Senyawa – an avant-garde duo based in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, and comprised by singer Rully Shabara and poly-instrumentalist Wukir Suryadi – have released various studio albums since 2010. Imagining possible crossovers between regional Indonesian genres and extreme transnational music movements, such as noise, metal and sound art, Senyawa have become an inspiration for artists in fields worldwide.
For the release of their newest album Alkisah, Senyawa held an open call from which they selected 44 music labels disseminated across the world to participate by creating different versions of the work for different regional markets. Variations on physical formats, production strategies, and even songs were encouraged. This was a political choice, promoting the decentralisation of the music industry and attempting to build music communities during and after the pandemic.
ALKISAH (2021), by Senyawa (Official)
ALKISAH (2021), by Senyawa (Official)
CTM 2022: The Alkisah Remixes by CTM Festival
CTM 2022: The Alkisah Remixes by CTM Festival
CTM 2022: Beyond Alkisah by CTM Festival
CTM 2022: Beyond Alkisah by CTM Festival
Despite being organised as a loose, voluntary, DIY online project, Alkisah has had a notable impact economically and logistically, in addition to facilitating global communities of artists. It has resulted in over five thousand copies issued worldwide, a marked distribution of artistic productions, unprecedented media coverage by key publications (The New York Times, The Wire, NME), as well as academic contributions (EHESS & University of Montreal).
All in all, the Alkisah experience has been pivotal in showing how it is possible to reimagine hegemonic, widely adopted systems of music organisation, coverage, production, and distribution – and all while employing collective, bottom-up egalitarian methodologies.
Senyawa: Indonesian experimentalists detach and decentralise with new album ‘Alkisah’
NME
Date: 30.11.2020
Author: Azzief Khaliq
Language: English
One Album Released by 44 Labels. Is This the New Global Jukebox?
New York Times
Date: 18.02.2021
Author: Grayson Haver Currin
Language: English
Senyawa to infinity: Alkisah is a 44-label release, a decentralized festival, and more
CDM
Date: 19.02.2021
Author: Peter Kirn
Language: English
Tone Glow 052: Senyawa
Date: 19.02.2021
Author: Joshua Minsoo Kim
Language: English
I Primi Giorni Dopo La Fine
Date: 25.03.2021
Author: Enrico Monacelli
Language: Italian
Satu Dasawarsa Berkelana, Kini Duo Senyawa Membumi
Date: 13.01.2022
Author: Dzulfikri Putra Malawi
Language: Bahasa Indonesia
Senyawa Membaladakan Keselamatan, Kiamat sudah Lewat!
Date: 9.12.2021
Author: Agustinus Rangga Respati
Language: Bahasa Indonesia
Senyawa x Communion x Artetetra present→ Project Alkisah
Radio Raheem Milano
Date: 19 March 2021
The album that spawned a transnational decentralized network with Rully Shabara (Senyawa)
Interdependence.fm
Date: 21 May 2021
Unusual Business - Decentralizing and Commoning Music
Nusasonic
Date: 27 May 2021
Aliksah Panel @ Cosmic Gathering 2021
Mutant Radio
Date: September 2021
ADAM Online｜Level 3 Alert: Art Variants｜EP2: Senyawa
ADAM
Date: August 2021
Bersenyawa: Senyawa Live in Bantul (Dokumentaria)
Date: 27 January 2022