as Kantata
Takwa and Swami. All have proved to be enormously successful,
despite Iwan's lack of formal music training.

Born Virgiawan Listanto, 36, he is now happily married to
Rosana. The couple had two children, Galang Rambu Anarki and
Annisa Cikal Rambu Basae, but Galang died last year aged 17.

In a recent interview, Iwan shared his feelings, hopes and
desires:

Question: How do you view the country's present condition?

Answer: We are now in the most awful social, economic and
political chaos. People are getting poorer. We don't have enough
food or enough jobs. The poor are suffering more. I am very
concerned.

Q: As a musician, do you think you can make any real contribution
to help the needy?

A: I don't have enough money or access to power to directly help
them, a fact that makes me feel so desperate. I can only channel
their feelings and voice their sadness through my music. I hope
that my songs will open the minds and hearts of the more
fortunate to help their needy brothers and sisters.

Q: But, with your popularity and your power to attract a large
crowd, you could actually join a political party or join a social
foundation if you want to channel their aspirations more
effectively...

A: No, I can't. I am not interested in joining any political
party or other moral movements although many people have asked me
to do so. It would make me crazy. For the time being, I just want
to concentrate on my music. There are so many ways of helping
people. The government, politicians, business and philanthropists
could lend their hands to ease people's burdens. I will do it in
my own way, through my music.

Q: Do you realize that many people think you are a symbol of
their never-ending struggle against injustice, with some even
calling you their hero?

A: I am very delighted to hear that some of my songs appeal to
these people but I am neither a hero nor a pop idol.

Q: People have always associated you with Bob Dylan because of
your protest songs and your deep concern about social issues. Are
you a Dylan fan?

A: I like Bob Dylan's songs but I refuse to be called his
Indonesian duplicate. However it is the public's right to (do
so). I know there are Indonesian versions of James Brown, Mick
Jagger, or whatever.

It never crossed my mind that I should write a song like
Dylan's or imitate someone else's works.

My songs only describe the common and simple lives of the
majority of Indonesians, especially the destitute and the
oppressed. They are victims of the despotic authorities who
engineered policies that hurt them.

The ideas just came out so easily, like water flowing along a
river. Everyday we read a lot of unhappy news in the media. We
see children roaming around the streets, beggars, the demolition
of houses for development projects, irregularities, corruption,
and collusion conducted by people calling themselves well-
educated and moralists.

In my songs I try to depict the grim reality of our society
which has been "persecuted" for several decades.

When I write a song, I never think of stirring protests or
provoking people against the bureaucracy or other parties.
If my works have irritated some people, government officials for
instance, it was not my intention to do so.

Q: Your performances, which usually attract large crowds, have
been potential targets of the government bans. How do you cope
with this problem?

A: In the past, we saw some performances curtailed by officials.
This was actually a part of the demoralizing and dehumanizing
process undertaken by the government to strictly control people's
freedom of expression. But their abusive and repressive actions
did not discourage me at all.

Q: In this "reform era", do you see any wind of change related
to artistic freedom?

A: We ought to change and improve entire facects of our lives,
including social, economic, political and cultural activities.
Otherwise this current "reform" movement will lose ground and be
useless.

Q: How about your July 6 show with Kantata Takwa in Jakarta that
turned into quite a serious riot?

A: I really don't have any idea whether it was a spontaneous
action or an engineered one. I would be very sad if it was
masterminded by certain people for certain reasons. We just
wanted to entertain and to share a little happiness with the
troubled people.

In my opinion, the authorities did very little to provide
security for either the performers or the audience. As yet, there
have not been any fact-finding efforts to probe this case.

(Kantata Takwa's other member, Setiawan Djodi, mentioned in an
interview with SCTV TV station recently that, based on a video
recording, the group believes the riot was sparked by a group
loyal to former president Soeharto)

Q: What are your plans for the near future?

A: On Aug. 19, l998 I am invited to perform in Japan. This will
be my fourth performance in that country. I am glad that the
Japanese public can appreciate Indonesian music. Personally, this
invitation encourages me to work harder. It is my self-
satisfaction if people like my music. It is a recognition of my
work.

Japanese audiences have warmly welcomed Indonesian music, such
as that performed by Elvy (dangdut queen Elvy Sukaesih), Hetty
Koes Endang (singer of Portuguese-influenced music called
keroncong). I play a different kind of music but I hope the
Japanese audience will be able to learn that Indonesian music is
rich and has diverse styles.

Q: What kind of music do you like most?

A: Many people call me a rock musician because I have often
played with noted rockers like Ian Antono, Jocky Suprayogo and
other members of Kantata Takwa. But my songs are actually well-
suited to ballads.

Q: You have attained such huge popularity, how has it affected
your personal life?

A: Every artist is very happy if people a simply accept their
creations. At first, I really enjoyed being surrounded by the
crowd. Hearing people screaming, dancing, laughing was amusing.
But I don't want to be trapped in such a situation. It would
destroy one's creativity and personal life.

Q: Will you stick to your music career?

A: For as long as I can.

Q: Your albums are selling very well, has music made your life
more prosperous materially ?

A: It is God's blessing that He gives me this talent and I feel
so grateful. Music has given me everything. But more importantly,
music has made my life more joyful.

Something that still disturbs me is the condition of our
present music industry which has created a lot of "entertainers"
rather than real musicians. There must be efforts to restructure
the industry.

Q: Does it mean the industry needs "total reform"?

A: Exactly. Currently, the business relationship between people
from the industry and artists is very unhealthy. Producers, like
other businesspeople, are mostly market-oriented and they often
ignore aesthetical and musical qualities. Money is their first
concern.

The artists have little choice but to allow these producers to
take care of their business if they want to boost their careers.

In the early years of my career (in the l980s) I had to
compromise my music with market demand as required by my
producers. This was clearly reflected in my albums from Oemar
Bakri to Mata Dewa. Later I became so tired of having myself tied
to this market pressure.

At the start of the l990s , I decided to reduce my dependence
on this pressure. I did not want to be dictated to either by the
producers or the market demand. With Swami group, I created songs
based on our own musical standards and our genuine feelings. The
proof that people loved them is that the albums sold very well.

Unfortunately, many Indonesian artists do not have such
opportunities. Many of them are unaware of their rights and their
potential. Their lives are in the hands of the producers.

I don't want to make my music activities more complicated.
For me, music is a means to reach a more composed and fulfilling
life.