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.