Street singers release new album

Street singers release new album

JAKARTA (JP): Street singer group Kelompok Penyanyi Jalanan
released their second album featuring songs with social themes
Saturday.

The group leader, Anto Baret, said he was well-aware that
launching a new album during the economic crisis would not be
profitable.

"What concerns us as singers is to compose music -- something
that knows no economic crisis," Anto said.

He said the album had actually been completed six years ago in
cooperation with AIRO, a recording company owned by businessman
Setiawan Djodi.

"But the album was not marketed for unknown reasons," he said.

It was renowned poet W.S. Rendra who introduced the singers to
Djodi and they later signed a contract to record the album.

"But for almost six years the album was not released. We could
not wait any longer," he said, adding that the group "did not
have hard feelings about the delay because without Rendra and
Djodi's support we would not have been able to release the
album."

The group said it had launched the latest album using their
own funds.

The group, which was founded 16 years ago, launched their
first album in 1985 in cooperation with ballad singer Iwan Fals,
who was also present at yesterday's media conference.

He said the second album consisted of nine songs, including
Bohong (Lie), Krisis Pemuda (Youth Crisis), and Suara Jalanan
(Voices from the Street).

Critics

Anto said that songs containing criticism of current social
conditions would be acceptable to Indonesian music lovers, who
were persistently bombarded with romantic songs.

The group is made up of about 90 street singers. "No one wants
to be a street singer forever. The group is a place for them to
develop their talent."

The group performs every month at Gelangang Remaja Bulungan in
South Jakarta.

"Members of the group come and go. Many of them have gone on
to become popular singers and musicians," Anto said. (jun)