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ABDUL-REHMAN MALIK VOICEOVER:

Welcome to This Being Human. I’m your host Abdul Rehman-Malik. On this podcast, I talk to extraordinary people from all over the world whose life, ideas and art are shaped by Muslim culture.

 

FIRDA MARSYA KURNIA: 

I’m not a criminal, I’m not the enemy. I just want to sing a song to show my soul.

 

ABDUL-REHMAN MALIK VOICEOVER:

Today, the three Indonesian women who are taking the heavy metal world by storm.

 

[MUSIC – VOICE OF BACEPROT’S “PMS”]

 

ABDUL-REHMAN MALIK VOICEOVER:

That is Voice of Baceprot, one of the most exciting metal bands in the world today. And you don’t have to take my word for it. They count some of the biggest names in rock music among their fans. Flea from the Red-Hot Chili Peppers, Tom Morello from Rage Against the Machine, and Slash from Guns n’ Roses have all sung their praises.

 

Spin magazine called them “one of metal’s most promising new outfits” and Louder Sound called them “The metal band the world needs right now.”

 

Voice of Baceprot, VOB for short, was formed back in 2014 by three women from a small village in West Java, Indonesia, when they were still in middle school. They quickly caught the world’s attention through releasing covers of songs by bands like Slipknot and Metallica on YouTube, before moving on to writing their own music.

 

With songs like “School Revolution,” “PMS” and “God, Allow Me (Please) to Play Music,” VOB speak powerfully to issues in their own lives.

 

When I reached them over a video call, they were nervous about their English, and took a bit of time to warm up. Sometimes the lead singer Marsya helped the others express themselves. But they exuded excitement, joy, and an incredible sense of support for one another. It was a thoroughly enjoyable conversation.

 

FIRDA MARSYA KURNIA: 

So, my name is Marsya. I play guitar and sing for VOB.

 

WIDI RAHMAWATI: 

Hi! My name is Widi and I play bass.

 

EUIS SITI AISYAH:

Hi! My name is Siti. I play the drums.

 

ABDUL-REHMAN MALIK VOICEOVER:

When I spoke to Voice of Baceprot, they were in a studio in Jakarta, working on their first full-length album.

 

FIRDA MARSYA KURNIA: 

I’m so, so excited because yeah, we are waiting nine years for this album.

 

ABDUL-REHMAN MALIK:

Wow.

 

FIRDA MARSYA KURNIA: 

So, it will be great.

 

ABDUL-REHMAN MALIK:

Now, Siti does the album have a name yet? Have you given a name to the album? What’s the name of the album going to be?

 

EUIS SITI AISYAH:

[giggles] Surprise!

 

FIRDA MARSYA KURNIA: 

It’s a secret.

 

ABDUL-REHMAN MALIK:

Oh, it’s still a secret? Okay.

EUIS SITI AISYAH:

Yeah, it’s still a secret.

 

ABDUL-REHMAN MALIK:

Okay.

 

EUIS SITI AISYAH:

We can’t tell you. Sorry!

 

[MUSIC – VOICE OF BACEPROT’S “GOD, ALLOW ME (PLEASE) TO PLAY MUSIC”]

 

ABDUL-REHMAN MALIK VOICEOVER:

Marsya, Widi and Sitti grew up in a small village in West Java, Indonesia. The children of farmers, tradespeople, and roadside cafe operators.

 

FIRDA MARSYA KURNIA: 

Our village name is Singajaya. Can you say it, Singajaya?

 

 

ABDUL-REHMAN MALIK:

Singajaya.

 

FIRDA MARSYA KURNIA:

Yeah. Or in English it’s meant, lion glory.

 

ABDUL-REHMAN MALIK:

Right. Right. So Marsya, Marsya, what was life like in Singajaya? Tell us about your village. Is it a big place? Is it a small place?

 

FIRDA MARSYA KURNIA: 

No, no, it’s a small village.

 

EUIS SITI AISYAH:

Small village

 

FIRDA MARSYA KURNIA: 

3 hours from the city. And under the mountain.

 

ABDUL-REHMAN MALIK: 

Mhm.

 

FIRDA MARSYA KURNIA: 

Yeah, a lot of mountain. And it’s so cold in there. So beautiful. And [laughs] we can see like sheep, cow every day. Yeah. It’s beautiful. So, so very beautiful.

 

ABDUL-REHMAN MALIK:

It’s really interesting to me. You come from this, you come from this village. You know, it’s a small place. It’s a beautiful place. What kind of music were you listening to when you were growing up before you discovered rock and roll? Marsya, what were you guys listening to?

 

FIRDA MARSYA KURNIA:

All genres. [laughs]

 

WIDI RAHMAWATI:

Whatever finds our ears. We listen to pop music, traditional music like dangdut. Do you know dangdut?

 

[MUSIC – IMADE SAPUTRA’S “FOREVER IN LOVE”]

 

ABDUL-REHMAN MALIK:

I know dangdut. Dangdut is the music of Java, isn’t it?

 

EUIS SITI AISYAH:

Yeah. The music of my country.

 

ABDUL-REHMAN MALIK:

Yes. And everyone knows, right? Everyone knows how to do the dangdut dance. [laughs]

 

FIRDA MARSYA KURNIA: 

Yeah, yeah, including us.

 

ABDUL-REHMAN MALIK:

Oh, that’s awesome. You know, when I spent time in Indonesia, everyone would say to me that dangdut was the old people’s music. That dangdut was like the folk music. It belonged to the older generation. Is that true?

 

FIRDA MARSYA KURNIA: 

Yes. But also Gen Z now, they love dangdut.

 

ABDUL-REHMAN MALIK:

Do they?

 

FIRDA MARSYA KURNIA: 

Yeah. Yeah. Because even the sad music in dangdut, we can dance to it. Like, “yeahhh.”

 

ABDUL-REHMAN MALIK:

So how did you, how did you first discover heavy metal rock and roll? Like, how did that happen? When did that happen?

 

FIRDA MARSYA KURNIA: 

2014. When we were in middle school.

 

ABDUL-REHMAN MALIK:

Okay, so you’re in middle school. And who introduces this music to you?

 

EUIS SITI AISYAH:

Our teacher.

 

ABDUL-REHMAN MALIK VOICEOVER:

The girls were studying theatre, but their teacher, Abah, thought they might do better in music.

 

FIRDA MARSYA KURNIA: 

Yeah, we are in theatre community, but we have very bad acting. So, he decided to, taught us how to play musical instrument. Actually, the students who learned musical instrument was 15 students. But however, all of us didn’t get our parent’s permission, so the members become seven. And finally, only three of us. After deciding to just become a three, we decided to play metal. Abah, we found his playlist. Yeah, on his laptop. And we found System of a Down, Rage Against the Machine, and we tried to cover it and yeah, it was fun.

 

ABDUL-REHMAN MALIK:

Marsya, tell me, how did you choose the guitar?

 

FIRDA MARSYA KURNIA:

Because I love to sing. I love to sing, but there’s no one who wants to play guitar for me, so I have to learn it by myself. So I play guitar until now. Because I love to sing.

 

ABDUL-REHMAN MALIK:

How did you learn guitar Marsya? Did you learn just by listening to the music and trying to recreate it on the guitar?

 

FIRDA MARSYA KURNIA:

Yeah, that’s right. Because at first Abah taught me the basics. The basic chord and the basic technique, and after that, I watch YouTube to improve my skill and then listening to the song because there is no signal in my home. So I can’t open YouTube every time. I cannot. So I just listen to the music.

 

ABDUL-REHMAN MALIK:

Widi, did you learn how to play the guitar the same way as Marsya did? By listening and trying to recreate the chords on the instrument?

 

WIDI RAHMAWATI:

Yeah. At first Abah taught me how to play guitar, same like Marsya. And then Abah taught me how to play bass. At the time, only I could play bass at the school, and I feel so cool. Very cool. [laughs]

 

FIRDA MARSYA KURNIA:

[laughs] One and only bass player in Singajaya.

 

WIDI RAHMAWATI:

Yes. After Abah taught me how to play bass, I started teaching myself from YouTube.

 

ABDUL-REHMAN MALIK VOICEOVER:

Siti was the last to join the band. Abah was also the guidance counselor at the school. One day, he called Sitti into his office. Marsya explains.

 

FIRDA MARSYA KURNIA:

So at first, Sitti always like, um beat the table like… No, no, no. You know like…

 

EUIS SITI AISYAH:

Hit the table in the class.

 

ABDUL-REHMAN MALIK:

Right.

 

FIRDA MARSYA KURNIA:

So Abah is the counselor teacher at our school at that time. When Sitti banging the table, he took her to the counsel room.

 

EUIS SITI AISYAH:

Counsel room.

 

FIRDA MARSYA KURNIA:

Yeah.

 

ABDUL-REHMAN MALIK:

And then what happened? What happened? I’m fascinated. Sitti, you’re banging the table. Abah says, “Get up. Let’s go to the counseling room.” You go to the counseling room. What happens? What happens?

 

FIRDA MARSYA KURNIA:

Yeah and Abah give her like… It’s from, you know…

 

EUIS SITI AISYAH:

Marching band.

 

ABDUL-REHMAN MALIK:

Yeah.

 

FIRDA MARSYA KURNIA:

Yes.

 

ABDUL-REHMAN MALIK:

The marching band. Yeah.

 

FIRDA MARSYA KURNIA:

The tool is from marching band because we, we don’t have a real drum.

 

ABDUL-REHMAN MALIK:

So Sitti, Abah gives you a marching band drum?

 

EUIS SITI AISYAH:

Yes. He makes a drum custom.

 

FIRDA MARSYA KURNIA:

She felt like she got a new facility. Good facility.

 

EUIS SITI AISYAH:

Good facility from Abah. [laughs]

 

FIRDA MARSYA KURNIA:

Not the table anymore.

 

ABDUL-REHMAN MALIK VOICEOVER:

Siti learned from YouTube too. She didn’t have a drum set at home, so she would go to school to watch other drummers on YouTube and practice herself.

 

FIRDA MARSYA KURNIA:

So, you have to know that Sitti went to school early every day to learn drums, not to study at school.

 

EUIS SITI AISYAH:

Yeah.

 

FIRDA MARSYA KURNIA:

Because she hate school.

 

ABDUL-REHMAN MALIK:

I love it. That story is so rock and roll. That is like the rock and roll story. Right Siti?

 

EUIS SITI AISYAH:

Yeah.

 

ABDUL-REHMAN MALIK:

It’s like “I’m going to school to learn rock and roll. I’m going to the School of Rock. Forget everything else.”

 

EUIS SITI AISYAH:

Just for my drums.

 

ABDUL-REHMAN MALIK:

I love it.

 

EUIS SITI AISYAH:

Not for my teacher.

 

[MUSIC – VOICE OF BACEPROT’S “GOD, ALLOW ME (PLEASE) TO PLAY MUSIC”]

 

ABDUL-REHMAN MALIK:

Guys, I’ve watched some of your videos. I love them. They are full of energy. So I want you to take us on stage with you. Do you feel powerful, Marsya, when the music really dials in? Is there a feeling of power in you that you’re really expressing something important?

 

FIRDA MARSYA KURNIA:

Um…Not really, but I’m just happy because I can be real, real myself. Yeah, I can be myself.

 

ABDUL-REHMAN MALIK:

Oh, I love that. Siti, do you feel the same way when you’re pounding those drums? And I’ve seen you in those videos, you are like pounding the drums. It’s complicated. It’s loud. It’s powerful. How does it feel for you as the drummer? How does it feel to be on stage?

 

EUIS SITI AISYAH:

Euphoria. [giggles] I feel that I’m the superstar. And I can be myself.

 

ABDUL-REHMAN MALIK:

I love that both of you said that you can be yourself. Do you feel like that when you’re on stage and you’re playing music, you guys are like the best version of yourselves?

 

FIRDA MARSYA KURNIA:

Yeah. Because in real life, I’m not really confident of myself. Yeah, three of us, not only me actually. And when we are standing on stage, it’s like… “Yeah, this is me.”

 

ABDUL-REHMAN MALIK:

Widi, do you feel the same way?

 

WIDI RAHMAWATI: 

Yes! I have something, when I play bass and when I join with VOB, I feel that I have [speaking Indonesian]. I have pride.

 

[MUSIC – VOICE OF BACEPROT’S “GOD, ALLOW ME (PLEASE) TO PLAY MUSIC”]

 

ABDUL-REHMAN MALIK VOICEOVER: 

At first, their families didn’t love the idea of their daughters playing heavy metal music and performing onstage.

 

FIRDA MARSYA KURNIA:

It was very hard for me to get my parents’ permission because there is no musician in my village. And they didn’t know about metal. So, when they heard about metal, what they see is satanic music. Yeah. So yeah, maybe they are afraid that I will be satanic girl maybe? I don’t know. But now, after they watch me on national TV, they give me full support because they became a celebrity in my village. Oh my god.

 

WIDI RAHMAWATI:

Same like Marsya’s parents. Musicians are still foreign to my village. I mean that not many people work as musician, so it’s hard for my parents to give me permission because of that.

 

ABDUL-REHMAN MALIK VOICEOVER:

But like Marsya’s parents, they changed their tune.

 

WIDI RAHMAWATI:

Yeah, they feel happy and they feel proud of me because I can help them to…

 

FIRDA MARSYA KURNIA:

We can help the economic situation in our family.

 

ABDUL-REHMAN MALIK:

Yeah. Tell me who, who writes your songs?

 

EUIS SITI AISYAH:

Marsya.

 

FIRDA MARSYA KURNIA:

Me.

 

ABDUL-REHMAN MALIK:

So, Marsya, you’re the, you’re the songwriter.

 

FIRDA MARSYA KURNIA:

Yeah, I’m the songwriter.

 

ABDUL-REHMAN MALIK:

You know, your songs are really intense, Marsya. And they’re really amazing. Some of them are just so beautiful. And I want to say, I want to tell you that one of your latest songs, God, Allow me (Please) to Play Music is a really powerful, powerful song.

 

[VOICE OF BACEPROT’S “GOD, ALLOW ME (PLEASE) TO PLAY MUSIC”]

 

ABDUL-REHMAN MALIK:

Tell me about that song. Why did you write it? Because there seems to be a lot going on in that song.

 

FIRDA MARSYA KURNIA:

Yeah. Through the song, we want to use our right of free play to explain to others who misunderstood our music. Because at the time, many people say that our music is satanic music and we are a bad influence for Muslimah. Those who say that metal music is devil music, source of destruction and a bad influence. So that’s why for this reason we also say in the lyric, “I’m not a criminal, I’m not the enemy. I just want to sing a song to show my soul.”

 

ABDUL-REHMAN MALIK:

So you’re speaking, you’re speaking to the people who are criticizing you, you’re speaking to your critics. What else are you writing about? What are the things that you want to talk about in your music?

 

FIRDA MARSYA KURNIA:

There’s no specific things, but we just care about what’s happening around us. Like we care about women issues like gender equality because there are so many women around us that become a victim [of] violence. We care about… That’s why we talk about humanity issue, environmental issue and yeah, humanity issue, something like that. Because we care about what’s happening around us.

 

ABDUL-REHMAN MALIK:

Mm hmm. Do you feel that your songs are spiritual?

 

FIRDA MARSYA KURNIA:

Yeah. I feel that because through my music, I can be more close to God.

 

ABDUL-REHMAN MALIK:

Mm hmm. Explain that to me, Marsya. How do you feel close to God through your music?

 

FIRDA MARSYA KURNIA:

Because through my music I can learn how to be more tolerant and then spread peace and love. No hate.

 

EUIS SITI AISYAH:

And humanity.

 

FIRDA MARSYA KURNIA:

And humanity. Of course.

 

ABDUL-REHMAN MALIK:

I love that Sitti that the music connects you to your essential humanity. Because, it’s obvious, right? It’s the thing that you kind of notice about you guys right away. You’re playing this awesome music. It’s heavy, it’s powerful. And you’re three women in hijab. And you’re very proudly Muslim and you’re very confidently Muslim. And I think to some people, they look at that and go, “Whoa, what’s going on?” So, in a way, you guys break a lot of stereotypes, don’t you, Marsya? You break a lot of stereotypes of what it means to be a Muslim woman believer. Like a Muslimah. What does it mean to be a Muslimah? You guys are changing the definition, aren’t you, Marsya?

 

FIRDA MARSYA KURNIA:

Oh, I don’t know. [laughs] But yes, many people say so. But I don’t feel like that. Like I just play music because I love music.

 

ABDUL-REHMAN MALIK:

Who is showing up at your concerts? Sitti, tell me about your audience. Are they young people like yourself, Sitti? Are they like young people like you who are coming?

 

EUIS SITI AISYAH:

No. Old people. [laughs]

 

FIRDA MARSYA KURNIA:

Yeah. Like a guy who has two daughters.

 

EUIS SITI AISYAH:

Yes. Yes.

 

ABDUL-REHMAN MALIK:

So, Marsya, you’re telling me that families are coming to listen to your awesome heavy metal rock and roll music?

 

FIRDA MARSYA KURNIA:

Yeah. Or maybe they’re Gen Z, but they come just for a video call for his father or yeah, his grandpa.

 

ABDUL-REHMAN MALIK:

Wow. That is… I didn’t think that would be your answer. I thought it would be like young people like yourself. But you’re saying it’s an older generation that is really enjoying the heavy metal music.

 

FIRDA MARSYA KURNIA:

Yeah. But now there is some Gen Z who come to our concert and also buy our merch and then listen to our song. Yeah. And it’s fun to share the stories with them. [laughs]

 

ABDUL-REHMAN MALIK:

That’s so cool. So Gen Z is now starting to think, hey VOB is pretty cool.

 

FIRDA MARSYA KURNIA:

Yeah, yeah. Yeah. It’s quite late but yeah, no problem. We’re still happy.

 

ABDUL-REHMAN MALIK:

Tell me. All three of you have gotten a lot of international attention. VOB, Voice of Baceprot has been featured in the BBC, in the New York Times, in The Guardian. And you’ve also been praised by some of the rock legends that you love. Tom Morello from Rage Against the Machine loves you. Flea from the Red-Hot Chili Peppers loves you. You know, you discovered these musicians on Abah’s playlist in your village. How does it feel to get this kind of attention? How does it feel to be recognized all over the world, Marsya?

 

FIRDA MARSYA KURNIA:

Still hard to believe. It was still surprising.

 

WIDI RAHMAWATI:

The first I think it’s they use fake account. [laughs] Cause I can’t believe it.

 

ABDUL-REHMAN MALIK:

[laughs] That’s so funny Widi. You thought it was like they were fake accounts, you said, “how could they actually like us?”

 

FIRDA MARSYA KURNIA:

Yeah. That’s right. Because, yeah, it’s hard to believe that we have been famous in Indonesia and our village, but um… Tom Morello noticed us. Slash noticed us. So, it’s still hard to believe even until to this day.

 

ABDUL-REHMAN MALIK:

Before I let you go, you guys are dreamers. You’re dreaming big. You have this album coming out. I’m waiting for you to come back to the United States and we’re going to come. And I’m going to be one of the old guys, Siti. I’m going to be one of the old guys and Marsya and Widi, that’s going to be like, taking videos. I’m going to drag along my 12-year-old son and say, “Hey, you got to go listen to VOB.” When you think of the future, you tell me Sitti, what’s your biggest dream?

 

EUIS SITI AISYAH:

Umm. World tour. Making many album. And I have one big dream is I want to have a drum set.

 

ABDUL-REHMAN MALIK:

Oh, yes. Yes. You don’t have a drum set yet?

 

EUIS SITI AISYAH:

Not yet.

 

ABDUL-REHMAN MALIK:

Oh, Sitti. This has got to be an Eid gift. We got to get someone to give you an Eid gift. Hari Raya, a Hari Raya present. We need a Hari Raya present for you guys. Widi, Widi, tell me, what’s your biggest dream right now?

 

WIDI RAHMAWATI:

I want a world tour. And a tour in my homeland.

 

ABDUL-REHMAN MALIK:

That’s awesome.

 

WIDI RAHMAWATI: 

And I want to have a good bass and can light up like System of a Down bass.

 

ABDUL-REHMAN MALIK:

Ohhh, yes. Okay. I see where you’re going. I see where you’re going. A great instrument and forget System of a Down. You’ll be better than them. We want you to be better than them. Marsya, Marsya, what’s your biggest dream?

 

FIRDA MARSYA KURNIA:

My biggest dream is I can have a concert in Madison Square Garden.

 

WIDI RAHMAWATI:

Amin.

 

ABDUL-REHMAN MALIK: 

Amin. [laughs]

 

FIRDA MARSYA KURNIA:

And, uh making more songs. And can make a more big movement for women around the world.

 

ABDUL-REHMAN MALIK: 

This podcast is based on a poem by Jalaluddin Rumi, and it’s called The Guest House. And Jalaluddin Rumi says that, you know, you have to welcome everything that comes into your, into your guest house, the difficult things and the joyful things. But you guys are all joy. Thank you so much, Voice of Baceprot.

 

Marsya, Widi and Sitti. Thank you. Thank you so much for being on This Being Human. You guys are great.

 

FIRDA MARSYA KURNIA:

My pleasure!

 

ABDUL-REHMAN MALIK VOICEOVER:

Thank you for listening to This Being Human. We will provide links to some of Voice of Baceprot’s work and a list of songs you heard today, in the show notes.

 

This Being Human is produced by Antica Productions in partnership with TVO. Our senior producer is Kevin Sexton. Our associate producer is Hailey Choi. Our executive producer is Laura Regehr. Stuart Coxe is the president of Antica Productions.

 

Mixing and sound design by Phil Wilson. Our associate audio editor is Cameron McIver. Original music by Boombox Sound.

 

Shaghayegh Tajvidi is TVO’s Managing Editor of Digital Video and Podcasts. Laurie Few is the executive for digital at TVO.

 

This Being Human is generously supported by the Aga Khan Museum. Through the arts, the Aga Khan Museum sparks wonder, curiosity, and understanding of Muslim cultures and their connection with other cultures.

 

The Museum wishes to thank The Hilary and Galen Weston Foundation for their generous support of This Being Human.