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)