Grrrl Gang is an Indonesian indie pop band from Yogyakarta, Indonesia, consisting of vocalist/guitarist Angeeta Sentana, bassist/vocalist Akbar Rumandung, and guitarist/vocalist Edo Alventa.[3]

Grrrl Gang
OriginYogyakarta, Indonesia
Genres
Years active2016 (2016)–present
Labels
Members
  • Angeeta Sentana
  • Edo Alventa
  • Akbar Rumandung

History edit

2016–2018: Formation, Stop This Madness, and Not Sad, Not Fulfilled edit

The group was formed by Sentana and Rumandung during their studies at the Gadjah Mada University in 2016.[4] Shortly after, Rumandung invited Alventa to join the band.[5] They started their musical career with debut maxi single titled Stop This Madness, consisting of two singles "Bathroom" and "Thrills" on 9 March 2017 under independent record label Kolibri Records.[6]

In 2018, they released an extended play, titled Not Sad, Not Fulfilled.[7] After the release, they embarked on a Southeast Asian concert tour, including dates at the Esplanade Outdoor Theatre in Singapore and a homecoming date at the Jogja National Museum in Yogyakarta.[8][9]

2019–2022: International recognition and Here To Stay! edit

In September 2019, the group announced a hiatus to allow Alventa to focus on his day job, while Sentana and Rumandung pursued further studies.[10] However, a month later, the group announced that they had signed a recording contract with London-based independent record label Damnably, in addition to confirming their performance at the South by Southwest music festival in 2020.[11][12] Under the label, Grrrl Gang released their compilation album, Here To Stay! on 14 February 2020.[13] Influential music critic Robert Christgau gave the album an "A−" rating and praised its lyrical contents.[14]

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Grrrl Gang was forced to cancel their performance at SXSW.[15] They eventually performed in the festival, which was held virtually a year later.[16] In 2021, they released a single titled "Honey, Baby", along with an extended play that included four covers and remixes by fellow Indonesian musicians.[17] The single was nominated for the Best Asian Song category at the NME Awards 2022.[18]

In 2022, Grrrl Gang was recognized as one of the NME 100, a list of emerging artists created by British website NME.[19]

2023–present: Spunky! edit

Grrrl Gang relocated to the capital city of Jakarta and began recording their debut studio album with record producer Lafa Pratomo [id].[20] On 30 May 2023, the group announced their debut studio album, Spunky! and released its title track as its lead single.[21] They released singles "Rude Awakening" in June 2023,[22] "Blue-Stained Lips" in July,[23] and "Better Than Life" in August from then-upcoming studio album, Spunky!.[24]

After the album release, Grrrl Gang embarked on a concert tour throughout Asia and Australia in October and November 2023, including performances at the inaugural edition of SXSW Sydney.[25]

NME ranked the album at number 48 on their list of the 50 best albums of 2023, describing it as "an instant ticket to the sort of basement show where sweat rolls down the walls".[26]

Discography edit

Studio albums edit

List of studio albums
Title Album details
Spunky!
  • Released: 22 September 2023
  • Label: Green Island, Trapped Animal, Big Romantic, Kill Rock Stars
  • Format: CD, LP, digital download

Compilation albums edit

List of compilation albums
Title Album details
Here To Stay!
  • Released: 14 February 2020
  • Label: Damnably
  • Format: LP, digital download

Extended plays edit

List of extended plays
Title Album details
Not Sad, Not Fulfilled
  • Released: 9 October 2018
  • Label: Kolibri
  • Format: CD, digital download
Honey, Baby
  • Released: 9 April 2021
  • Label: Kolibri
  • Format: CD, digital download

Singles edit

List of singles, showing year released and album name
Title Year Album
"Bathroom" / "Thrills" 2017 Stop This Madness
"Just a Game" 2018 Here To Stay!
"Dream Grrrl" Not Sad, Not Fulfilled
"Pop Princess"
"Honey, Baby" 2021 Non-album single
"Spunky!" 2023 Spunky!
"Rude Awakening"
"Blue-Stained Lips"
"Better Than Life"
"Cool Girl"

Awards and nominations edit

Year Association Category Nominated Work Result Ref.
2022 NME Awards Best Asian Song "Honey, Baby" Nominated [18]

References edit

  1. ^ Noel, Jude (28 September 2023). "Grrrl Gang is Indonesia's Rowdiest Indie Pop Band". Bandcamp. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  2. ^ Woronzoff, Elisabeth (3 March 2020). "Grrrl Gang's 'Here to Stay!' is a Tremendous Rejection of Cultural Conformity". PopMatters. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  3. ^ "PULL OVER: (Not Really) A Small Talk with Grrrl Gang". Public Culture. 26 July 2021. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  4. ^ Menus, Indra. "Sebuah Episode di Awal Karir Grrrl Gang" [An episode at early career of Grrrl Gang]. Siasat Partikelir. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  5. ^ Basbas, Franchesca Judine (6 May 2021). "Asia Spotlight: Indonesian trio Grrrl Gang on documenting the highs and lows of youth in their music". Bandwagon Asia. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  6. ^ Fadhlan, Alfie (10 March 2017). "Cerita Singkat Dari Grrrl Gang Lewat Materi Terbarunya" [A brief story from Grrrl Gang on their new release]. Djarum Coklat. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  7. ^ "Grrrl Gang Sets A New Standard For Themselves with "Not Sad, Not Fulfilled"". The Display. 17 October 2018. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  8. ^ "Indo Rising on Singapore's "Rocking The Region" Music Festival!". The Display. 5 November 2018. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  9. ^ Nugroho, Wahyu Acum (31 October 2018). "Grrrl Gang Gelar Tur Album Sampai ke Bangkok" [Grrrl Gang embarks on an album concert tour to Bangkok]. Pophariini. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  10. ^ Silvianus, David (10 September 2019). "Grrrl Gang Pamit Untuk Vakum" [Grrrl Gang bids farewell for a hiatus]. Pophariini. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  11. ^ Silvianus, David (17 October 2019). "Grrrl Gang: Label Baru dan SXSW 2020!" [Grrrl Gang: New label and SXSW 2020]. Pophariini. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  12. ^ "Grrrl Gang Akan Main di SXSW 2020" [Grrrl Gang to perform at SXSW 2020]. CNN Indonesia. 17 October 2019. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  13. ^ "New Album from Indonesian Indie-Pop trio Grrrl Gang – 'Here To Stay'". Orca Sound. 2 February 2020. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  14. ^ Damnably Records [@damnably] (February 4, 2022). "Robert Christgau gave this an A- "Here to Stay!" from Yogyakarta's @grrrlgangband is an indie-pop/rock classic" (Tweet). Retrieved 4 November 2023 – via Twitter.
  15. ^ Widianingtyas, Hesti (12 March 2020). Sadino, Annisa (ed.). "Grrrl Gang Batal ke SXSW 2020 Akibat Virus Corona" [Grrrl Gang had to cancel their appearance at SXSW 2020 due to the Coronavirus]. Kumparan. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  16. ^ Ramadhan, Rifqi (28 January 2021). "Grrrl Gang akan Tampil Secara Virtual di Festival SXSW Tahun Ini" [Grrrl Gang would perform virtually at this year's SXSW]. Whiteboard Journal. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  17. ^ Singh, Surej (13 April 2021). "Grrrl Gang drop 'Honey, Baby' EP with four covers and remixes by fellow Indonesian artists". NME. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  18. ^ a b Gwee, Karen (15 December 2021). "BandLab NME Awards 2022 announce brand-new Asian categories and nominees". NME. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  19. ^ Felise, Laurensia (10 January 2022). "Grrrl Gang & Warren Hue Masuk Daftar Artis Baru Media Inggris NME" [Grrrl Gang and Warren Hue are listed on British media NME emerging artists picks]. Hypeabis. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  20. ^ Manuel, Gerald (30 May 2023). "Grrrl Gang Luncurkan Single dan Umumkan Pindah ke Jakarta" [Grrrl Gang releases a new single and announces moving to Jakarta]. Pophariini. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  21. ^ Ramkumar, Kat (31 May 2023). "Grrrl Gang Announce New Album, Share Video for Title Track". Under the Radar. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  22. ^ Singh, Surej (28 June 2023). "Grrrl Gang share new music video for 'Rude Awakening'". NME. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  23. ^ Von Pip, Andy (26 July 2023). "Grrrl Gang share new single and lyric video "Blue-Stained Lips."". Under the Radar. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  24. ^ Prasetya, Ananda Dimas (3 September 2023). "Bicara Tentang Kesehatan Mental, Grrrl Gang Rilis 'Better Than Life'" [Discussing mental health, Grrrl Gang releases "Better Than Life"]. Merah Putih. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  25. ^ Singh, Surej (13 October 2023). "Grrrl Gang announce Australia and Asia tour dates". NME. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  26. ^ "The best albums of 2023". NME. 8 December 2023. Retrieved 31 December 2022.

External links edit