We Say…
Hailing from Indonesia, Grrrl Gang are the internationally lauded trio of lead singer Angeeta Sentana, bassist Akbar Rumandung and guitarist Edo Alventa. After the success of their early singles, brought together as the 2020 compilation Here To Stay, the band went through some major life changes after they graduated, got day jobs and left Yogyakarta, the university city where they all met, and moved to one of the world’s biggest cities, Jakarta. After arriving in the Indonesian capital, the band met in-demand producer Lafa Pratomo, who is something of a legend in Indonesian music and encouraged Grrrl Gang to get out of their comfort zone. The result is their debut album proper, Spunky! which was recently co-released by Kill Rock Stars, Trapped Animal and Big Romantic Records, and aims to show, “that Grrrl Gang is a band that isn’t stuck in one place, and that we always have the urge to discover new things”.
The first thing that practically radiates out of Spunky! is just how much fun Grrrl Gang sound like they’re having. While they wear their Riot Grrrl influence openly, I mean just look at their name, the band seem to tap as much into the often under-discussed element of the genre, just how joyous it all sounds. Sure they might be bearing their darkest secrets, whether that’s living up to unrealistic expectations on Coll Girl or Rude Awakening’s tale of the loneliness of feeling like nobody is listening, but Grrl Gang still go in search of the light-hearted, “since the beginning of the creation of this album, the main message that we wanted to give is how to find hope, courage, and humour despite our messy circumstances”. The true resonance of Spunky! is just how universal and relatable its themes are, from Yogykarta to Jakarta to the world at large, Angee’s lyrics tell tales of the utterly relatable, struggling with your mental health, battling to be heard in a world that isn’t listening, falling headfirst into love and loneliness, this might be a story of growing up the best part of 8000 miles away from where I did it, but it’s still growing up. Musically too, Grrrl Gang’s influences seem to resonate, whether it’s the dream-pop perfection of the Alvvays-like closing-track The Star or The Undertones-like youthful misadventures of A Fight Breaks Out At The Karaoke Bar, which really showcases the “honey and vinegar” contrast in Angee’s malleable vocal style, as she reminds us all, “you’re never going to be this young ever again, you’re put in this godforsaken earth for a good time”. Perhaps the moment that makes you realise there’s more to Grrrl Gang than meets the eye is the wonderful Blue Stained Lips, it’s a release from all self-doubt elsewhere as Angee finds in the lips of another a sense of comfort and acceptance she’s been looking for her whole life, in its sheer simplicity it feels like a balm to all the world’s external noise, “you say that I’m the best, even though I’m a mess”. Despite all their doubt, the band without batting an eyelid suggest the record, “might be tiring to listen to because of its really depressing theme”, Grrrl Gang have shaped an album that bristles with life and energy, a collection of songs that shows the way to the light because they have known the dark, an urgent, joyous blast that proves for Grrrl Gang the world really is theirs for the taking.
They Say…
FTR: For those who don’t know who are Grrrl Gang?
Akbar: We are a pop band that is up to no good
FTR: What can you remember about your first show?
Akbar: HMMM it was a show at our campus, a pre event for a bigger show that is held two weeks after that show. Play 3 (or four) song only and the show is actually between classes so we had to go back to class right after we played ahahahaha
Edo: I do recall that everyone wanted to throw up before the show, except for me 🤠
FTR: Why do you make music? Why not another art form?
Akbar: I’ve been passionate about music since I was young and being in a band is pretty cool
Angee: I’ve tried painting, but it turns out that I am not as good as I thought I would be hahaha. So I just completely abandoned it and chose music and writing.
Edo: I believe that music is the only form of art that I can do well.
FTR: What can people expect from the Grrrl Gang live show
Akbar: Moshpit and circle pit!!!
FTR: What’s next for Grrrl Gang
Akbar: More tour!
They Listen To…
Paul McCartney – Band on the Run
Taylor Swift – Fifteen
Minor Threat – Minor Threat
Momma – Speeding 72′
Das Oath – Scrapped
Spunky! is out now via Trapped Animal (UK/EU) / Kill Rock Stars (North & South America) / Big Romantic Records (Japan and Taiwan). For more information on Grrrl Gang visit https://grrrlgang.bandcamp.com/.
For The Rabbits 