Se-Orkes-Nyah music group born in Australian town
Se-Orkes-Nyah music group born in Australian town
By Sonya Sandham
SYDNEY (JP): What started out as a joke between some Sydney-
based Indonesian musicians has turned into a serious business.
With a colorful collection of Indonesian working class
uniforms, a repertoire of dangdut favorites from long ago and a
tongue-in-cheek approach, Se-Orkes-Nyah was born.
While it sounds like an unlikely combination, these musicians
are becoming a favorite among crowds at Indonesian events.
Most recently Se-Orkes-Nyah played at Pasar Malam, an annual
event held in Sydney's inner-west suburb of Marrickville to raise
money for underprivileged children in Indonesia. Money raised
from the event pays for dozens of children to go to school.
The band is unmistakable with band members dressed in satpam,
dinas kebersihan, sopir Kopaja, kamra, tukang parkir, sopir Metro
Mini and Hansip uniforms. The band is also unforgettable because
of its rendition of songs like Neng Ayo Neng and Gaya Mahasiswa.
While other bands may do a sound check before they start
playing, Se-Orkes-Nyah has its own mock bodyguard who does a
"security check" of the stage before the musicians play. The
bodyguard, who does not sing or even speak during the gig, then
monitors the audience for any "security breaches" during the
performance.
The band pokes fun at Indonesians and Australians alike with
their antics on stage.
Audiences may initially be embarrassed to admit they know the
songs being performed but it's not long before they are singing
along or even dancing.
At the Pasar Malam event, the Indonesian Consulate General to
Australia, Pak Gunawan, and songwriter Sawung Jabo were among
members of the audience who took to the dance floor.
Se-orkes-nyah combines the talents of musicians such as
drummer Deva Pernama, the son of Gatot Sunyoto, and guitarist
Hery Erros (Hery Singo) a three-time winner of the Best Guitarist
for Jawa and Yogyakarta. Also in the band are Mahendra, Bowie,
Fauzan and Emil Mudigdo.
The band's first singer, Adit, returned to Indonesia last
month and his replacement is Tony Purwontono, an English teacher
turned singer.
The band uses a combination of kendang, guitars, bass,
recorder and tambourine and add their own unique touch to dangdut
classics.
Se-Orkes-Nyah's first gig was held on an open-air stage near
the Sydney Opera House, at The Rocks, as part of an event to
welcome back to Sydney an woman who had cycled around Australia
to raise money for underprivileged Indonesians. Rain didn't deter
the band and their performance ensured the cyclist and her team
received a warm welcome from the Indonesians and Australians who
had gathered to show their support.
The band also appeared at the annual Nongkrong event organized
by the NSW Indonesian Student Association.
For further information about Se-Orkes-Nyah email Deva Pernama
on d3v4@hotmail.com or Hery Erros on heryerros@yahoo.com.