As part of our +62 tour through Indonesia this past March, we had a chance to spend some time on the island of Borneo in the riverine city of Samarinda. Samarinda is home to the MUARASUARA Festival of Performance and Sound Art which highlights some of the unique work of sound and performance art from the region and beyond.
Muara means ‘delta’ or ‘meeting of the rivers’ and suara means ‘sound’ in English.
Sabrina Eka Felisiana – along with her musical partner Annisa Maharani – form Sarana, an experimental sound duo from Samarinda who use an array of objects, toys, emotion and spaces in their dense ambient noise. After our show (and an impromptu late night jam session🎵) we got to interview Sabrina and Annisa 🐼🐬.
Big thanks to the crew at Rumah Rawa and also Theo, Ule and Taïca who connected us and hosted us with Annisa and Sabrina. 💖
Annisa
What is it like where you are right now?
There’s a local lockdown here in Samarinda due to Covid-19 pandemic. So, I must work from home and finish my final thesis.
How did you get into making music?
It started accidentally in 2015. So there was a noise musician from France, DJ Urine, comes for a tour to Indonesia. The gig’s maker needed one more slot and asked Sabrina to play. But Sabrina doesn’t want to play alone and then asks me and Istanara to play together. I remember my first instrument are a microphone and delay effect because I like to explore my voice at first.
What does your studio or workspace look like? Where do you produce your work?
We don’t have our own studio and workspace. So, we usually use my home or my office to produce our work.
What is your compositional process like? Do you have a favorite technique you would like to share?
I usually use a Kaossilator Pro+, shaker box, some traditional toys, a bell, guitar pedals and microphone. And then I do an improvisation to make the sounds. Because Sarana is a group, I should share the part and discuss it with Sabrina to make it balance.
What have you been listening to or reading lately?
I’ve been listening to some ambient music, K-Pop and some local band’s’ latest releases. The last book I’ve been reading lately is Great Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe.
Who should we be listening to? Who are other artists we should be checking out?
Logic Lost, Tomy Herseta, MVRCK, Dea Karina, ASU(USA) and Sarana from Finland.
What are your next projects? Any links you can share?
Sabrina and I are planning to make an EP for Sarana. We will start producing it after Sabrina releases her upcoming solo album. Please wait for it!
Who should we interview next? What would you like to learn?
Rully Shabara (Senyawa/Zoo/Setabuhan) and Bodhi (Rupagangga/Buktu). I’d like to learn how they create an amazing sound and make strong lyrics for their projects.
Contact Soundcloud, Bandcamp, Instagram etc.:
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/saranasound; https://soundcloud.com/sarcapathy
- Bandcamp: https://saranamusic.bandcamp.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/musiksarana; https://instagram.com/annisamhrn
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/musiksarana; https://twitter.com/annisamhrn
Sabrina
What is it like where you are right now?
If you’re talking about the covid pandemic, business like food places and malls are opening up again but still with restrictions like shorter operating hours and only take away. Life goes on like normal from that 😁
How did you get into making music?
For quite some time I’ve been going to underground gigs, mostly around Samarinda which is where I’m currently based and sometimes the outskirts. What fascinates me is the free and wild aspects from the noise and experimental scene. There’s no barrier and anything goes as you visualized. So I gravitate more with the noise/ experimental people and try to comprehend the madness behind all this. That led me to borrow some equipment along with whatever i had that time to record and play around with.
What does your studio or workspace look like? Where do you produce your work?
For Sarana, we moved around wherever Annisa and me can hold a jam and record sessions. For my personal project, I have my equipment in a small setup in my bedroom to jam and record.
What is your compositional process like? Do you have a favorite technique you would like to share?
I usually select and edit samples, play around with them and then add other effects and instruments above it and tweak around until I find something that seems to fit. Essentially exploring and experimenting with what’s at hand.
What have you been listening to or reading lately?
My Current playlist includes Surgeon, Kobosil, Gabber Modus Operandi, Animistic Beliefs, Baseck, Otto von Schirach, Ic3peak.
Who should we be listening to? Who are other artists we should be checking out?
John maus, Quite Quiet, Aya Gloomy, Pastel ghost, Faka, Naazsedilix, Felix Kubin, Xiu Xiu.
What are your next projects? Any links you can share?
I’m currently working on my solo project as Sabrina, Recording some materials for a release soon. I’ve posted bits of my sessions on my Instagram.
Who should we interview next? What would you like to learn?
Interviewing a musician from Indonesia that is based in Berlin, I would like to learn the challenges faced.
