Aksara Records
Jakarta indie label that documented local music scenes.
Aksara Records, a Jakarta indie label launched in 2004 by Hanindhito Siddharta and David Tarigan, championed niche genres like indie pop and electronica in Indonesia. Its crow logo held a musical note. Financial troubles after releasing Efek Rumah Kaca’s second album led to its closure in December 2009, with masters returned to artists. A co-founder later started Raksasa Records.
Quick Facts
- Founded
- 2004, 2022 (relaunch)
- Defunct
- 2009 (original)
- Founder
- Hanindhito Siddharta; David Tarigan
- Country
- Indonesia
- Location
- Jakarta
- Genre
- Pop
- rock
- indie pop
- electronica
Facts from the source article.
Background
Aksara Records got its start by capturing the indie music scene in Jakarta, as David Tarigan explained. Its debut release was the 2004 compilation JKT: SKRG, which included twelve local indie acts like Sore, C'mon Lennon, and The Upstairs. That album found its way to Seattle, where grunge was huge, and got airplay on college radio there. It later spread to indie record shops in Canada and the UK through the label’s own distribution setup. The label’s big break came when filmmaker Nia Dinata asked Tarigan to write the theme song for the teen comedy Janji Joni. The movie’s buzz turned the album into a major success. Tarigan said this proved that small independent labels like Aksara could hold their own financially against the big players.
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